Implementation of Web-Based Respondent-Driven Sampling among Men who Have Sex with Men in Vietnam
Linus Bengtsson, Xin Lu, Quoc Cuong Nguyen, Martin Camitz, Nguyen Le, Hoang, Fredrik Liljeros, Anna Thorson

TL;DR
This study demonstrates that web-based respondent-driven sampling (webRDS) is a feasible, low-cost method for recruiting and studying internet-using men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam, providing representative data on this hidden population.
Contribution
It is the first implementation and evaluation of webRDS among MSM in Vietnam, showing its potential to overcome sampling challenges in hidden populations.
Findings
WebRDS successfully recruited 676 MSM over 24 waves.
Sample composition stabilized for most variables, indicating representativeness.
WebRDS was feasible and low-cost for internet-using MSM in Vietnam.
Abstract
Objective: Lack of representative data about hidden groups, like men who have sex with men (MSM), hinders an evidence-based response to the HIV epidemics. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was developed to overcome sampling challenges in studies of populations like MSM for which sampling frames are absent. Internet-based RDS (webRDS) can potentially circumvent limitations of the original RDS method. We aimed to implement and evaluate webRDS among a hidden population. Methods and Design: This cross-sectional study took place 18 February to 12 April, 2011 among MSM in Vietnam. Inclusion criteria were men, aged 18 and above, who had ever had sex with another man and were living in Vietnam. Participants were invited by an MSM friend, logged in, and answered a survey. Participants could recruit up to four MSM friends. We evaluated the system by its success in generating sustained…
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