Lower participation rates of ethnic minorities in health research studies and potential participation barriers are commonly reported.

Four semi-structured focus groups of individuals with Turkish migration backgrounds living in Germany were conducted to identify potential participation barriers. Documented statements and superscripted presentation cards by the participants were evaluated with a qualitative content analysis.

The following eight potential reasons for the lower participation rates were identified: role of women, lack of knowledge, lack of interest, German-Turkish interactions, mistrust, anxiety, data privacy protection and benefits of the study. Additionally, the following recruitment strategies to enhance participation rates were found: public relations, especially word-of-mouth promotion and contacting Turkish key figures, (non-) tangible incentives and trust building through transparent communication of the project and its conditions.

The findings provide a wide range of potential participation barriers and implications that should be considered to enhance the participation rates of minority populations.

The willingness to participate in health research studies can be increased through particular efforts, which should be tailored to the recruitment of the underrepresented target population.