Cancer Survivor Stories for Preventing HPV Cancers

Overseen By William A Calo, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Disqualifiers: Under 18, No device access, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether stories from cancer survivors can motivate parents to initiate HPV vaccinations for their children, aged 9-12. Participants will watch a short video featuring a survivor sharing their cancer journey and recommending the HPV vaccine to prevent similar cancers. Parents of children who have not yet received the HPV vaccine and visit a Penn State Health clinic are ideal candidates. The study aims to determine if these personal stories (cancer survivor narratives) can change parents' thoughts and feelings, encouraging them to obtain the first dose of the vaccine for their child. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to understand how personal stories can influence health decisions.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems unlikely since the study focuses on parents watching a video about HPV vaccination for their children.

What prior data suggests that this narrative communication intervention is safe?

Research has shown that using stories from cancer survivors in videos safely encourages HPV vaccination. In past studies, parents who watched these videos felt more positive about the HPV vaccine's safety. For example, before watching the video, 66% of parents believed the vaccine was safe. After watching, this increased to 82%. This demonstrates that the video not only caused no harm but also improved perceptions of vaccine safety. As a storytelling tool, the video involves no medical procedures, ensuring no safety concerns for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a unique approach to preventing HPV-related cancers through storytelling. Unlike traditional methods that focus on vaccination education solely through medical facts, this approach uses the personal narratives of cancer survivors to emotionally engage parents. By sharing real-life experiences and recommendations in a short video format, this method aims to create a deeper connection and potentially increase the likelihood of parents choosing to vaccinate their children against HPV. This emotional and experiential approach could complement existing educational efforts, making it a promising new tool in cancer prevention strategies.

What evidence suggests that this narrative communication intervention is effective for increasing HPV vaccination rates?

Research shows that videos featuring cancer survivors can positively influence perceptions of the HPV vaccine. In this trial, parents assigned to the "Cancer survivor narrative video" arm will watch a short video featuring a cancer survivor. Previous studies have shown that this intervention improves parents' views and increases the likelihood of vaccinating their children against HPV. This method uses personal stories to make the information more relatable and impactful, aiming to boost vaccination rates. By hearing real experiences, parents may better understand the vaccine's importance in cancer prevention. Early findings suggest this approach effectively changes perceptions and encourages more vaccinations. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for parents of children aged 9-12 who haven't started the HPV vaccine. The study focuses on how a video with cancer survivors' stories might encourage vaccination.

Inclusion Criteria

My child has not received the HPV vaccine.

I am the parent of a 9-12 year old who goes to a Penn State Health clinic.

Has a valid email address and access to a mobile phone, table, desktop or laptop computer to engage in the intervention

Exclusion Criteria

Does not have access to a mobile phone, table, desktop or laptop computer

I can read and understand either English or Spanish.

My parent or guardian is under 18.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2 weeks

Intervention

Parents receive either a narrative video from cancer survivors or a placebo video about healthy eating tips approximately two weeks before their child's wellness visit.

2 weeks

1 virtual visit

Clinic Visit

Children attend a scheduled clinic visit where HPV vaccine initiation is assessed.

1 day

1 in-person visit

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for HPV vaccine initiation and psychological mediators one week after the intervention.

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Cancer survivor narrative

Trial Overview The trial tests if watching a brief video of cancer survivors talking about their experience with HPV-related cancers affects parents' decision to vaccinate their kids against HPV.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Cancer survivor narrative video Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Parents randomly assigned to this arm will receive the video intervention using their personal devices around two weeks before their child's wellness visit. The video will be approximately 4 minutes in length with three parts: (1) Cancer experience, (2) Vaccine recommendation, and (3) Closing message.

Group II: Placebo video Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Parents randomly assigned to this arm will receive the placebo video using their personal devices around two weeks before their child's wellness visit. The placebo video is about healthy eating tips for families with children. The video will be approximately 4 minutes in length.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

515

Recruited

2,873,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The HPV vaccine is crucial for females who are survivors of childhood cancer, as they are at a higher risk for HPV-related complications due to the effects of cancer treatment.

The Children's Oncology Group recommends HPV vaccination for all eligible female survivors of childhood cancer, highlighting the need for strategies to improve vaccination uptake among this vulnerable group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Human papillomavirus vaccination and the primary prevention of cancer: implications for survivors of childhood cancer. Klosky, JL., Foster, RH., Hodges, J., et al.[2018]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10924551/

Stories to Prevent Cancer: A Pilot Study Using ... This pilot study explored the feasibility and effects of a video education intervention using a cancer survivor narrative to improve parents' attitudes.

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38454302/

A Pilot Study Using Cancer Survivor Narratives to Increase ... Using the narrative persuasion framework, we developed a 4-minute video of a local HPV-related cancer survivor to promote the HPV vaccine as cancer prevention.

3. journals.sagepub.com journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10732748241237328

A Pilot Study Using Cancer Survivor Narratives to Increase ... Using the narrative persuasion framework, we developed a 4-minute video of a local HPV-related cancer survivor to promote the HPV vaccine as cancer prevention.

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772628224000207

Developing a narrative communication intervention in the ... Moreover, Hispanic/Latina women in all regions of the U.S. have lower HPV vaccination rates compared with non-Hispanic White and African American/Black ...

5. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41599-024-03644-8

Promoting HPV vaccination: effectiveness of mobile short ... This study aims to examine the potential informational and technical factors of MSVs, which contribute to the persuasive effects on people's decision-making ...

6. pure.psu.edu pure.psu.edu/en/publications/stories-to-prevent-cancer-a-pilot-study-using-cancer-survivor-nar/

A Pilot Study Using Cancer Survivor Narratives to Increase ... Results: After the video, more parents agreed that HPV vaccination is safe (pre: 66% vs. post: 82%; P =.045) and that their child's chances of ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335522002273

The impact of HPV vaccine narratives on social media We tested the impact of a social media campaign with narrative-based health information on intentions related to HPV vaccination.