Fraudulent participants in qualitative child health research: identifying and reducing bot activity

We are researchers working within paediatric health sciences across the UK. We would like to raise our concerns about a novel, seemingly growing issue within participant recruitment for qualitative research in child health; fraudulent participants, 'bots', also known as malicious automated software, and 'human bots', people paid by third parties to undermine studies.1 We want to raise awareness of the impact that this is having at all levels; to young people who are genuinely impacted by a condition, public understanding of health, integrity of scientific research, development of evidence-based child health practice and policy, and ourselves as researchers. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.