Normalizing HPV Vaccination in Preteens With a Serious Video Game
Condition: Human Papillomavirus
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United
      States and causes genital warts and cancers in both females and males. Vaccination against
      HPV is recommended for routine use in those aged 11-12 years old, yet is underutilized. The
      study's premise is that preteens are relevant decision makers who can be motivated to
      initiate and complete the HPV vaccine series (assuming parental consent and provider
      recommendation). This study evaluates a serious video game to engage preteens in the decision
      to pursue HPV vaccination. The hypothesis is that preteens who are assigned to the video game
      will be more likely to initiate and complete HPV vaccination than preteens who are not
      assigned to the video game.
    

Detailed description: 
      The aims of this pilot study are to (1) evaluate whether preteens who receive the video game
      have better self-reported outcomes related to knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine, vaccination
      self-efficacy and decisional balance compared with preteens who do not receive the game; and
      (2) evaluate outcomes related to immersion in the video game and game play experiences of
      preteens who played the game. HPV vaccination initiation and completion data are collected
      from practices for both preteens who receive the game and a comparison group who do not
      receive the game.

      This is a multiple baseline study based in primary care practices in North Carolina and
      conducted over 3 waves of 16 practices each wave. The goal is to recruit 160 boys and girls
      ages 11-12 and not vaccinated against HPV for each wave. Participants are recruited by their
      primary care providers to enroll in the study. Parents give consent and preteens give assent.

      An original video game, Land of Secret Gardens, is created for the study. The game is a
      metaphor for protecting seedlings (body) with a potion (vaccine). Points to buy seeds and
      create the potion are earned by playing minigames. The minigames include several versions of
      finding secret objects in a garden shed and another involves playing a shield game with blue
      spikey balls (i.e., HPV) before they land on budding plants. Throughout the play, players are
      exposed to messaging about HPV and the benefits of the HPV vaccine.

      Preteens are randomly assigned to an intervention group to play the video game or to a
      comparison group that will not play the game. Participants are asked to complete baseline and
      postintervention surveys. Measures included are scales for knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine,
      vaccination self-efficacy and decisional balance about deciding to pursue HPV vaccination.
      Participants in the intervention group are also asked about story immersion and game play.
    

Intervention name(s): educational video game for preteens to support HPV vaccination
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): An educational video game developed for 11-12 year olds to increase interest in and decision to pursue HPV vaccination.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Random assignment to intervention or comparison
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: vaccination; preteen; serious video game; human papillomavirus