Offer them a small gift to participate. Maybe a certificate as well so they feel they have achieved something by their participation. Humans love rewards!

Thanks Trevor. Through the Ethics Dept approval there is little scope to offer gifts. Our last study we donated $10/entrant to prostate cancer research but was not sure if that helped at all.

Hello Jayson,

My research was 'Living with faecal incontinence'. It was a qualitative project, so I only involved 22 participants, but had quite a lot more than that who volunteered.

I was allowed to put notices up in places like the local libraries and also asked colleagues in nursing if they could 'spread the word'.

If a participant came through another health care professional, even into the first follow-up, I involved this professional in communications with the volunteer.

I think people genuinely wanted to help me; I was able to say that I was a qualified nurse specialising in the field of bladder and bowel health. I was also allowed to say that I would be happy to give clinical assistance if asked to, but most of the participants - I think - wanted to talk to someone who understood. Many told me things that they would not have been able to discuss, sometimes even with their nearest and dearest.

Is there anything you can add to your publicity to attract possible volunteers along these lines? If your research is linked with prostate cancer (or other topics that might also be of an utmost sensitive nature), I would imagine that there are people out there who would see it as beneficial to themselves to be able to talk about it and know that their replies would be treated confidentially. I made it clear to all participants that even if I quoted them, their quotes would not identify them. They also were informed that only me and my two research supervisors would know who has said what.

I do hope that I have been of some help, and that you get a sufficient sample.

Very best wishes,

Mary

Thanks Mary.

Probably reaching out to some communities leaders will help in spreading the words, they can convince more easily the targeted volunteers needed for the study.

Good advice from Ricardo Campa

Are you able to do this in your setting?

Unfortunately not. It is looking at the reasons for wanting penile augmentation and then satisfaction following treatment. So it is a very limited group that we need a high uptake in.

I follow answers

best regards

Regarding the explanation from Jayson, above. I can see the problems getting the participation. Has everyone who would qualify for inclusion been asked? Would it be feasible at ask people who have had the treatment in the past? Those who were happy with the result would maybe want to be able to express their satisfaction (when they would not be able to speak openly about it) and any for whom the procedure had not been as they would have wished, may welcome an opportunity to talk, and regarding the research perspective, would also be very valuable.

How are you asking them; is it by letter? Would it be worth writing again? But I realise that you will be bound by research ethics and have submitted previously how you would make contact, that would probably rule telephone contact out.

I do hope you get your sample.