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Development and Initial Feedback About a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Comic Book for Adolescents

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Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates do not meet the Healthy People 2020 objective of 80 % coverage among adolescent females. We describe the development and initial feedback about an HPV vaccine comic book for young adolescents. The comic book is one component of a multilevel intervention to improve HPV vaccination rates among adolescents. Parents suggested and provided input into the development of a HPV vaccine comic book. Following the development of the comic book, we conducted a pilot study to obtain initial feedback about the comic book among parents (n = 20) and their adolescents ages 9 to 14 (n = 17) recruited from a community-based organization. Parents completed a pre-post test including items addressing HPV knowledge, HPV vaccine attitudes, and about the content of the comic book. Adolescents completed a brief interview after reading the comic book. After reading the comic book, HPV knowledge improved (2.7 to 4.6 correct answers on a 0–5 scale; p < 0.01) and more positive attitudes toward HPV vaccination (p < 0.05) were reported among parents. Parents confirmed that the comic book’s content was acceptable and adolescents liked the story, found it easy to read, and thought the comic book was a good way to learn about being healthy. Parents provided valuable information in the development of a theoretically-based comic book and the comic book appears to be an acceptable format for providing HPV vaccine information to adolescents. Future research will include the comic book in an intervention study to improve HPV vaccination rates.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (R21 CA12803).

PLR, MTR, and EDP have received research grants from Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., but none have received honoraria or consulting fees from this company. These funds were not used to support this research study. The remaining authors have no conflicts to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Suite 525, 1590 North High Street, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA

    Mira L. Katz

  2. Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Mira L. Katz, Benjamin R. Oldach, Jennifer Goodwin, Paul L. Reiter & Electra D. Paskett

  3. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Paul L. Reiter & Electra D. Paskett

  4. Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Mack T. Ruffin IV

Authors
  1. Mira L. Katz
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  2. Benjamin R. Oldach
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  3. Jennifer Goodwin
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  4. Paul L. Reiter
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  5. Mack T. Ruffin IV
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  6. Electra D. Paskett
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Correspondence to Mira L. Katz.

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Katz, M.L., Oldach, B.R., Goodwin, J. et al. Development and Initial Feedback About a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Comic Book for Adolescents. J Canc Educ 29, 318–324 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0604-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0604-8

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