Introduction: Around two decades ago, the Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) method was introduced to sample hidden populations especially those exposed to high risk diseases. This study is aimed to determine factors affecting the design of sampling method for hidden populations exposed to high risk diseases.

Methods: In this review article, in addition to introducing the RDS method, 11 surveys that employed this method to study hidden populations are reviewed. Consequently, the key points that should be considered in designing this method including formative assessment and seeds selection are studied.

Results: Results indicated that if the main purpose of a formative assessment and seeds selection does not achieve the hidden population parameter estimates will differ actual values and the survey would counter some biases. Uncertainty of recruiter’s degree, not-forming long recruitment chains, and slowly recruiting of recruiters could be the most important of these biases.

Conclusions: Without paying attention to the influential considerations in designing RDS method, this method in sampling hidden populations will not be applicable. It is recommended that researchers in order to guarantee the successful penetrating to the target hidden population, consider the key influential points RDS method in advance.