Promoting HPV Vaccination in College Students Through Educational Video: Results from a Randomized Trial

Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of several cancers, yet HPV vaccination rates among U.S. young adults remain low. This study evaluated the effect of a brief educational video, co-developed with college students, in increasing HPV vaccination intention among unvaccinated col...

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Main Authors: Angela Chia-Chen Chen, Kimberly Arcoleo, Alli Walsh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Vaccines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/6/587
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author Angela Chia-Chen Chen
Kimberly Arcoleo
Alli Walsh
author_facet Angela Chia-Chen Chen
Kimberly Arcoleo
Alli Walsh
author_sort Angela Chia-Chen Chen
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of several cancers, yet HPV vaccination rates among U.S. young adults remain low. This study evaluated the effect of a brief educational video, co-developed with college students, in increasing HPV vaccination intention among unvaccinated college-aged individuals. Methods: A two-group randomized controlled trial was conducted among 215 college students aged 18–26 who had not received the HPV vaccine. Participants were randomly assigned to two interventions: a video group (<i>n</i> = 111) or a leaflet group that viewed a CDC-based educational sheet (<i>n</i> = 104). Pre- and post-intervention surveys assessed HPV knowledge, perceived risk, facilitators and barriers to vaccination, cultural beliefs, and vaccination intention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, <i>t</i>-tests, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank, and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: At baseline, approximately 56% of the sample (<i>n</i> = 215; mean age = 23.5, 71.2% male) have learned about HPV in the past. Although both groups improved in HPV knowledge, perceived lower risk, and cultural beliefs, between-group differences in these theoretical mediators were not statistically significant. Vaccination intention (those who responded “Yes” or “Maybe”) increased by 10.8% in the video group but decreased by 11.6% in the leaflet group following the intervention; the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.03). Conclusions: A brief, participatory, and theory-based video significantly increased HPV vaccination intent among unvaccinated college students. Compared to the leaflet intervention, the video intervention offers a promising and scalable public health strategy for promoting HPV vaccination in this high-risk population.
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spelling doaj-art-ab557a1c2b564291a524b830f0d495a52025-08-20T03:32:32ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-05-0113658710.3390/vaccines13060587Promoting HPV Vaccination in College Students Through Educational Video: Results from a Randomized TrialAngela Chia-Chen Chen0Kimberly Arcoleo1Alli Walsh2College of Nursing, Michigan State University, 1355 Bogue St, East Lansing, MI 48824, USACollege of Nursing, Michigan State University, 1355 Bogue St, East Lansing, MI 48824, USACollege of Nursing, Michigan State University, 1355 Bogue St, East Lansing, MI 48824, USAObjectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of several cancers, yet HPV vaccination rates among U.S. young adults remain low. This study evaluated the effect of a brief educational video, co-developed with college students, in increasing HPV vaccination intention among unvaccinated college-aged individuals. Methods: A two-group randomized controlled trial was conducted among 215 college students aged 18–26 who had not received the HPV vaccine. Participants were randomly assigned to two interventions: a video group (<i>n</i> = 111) or a leaflet group that viewed a CDC-based educational sheet (<i>n</i> = 104). Pre- and post-intervention surveys assessed HPV knowledge, perceived risk, facilitators and barriers to vaccination, cultural beliefs, and vaccination intention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, <i>t</i>-tests, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank, and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: At baseline, approximately 56% of the sample (<i>n</i> = 215; mean age = 23.5, 71.2% male) have learned about HPV in the past. Although both groups improved in HPV knowledge, perceived lower risk, and cultural beliefs, between-group differences in these theoretical mediators were not statistically significant. Vaccination intention (those who responded “Yes” or “Maybe”) increased by 10.8% in the video group but decreased by 11.6% in the leaflet group following the intervention; the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.03). Conclusions: A brief, participatory, and theory-based video significantly increased HPV vaccination intent among unvaccinated college students. Compared to the leaflet intervention, the video intervention offers a promising and scalable public health strategy for promoting HPV vaccination in this high-risk population.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/6/587college studentsHPV vaccinationvaccination intentionvideo-based intervention
spellingShingle Angela Chia-Chen Chen
Kimberly Arcoleo
Alli Walsh
Promoting HPV Vaccination in College Students Through Educational Video: Results from a Randomized Trial
Vaccines
college students
HPV vaccination
vaccination intention
video-based intervention
title Promoting HPV Vaccination in College Students Through Educational Video: Results from a Randomized Trial
title_full Promoting HPV Vaccination in College Students Through Educational Video: Results from a Randomized Trial
title_fullStr Promoting HPV Vaccination in College Students Through Educational Video: Results from a Randomized Trial
title_full_unstemmed Promoting HPV Vaccination in College Students Through Educational Video: Results from a Randomized Trial
title_short Promoting HPV Vaccination in College Students Through Educational Video: Results from a Randomized Trial
title_sort promoting hpv vaccination in college students through educational video results from a randomized trial
topic college students
HPV vaccination
vaccination intention
video-based intervention
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/6/587
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