Abstract C17: Community theater outreach to increase HPV vaccine intention among parents of Latino adolescents: A pilot test
Authors: Landa Veronica , Montealegre Jane , Jibaja-Weiss Maria 
Published: February 2019

Introduction: Although Latinos have higher HPV vaccination rates than non-Hispanic whites, coverage is far below the 80% Healthy People 2020 goal. Significant gaps in knowledge and awareness about HPV and the HPV vaccine persist. Community theater performances are an effective tool to communicate health messages to medically underserved minority populations. Here we describe the pilot test of a community theater-based intervention to increase HPV vaccination intention among Spanish-speaking parents of underserved Latino adolescents.

Methods: The monologue script was written by a professional playwright and then modified in an iterative process based on recommendations from clinical and community advisory boards. The monologue performance was pilot tested in two groups, one at a charter school and another at a church in Harris County, TX. Audiences viewed a performance of the monologue and then participated in a question-and-answer session. After the intervention, they were asked questions about the performance and their comprehension of health messages. Additionally, participants answered a self-administered questionnaire. Feedback from the pilot audiences was compiled and incorporated into a revised monologue script.

Results: The monologue pilot performances were attended by 36 people. They were mostly female around the average age of 41. 36% were very likely to get their children vaccinated for HPV before viewing the monologue, and 97% were very likely to get their children vaccinated for HPV after the viewing the monologue. This difference was statistically significant (p&lt;0.001). Knowledge question responses revealed key messages that needed further emphasis. Specifically, messages about the vaccine's safety and efficacy and the connection between HPV and cancer were reinforced. Audiences also provided qualitative feedback about ideas they thought needed to be emphasized or clarified.

Discussion: Responses to the pre- and post-performance intention-to-vaccinate item suggest that the monologue may increase Latino parents' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent children against the HPV vaccine. This suggests that community theater performances targeted to Latino parents may be an effective approach to communicate health messages and improve parents' knowledge and intentions to vaccinate their adolescent children for HPV. For the most part, audiences understood the main health messages of the monologue and were entertained by and identified with the character and scenarios depicted in the script. However, there were several key messages that audience members felt were not strongly conveyed in the original script: specifically, that the vaccine is about cancer prevention not sexual activity, why the recommended age for vaccination is 11 and 12 years, and the importance of vaccinating against HPV and other adolescent vaccines (Tdap and meningococcal). Changes made to the monologue script will be made based on the feedback from the pilot audiences. Community theater performances targeted to Latino parents may be an effective approach to communicate health messages and improve parents' knowledge and intentions to vaccinate their adolescent children for HPV.

Citation Format: Veronica Landa, Jane Montealegre, Maria Jibaja-Weiss. Community theater outreach to increase HPV vaccine intention among parents of Latino adolescents: A pilot test [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr C17.