Recruiting public contributors

To effectively recruit public contributors for health projects, a multifaceted approach is crucial. This includes:

• • Utilising various recruitment channels, ensuring transparency and inclusivity
  • Providing clear information about the project’s purpose and the contributor’s role
  • Making sure you have adequate resources, including financial compensation, training and support, to ensure meaningful participation
  • Addressing ethical issues related to patient and public involvement, such as data privacy, informed consent, and potential risks and benefits
  • Establishing clear governance structures to ensure that PPIE is integrated into the research process and that public representatives have a voice in decision-making

Note: ethical approval for PPIE work is not required unless public contributors are also being used as study subjects or are collecting and/or analysing data; see the ethics page for further information.

Focusing on building relationships and understanding the needs of potential contributors is a main priority. 

Recruitment pathways

There are a number of recruitment pathways, including:

• • Online platforms: Consider using social media such as Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, online forums, and recruitment websites to reach a wider audience
  • Patient organisations and advocacy groups: Partner with patient groups, charities, and advocacy organisations to tap into their networks of individuals with relevant lived experience
  • Trusted Voluntary and Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations: They are already working with communities and can help put you in touch with people who are already in place
  • Health and social care professionals: Collaborate with healthcare professionals who can identify potential contributors from their patient base
  • Public engagement events: Organise public forums, workshops, and community events to introduce the project and recruit public contributors
  • Waiting rooms and clinics: Utilise visual aids (posters, displays) in healthcare settings to make the recruitment process more visible
  • Personal networks: Leverage personal connections and networks of researchers and team members to spread the word about the project

Key Considerations

• • Transparency and Inclusivity: Ensure that recruitment processes are transparent, inclusive, and accessible to all potential contributors
  • Clear Information: Provide potential contributors with clear information about the project’s goals, the role of the public contributor, and the time commitment involved
  • Building Relationships: Take the time to build strong relationships with public contributors, community groups and community workers who are familiar with the support needs and experiences of their members, thereby fostering open communication and trust and ensuring all voices are heard
  • Needs-Based Accommodations: Be proactive in addressing the needs and preferences of public contributors, including providing accommodations for accessibility and communication
  • Diversity and Inclusion: Strive to recruit a diverse group of public contributors, reflecting the diversity of the target population. Diversify your PPIE approach: as well as setting up a regular project advisory group, strive for inclusion of more diverse voices by taking specific PPIE activities to established community groups whose members are comfortable voicing their views in a familiar and trusted setting.
  • Recognising the Value of Lived Experience: Acknowledge the value of lived experience and recognise the potential for emotional impact
  • Documentation and Transparency: Document the recruitment process and be transparent about how public contributors are involved and supported
  • Public Contributor Roles: Ensure public contributors are clear on their roles, responsibilities, and the impact of their contributions

Imposter participants

“Imposter participants” are fraudulent individuals who misrepresent their identity or lived experience to participate in paid online research, focus groups, or Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) opportunities. This emerging threat compromises data integrity and wastes limited research budgets.

How to Spot Imposter Participants

Researchers and facilitators have identified several common “red flags” to watch for during recruitment and data collection:

• Unusual Timing: Receiving large volumes of applications or emails at odd hours that conflict with the target demographic’s time zone
• Registration Anomalies: Copy-pasting text from recruitment ads verbatim or logging into virtual meetings with names different from their registration
• Camera Avoidance: A strong preference to keep web cameras off and providing short, vague, or non-visual responses during interviews
• Incentive Fixation: Showing a primary focus on monetary compensation rather than the actual topic of the research.

Mitigation Strategies

To protect data integrity without compromising inclusivity, experts recommend implementing several safeguards:

• Screening Protocols: Use initial screening calls (by phone or video) to verify the participant’s background before sending out focus group links
• CAPTCHA and Bot Detection: Ensure automated software is not generating fake sign-ups by using Qualtrics CAPTCHA or similar verification tools on survey platforms
• Lived-Experience Co-Research: Involve authentic public contributors or PPIE panels in designing your screening methods to help identify inauthentic language or unlikely stories
• IP and Location Verification: Check for discrepancies between the participant’s self-reported location and their IP address data