In recent years, stakeholder involvement in research has become a central element of responsible research. The EFFICHRONIC project reflects these principles and aims to reduce the burden of chronic diseases and increase the sustainability of the healthcare system through the implementation of an evidence-based chronic disease prevention and self-management programme. The qualitative study presented here is part of EFFICHRONIC and aims to explore and understand the recruitment strategies implemented in the participating countries (Spain, UK, Netherlands, Italy, and France). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the country coordinators (purposive sampling of the five coordinators responsible for the recruitment strategy), and a coding and synthesis process was used to conduct a thematic analysis. The analysis resulted in five main categories: (1) Stakeholder recruitment strategies. (2) Facilitators to recruitment. (3) Barriers to recruitment. (4) Strategies developed to address recruitment challenges. (5) Lessons learned. From a collaborative approach to the co-production process, recruitment has helped to build a wide network and new relationships with local actors, explore and learn about the social world, step out of the comfort zone of health institutions, combine a wide variety of strategies, and innovate by taking into account the institutional and cultural contexts of each country.
Keywords: chronic disease self-management; expert patient programme; qualitative evaluation; recruitment; responsible research; stakeholders; vulnerable population.