Raising HPV Vaccine Rates Through Parent-Child- Dialogues with an Animated Character

What is it about?

We explored a new way to encourage more children to get the HPV vaccine, which is important for preventing certain types of cancer. Normally, only parents decide if their kids should get vaccinated, but involving kids aged 9-12 in the discussion could make a difference. We used an animated character, (Laura) to discuss the vaccine with parents and their children through the Internet. We tested two different talks: one where only the parent talked to Laura and another where both the parent and the kid talked to Laura. We wanted to see if including kids in the conversation would make parents more likely to get their kids vaccinated, reduce their worries about the vaccine, and increase their knowledge about HPV. We found that when Laura talked to both the parent and the child, the parents were more engaged, and everyone felt more comfortable discussing the vaccine. This suggests that including kids in health talks with an animated character could be a good way to help parents decide about vaccinations.

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This work is unique and timely because it addresses two key public health challenges: the need to improve HPV vaccination rates and the importance of considering adolescents' views in health decisions. Our study showed that involving adolescents directly in discussions about their health, particularly regarding HPV vaccination, can positively impact parents' intentions to vaccinate, engagement levels, and comfort in discussing sensitive health topics. Using a virtual agent for these conversations, we leveraged technology to facilitate a potentially sensitive dialogue in a non-threatening and engaging manner. This approach not only supports the goal of increasing HPV vaccination rates among youth but also empowers young individuals by giving them a voice in their healthcare decisions. If widely adopted, this innovative strategy could significantly enhance public health efforts to combat cancers associated with HPV.