Laying the Groundwork for a Media-Based HPV Vaccination Uptake Study among African-American Adolescent Females

Introduction: Genital human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STI in the US. Approximately 75% of sexually active individuals will become infected with HPV in their lifetime. At disproportionately high risk for HPV infection are African-American adolescent females. Innovative methods that are both culturally-tailored and interactive are needed to bring evidence-based interventions to those at greatest risk. Methods: To help guide the development of a theory-based, DVD intervention that aims to enhance HPV vaccination uptake and compliance with subsequent recommended doses, formative research was conducted with African-American adolescent females, health care providers, and parents. Information regarding knowledge, acceptability, and beliefs surrounding both vaccination and HPV transmission was gathered. Theatre testing with a subgroup identical to the target study population was also utilized to refine the DVD script prior to production. Results: Data collected from focus groups and interviews with teens and parents suggest an overall lack of understanding about both HPV and vaccination. While providers were seen as a trusted source of information, inconsistencies were found in terms of their HPV vaccination recommendations with adolescents. The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model (IMB), along with the qualitative data was used to draft the DVD intervention script. Theatre testing revealed the need for several dialogue edits and phrasing changes to be more realistic. Conclusion: Translation from research to real-world application must become reality to prevent HPV-associated morbidity and mortality. By using formative research strategies and theatre testing prior to development, intervention efficacy among vulnerable subgroups may increase.