Implementation of starfish sampling for invisibilised populations: a methods protocol of the BRAVE multi-site cross-sectional community-based participatory study.
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| Title: | Implementation of starfish sampling for invisibilised populations: a methods protocol of the BRAVE multi-site cross-sectional community-based participatory study. |
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| Authors: | Sudhinaraset M; Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA msudhinaraset@ucla.edu., Kim H; Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA., Song K; Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA., Ronquillo RJ; Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA., Kim J; Community Resource Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia, USA., Raymond HF; Department of Epidemiology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA. |
| Source: | BMJ open [BMJ Open] 2025 Dec 19; Vol. 15 (12), pp. e108572. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Dec 19. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101552874 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2044-6055 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20446055 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMJ Open Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [London] : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 2011- |
| MeSH Terms: | Emigrants and Immigrants*/statistics & numerical data , Reproductive Health Services*/statistics & numerical data , Patient Selection*, Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Community-Based Participatory Research ; United States ; Research Design ; Asian |
| Abstract: | Background: Immigrant populations, particularly undocumented immigrants, are often considered 'hidden' or 'hard to reach' in research. This invisibilisation-under-representation or exclusion in data collection-leads to data inequities and biased findings that fail to capture their unique experiences. Starfish sampling mitigates selection bias and improves access to invisibilised populations by recruiting 'seed' participants at randomly selected times and locations and leveraging their social networks to recruit the next wave of participants. In this protocol paper, we outline the sampling strategy for the BRAVE (Building community, Raising All immigrant Voices for health Equity) study, a multi-site, cross-sectional survey examining the relationship between immigration history and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service utilisation among Asian immigrant women in the USA. This protocol is an adaptation of novel starfish sampling in combination with various data tools and a community-based participatory research approach. Methods and Analysis: Using data from the American Community Survey and insights from community partners, we will conduct community mapping across four study sites (Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles County and New York City). We will select census tracts that reflect the primary ethnic groups of interest and diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. From these selected census tracts, we will construct a venue universe by identifying key activity areas for Asian immigrant women through data scraping from online sources. We will then randomly select venue-date-time combinations and deliberately choose various community engagement events for recruitment. Culturally competent field officers who are fluent in Asian languages will recruit participants at these events. Participants can refer up to three peers from their social networks to take part in the survey. Results will be presented as descriptive statistics and logistic regression models to test the association between immigration history and SRH service utilisation. Ethics and Dissemination: The overarching BRAVE study protocol was approved by the University of California Los Angeles Institutional Review Board (IRB) (IRB-22-0493-AM-016). The results will be disseminated through academic journal publications and relevant data will be shared with our community partners. (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.) |
| Competing Interests: | Competing interests: None declared. |
| References: | Am J Public Health. 2019 Sep;109(9):1171-1176. (PMID: 31318585) Ethn Health. 2022 Jul;27(5):1075-1087. (PMID: 33276705) Soc Sci Med. 2017 Jul;184:144-152. (PMID: 28527372) Med Care. 2023 May 1;61(5):306-313. (PMID: 36939228) J Urban Health. 2019 Feb;96(1):55-62. (PMID: 30328063) Contraception. 2018 Jul;98(1):47-51. (PMID: 29453946) Health Promot Perspect. 2011 Dec 20;1(2):86-94. (PMID: 24688904) Health Aff (Millwood). 2021 Jul;40(7):1056-1065. (PMID: 34228522) HIV Med. 2023 Sep;24(9):990-999. (PMID: 37128161) N Engl J Med. 2017 Mar 23;376(12):e20. (PMID: 28273008) Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Oct 1;142(4):787-794. (PMID: 37678914) Cult Health Sex. 2014 Feb 10;:. (PMID: 24512070) Sociol Methodol. 2010 Aug;40(1):285-327. (PMID: 22969167) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Community-Based Participatory Research; Health Equity; Health Surveys; Methods; Surveys and Questionnaires |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20251219 Date Completed: 20251219 Latest Revision: 20251222 |
| Update Code: | 20251222 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12716530 |
| DOI: | 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-108572 |
| PMID: | 41419291 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
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Nájsť tento článok vo Web of Science | Abstract: | Background: Immigrant populations, particularly undocumented immigrants, are often considered 'hidden' or 'hard to reach' in research. This invisibilisation-under-representation or exclusion in data collection-leads to data inequities and biased findings that fail to capture their unique experiences. Starfish sampling mitigates selection bias and improves access to invisibilised populations by recruiting 'seed' participants at randomly selected times and locations and leveraging their social networks to recruit the next wave of participants. In this protocol paper, we outline the sampling strategy for the BRAVE (Building community, Raising All immigrant Voices for health Equity) study, a multi-site, cross-sectional survey examining the relationship between immigration history and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service utilisation among Asian immigrant women in the USA. This protocol is an adaptation of novel starfish sampling in combination with various data tools and a community-based participatory research approach.<br />Methods and Analysis: Using data from the American Community Survey and insights from community partners, we will conduct community mapping across four study sites (Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles County and New York City). We will select census tracts that reflect the primary ethnic groups of interest and diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. From these selected census tracts, we will construct a venue universe by identifying key activity areas for Asian immigrant women through data scraping from online sources. We will then randomly select venue-date-time combinations and deliberately choose various community engagement events for recruitment. Culturally competent field officers who are fluent in Asian languages will recruit participants at these events. Participants can refer up to three peers from their social networks to take part in the survey. Results will be presented as descriptive statistics and logistic regression models to test the association between immigration history and SRH service utilisation.<br />Ethics and Dissemination: The overarching BRAVE study protocol was approved by the University of California Los Angeles Institutional Review Board (IRB) (IRB-22-0493-AM-016). The results will be disseminated through academic journal publications and relevant data will be shared with our community partners.<br /> (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.) |
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| ISSN: | 2044-6055 |
| DOI: | 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-108572 |