People with low socioeconomic position (SEP) are under-represented in research1 2 leading not only to reduced generalisability of findings to these groups, but also to participation and retention bias.3–6 This issue is particularly pronounced in intervention studies involving technology, such as mobile Health (mHealth) interventions, where access to necessary hardware and digital literacy is more limited among those with low SEP.7 The lack of low SEP individuals participating in research delays potential advancements in mHealth applications for people living in low SEP areas who historically experience health disparities.8 To improve recruitment of individuals from these groups, it is crucial to understand the recruitment process and reasons for non-participation. In the present study, we explore the response of people with low SEP to an invitation to participate in a blended mHealth intervention.9 10 Specifically, we assess rates of non-response, positive response and negative response (active decline), while also exploring the potential influence of external factors such as GP practice size and deprivation ranking, and COVID-19 isolation policies at the time of recruitment. We also provide an overview of individual reasons for declining participation.

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