Preliminary efficacy of a tailored narrative intervention to increase human papillomavirus vaccination intention among a multi-ethnic sample of female students

Abstract

Objective. We investigated the preliminary efficacy of a tailored human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination on-line intervention designed to increase HPV vaccination intention. Participants. Female college students (N = 101; 18-26 years), who have not received the HPV vaccine. Methods. Participants were randomized to either a control group to read standard Center for Disease Control information or a narrative intervention group to read two narrative messages about HPV/HPV vaccination that were tailored based on the individual’s sexual history and told from the perspectives from a peer and an expert. Participants were assessed at baseline (T1) and immediately after the intervention (T2). Results. The narrative intervention group reported a greater increase from T1 to T2 in vaccination intention compared with control group. Both groups reported increases in knowledge, positive attitude, self-efficacy, social norm, and perceived susceptibility to HPV from T1 to T2. Conclusions. A narrative intervention is promising to effectively increase HPV vaccination intention.

Keywords:

• College students
• HPV vaccination intention
• narrative intervention
• theory of planned behavior

Additional information

Funding

This work was partly supported by the faculty fellowship from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment and the Susan G. Komen® Grant (GTDR17498270).