A qualitative study exploring motivations for participating in research among women who use opioids

Objective: We assessed the acceptability of four recruitment strategies and explored facilitators and barriers to research engagement among women who use opioids.

Methods: We recruited self-identified women reporting past 14-day non-prescribed opioid use using four recruitment approaches: community outreach in collaboration with community-partners; snowball sampling; social media campaigns; and passive recruitment through distribution of print materials at community programs. We collected participant demographics, type of recruitment, and substance use via an interview-administered survey. Qualitative interviews explored women's research experiences, and facilitators and barriers to research engagement. Analysis employed a combination of inductive and deductive approaches to identify themes relevant to women's engagement in research.

Results: Of 36 enrolled participants, median age was 49 years, 16% were Black, 58% were white, 14% were Hispanic, and 58% had their own house or apartment. We recruited 12 women through community outreach, two through snowball sampling, three through social media, and 19 through print materials. Interviews identified four themes: (1) highest trust when recruited through community organizations and lowest trust when recruited through social media; (2) desire to improve the lives of other women who use drugs drove motivation to participate in research, (3) preference for monetary compensation, which increased the likelihood of in research participation; and (4) women participated when research environments were supportive and destigmatized.

Conclusion: To recruit women who use drugs, researchers should collaborate with trusted community organizations, promote the benefits of research to other women, monetarily and fairly compensate participants, and foster supportive destigmatized environments.