Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake After a Tailored, Online Educational Intervention for Female University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Educational interventions may be a strategy to increase

human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among female university

students, but studies to date have shown mixed results. This study

evaluated the effect of MeFirst, an individually tailored, online

educational intervention, on HPV vaccine-related knowledge,

vaccination intention, and uptake among previously unvaccinated

female university students. METHODS: All female students aged 18-26

years who reported being unvaccinated against HPV at a midwestern

university were invited via email to enroll. Participants completed

an online survey that assessed baseline HPV vaccine-related

knowledge, attitudes and vaccination intention. Participants

(n = 661) were then randomized to receive either an educational

website automatically tailored to their baseline survey responses

(MeFirst intervention) or a standard CDC information factsheet on

HPV vaccine (control). Vaccine uptake and repeat knowledge and

attitude measures were assessed with online surveys 3 months

following the intervention and analyzed using logistic regression

models. RESULTS: HPV vaccine uptake was similar in both the MeFirst

and control groups at 3 months following the intervention

(p = 0.98). Three months after the intervention, the proportion of

participants with high knowledge regarding HPV vaccination

increased from baseline (32% to 50%; p < 0.0001) but the

proportion with favorable intention was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: We

found that an individually tailored, online educational tool had

similar effects as a nontailored factsheet on HPV-related

knowledge, intention to HPV undergo vaccination, and HPV vaccine

uptake among previously unvaccinated female university

students.