How Health Care Providers Can Use Digital Health Technologies to Inform Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Decision Making and Promote the HPV Vaccine Uptake Among Adolescents and Young Adult

"Growing evidence support using digital health technologies to inform decision making to increase HPV risk perception and promote HPV vaccine uptake among adolescents and young adults."

The premise of this study is that, if providers regularly inform patients and parents, particularly those who are hesitant, about the role of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in preventing cervical and other cancers, as well as distribute reminders to patients who are due for vaccination, there is an opportunity to improve HPV vaccine uptake among adolescents. Since more healthcare providers are using text messaging and smartphone applications (apps) in their medical practices, this study investigated the feasibility of digital technology to increase individual risk perception of the HPV virus, increase awareness about the HPV vaccine, overcome barriers to the HPV vaccine, and help adolescents and young adults make informed decisions to get the HPV vaccine.

The study was conducted among both male and female undergraduate and graduate students at a large public university in Florida, United States (US). A convenience sample of 210 students completed an online survey. Participants were 18-25 years of age (88%), female (85%), Caucasian (60%), and never been diagnosed with HPV (92.9%). Knowledge and awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine were significant and high. The HPV vaccination rate was 7.3% (n=14) for starting the series, 62.3% (n=119) for completing the vaccine series, and 3.1% (n=6) for not intending to complete the vaccine. Another small percent/population, 4.2% (n=8), reported not knowing if they were vaccinated against HPV.

The majority of participants owned a smartphone (98.9%) and used mobile apps for health/health tracking (65.5%). However, only 29.3% indicated they received text messages from their healthcare provider. When asked about preferred digital health technologies to communicate about HPV risk and vaccine, participants most frequently mentioned the internet or online website. Receiving text messages about HPV was not popular, and comfort with using various health channels to receive HPV vaccine information was low for social network sites (22%) and digital gaming (13.5%). Younger study participants were more likely to want HPV information through technology when compared with older study participants.

Before answering specific questions related to sexual practices and behaviour, HPV risk perception, HPV vaccine beliefs and knowledge, and technology behaviour, study participants were asked whether the HPV vaccine should be mandatory for children ages 9-12 years. Seventy-four percent of students (n=144) out of 195 total responses to that question said yes. (This could be a positive predictor of support of childhood vaccination for the future generation of parents, according to researchers.)

However, 51% do not have confidence that the HPV vaccine is safe, and 47% believe the HPV vaccine is harmful. Study participants were queried in greater detail about their beliefs and were asked to indicate their level of agreement concerning 14 statements related to key barriers to HPV vaccine uptake. Lack of information and knowledge about HPV or HPV vaccine was identified.

In conclusion: "The findings of this study indicated that work is needed in the acceptance of social media, SMS text messaging, and mobile Apps as preferred digital health technologies beyond the internet. Health care providers can educate parents and students with regard to navigating the health system to obtain health information by using text messages and mobile apps, easily and effectively.