scholarly journals Mobile App Strategy to Facilitate Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Pilot Intervention Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly B Fontenot ◽  
Bradley Patrick White ◽  
Joshua G Rosenberger ◽  
Hailee Lacasse ◽  
Chokdee Rutirasiri ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Mobile app-based interventions have been identified as potential facilitators for vaccination among young men who have sex with men (MSM). OBJECTIVE This pilot study aimed to test the feasibility of a theoretically informed mobile health (mHealth) tool designed to reduce health disparities and facilitate human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among a sample of young MSM. METHODS The development of the mHealth tool was guided by previous research, implementation intention theory, and design thinking. We recruited MSM aged 18-26 years through a popular online dating app and linked participants to our mHealth tool, which provided HPV vaccine information and fostered access to care. RESULTS A total of 42 young MSM participated in this pilot study in Boston, Massachusetts. Participants reported variable HPV knowledge (ie, high knowledge of HPV risk factors and low knowledge of HPV-related cancer risks for men) and positive vaccine beliefs and attitudes. Of those who were either unvaccinated, not up to date, or did not report vaccine status, 23% (8/35) utilized the mHealth tool to obtain HPV vaccination. Participants primarily utilized the tool’s (1) educational components and (2) capabilities facilitating concrete vaccine action plans. CONCLUSIONS We recruited an underserved at-risk population of youth via an online dating app for our mHealth intervention that resulted in in-person health care delivery. This study was limited by enrollment challenges, including low willingness to download the mHealth tool to mobile devices.

10.2196/22878 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. e22878
Author(s):  
Holly B Fontenot ◽  
Bradley Patrick White ◽  
Joshua G Rosenberger ◽  
Hailee Lacasse ◽  
Chokdee Rutirasiri ◽  
...  

Background Mobile app-based interventions have been identified as potential facilitators for vaccination among young men who have sex with men (MSM). Objective This pilot study aimed to test the feasibility of a theoretically informed mobile health (mHealth) tool designed to reduce health disparities and facilitate human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among a sample of young MSM. Methods The development of the mHealth tool was guided by previous research, implementation intention theory, and design thinking. We recruited MSM aged 18-26 years through a popular online dating app and linked participants to our mHealth tool, which provided HPV vaccine information and fostered access to care. Results A total of 42 young MSM participated in this pilot study in Boston, Massachusetts. Participants reported variable HPV knowledge (ie, high knowledge of HPV risk factors and low knowledge of HPV-related cancer risks for men) and positive vaccine beliefs and attitudes. Of those who were either unvaccinated, not up to date, or did not report vaccine status, 23% (8/35) utilized the mHealth tool to obtain HPV vaccination. Participants primarily utilized the tool’s (1) educational components and (2) capabilities facilitating concrete vaccine action plans. Conclusions We recruited an underserved at-risk population of youth via an online dating app for our mHealth intervention that resulted in in-person health care delivery. This study was limited by enrollment challenges, including low willingness to download the mHealth tool to mobile devices.


2019 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-66
Author(s):  
Carol Strong ◽  
Huachun Zou ◽  
Nai-Ying Ko ◽  
Ya-Lun Liang ◽  
Wen-Wei Ku ◽  
...  

ObjectivesMen who have sex with men (MSM) are a highly neglected population in the current recommendation of girls-only human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes in many countries. To better assess the cost effectiveness of HPV vaccination among men requires data on the prevalence of HPV infection in MSM using a community sample, which is still sparse in several regions. We examined the prevalence of and factors associated with anogenital HPV infection among MSM in Taiwan.MethodsMSM 20 years of age and older were recruited from the community and social media in Taiwan in 2015–2016 and screened for HPV infection to detect 37 genotypes. MSM were seen at baseline and were/will be seen at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. Men completed a questionnaire regarding their sexual experiences. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted to identify associated behavioural risk factors using the baseline data.ResultsA total of 253 MSM were recruited; 87 % were below 35 years of age. Diagnosis of HIV was reported in 4% of men; just over 20% had three or more anal sex partners in the past year. The prevalence of any tested HPV type was 29.4% at the anal site and 11% at the penile site. One quarter of MSM were infected with any of the 9-valent vaccine HPV types. Anal HPV detection was associated with having three or more receptive anal sex partners in the past year (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.92, 95% CI 1.29 to 6.61) and having older sex partners (aOR=2.51, 95% CI 1.07 to 5.90).ConclusionsOur data provide the base to calculate the reproductive rate for HPV transmission in a low-risk community sample and cost-effectiveness to include men in HPV vaccination policies. Adding evidence from a community sample adds comprehensiveness for future estimates of disease transmission and vaccine effectiveness.


Vaccine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (13) ◽  
pp. 2849-2858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiguo Zhou ◽  
Yi-Fan Lin ◽  
Xiaojun Meng ◽  
Qibin Duan ◽  
Zhenyu Wang ◽  
...  

JMIR Nursing ◽  
10.2196/19503 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e19503
Author(s):  
Anne M Teitelman ◽  
Emily F Gregory ◽  
Joshua Jayasinghe ◽  
Zara Wermers ◽  
Ja H Koo ◽  
...  

Background More than 90% of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers could be prevented by widespread uptake of the HPV vaccine, yet vaccine use in the United States falls short of public health goals. Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the development, acceptability, and intention to use the mobile app Vaccipack, which was designed to promote uptake and completion of the adolescent HPV vaccine series. Methods Development of the mobile health (mHealth) content was based on the integrated behavioral model (IBM). The technology acceptance model (TAM) was used to guide the app usability evaluation. App design utilized an iterative process involving providers and potential users who were parents and adolescents. App features include a vaccine-tracking function, a discussion forum, and stories with embedded messages to promote intention to vaccinate. Parents and adolescents completed surveys before and after introducing the app in a pediatric primary care setting with low HPV vaccination rates. Results Surveys were completed by 54 participants (20 adolescents aged 11 to 14 years and 34 parents). Notably, 75% (15/20) of adolescents and 88% (30/34) of parents intended to use the app in the next 2 weeks. Acceptability of the app was high among both groups: 88% (30/34) of parents and 75% (15/20) of adolescents indicated that Vaccipack was easy to use, and 82% (28/34) of parents and 85% (17/20) of adolescents perceived the app to be beneficial. Higher levels of app acceptability were found among parents with strong intentions to use the app (P=.09; 95% CI –2.15 to 0.15). Conclusions mHealth technology, such as Vaccipack, may be an acceptable and nimble platform for providing information to parents and adolescents and advancing the uptake of important vaccines.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan M Sherman ◽  
Emma Nailer

The incidence of cancers attributable to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) that affect males is on the rise. Currently in the UK teenage boys are not vaccinated against HPV while teenage girls are. The rationale for this is that vaccinating girls should provide herd immunity to boys, however this does not protect men who have sex with men or men who have sex with unvaccinated women. The issue of whether to vaccinate boys or not is a controversial one with considerable lobbying taking place to change the existing policy. On one side of the debate are financial considerations while on the other side health equity is important. One avenue that has not been presented is the parental perspective. The current study uses a self-report questionnaire to explore what parents of teenage boys know about HPV and the vaccine and whether they want the vaccine for their sons. Only half of the parents had heard of HPV prior to completing the survey. Of those who had heard of HPV, knowledge about the health sequelae of HPV for men was poor relative to their knowledge about its impact on female health. Parents who would be willing to vaccinate their sons had higher levels of knowledge about HPV than those parents who would be unwilling or unsure. Irrespective of whether they had previously heard of HPV or not, once provided with a brief description of HPV, the majority of parents thought that boys should be offered the vaccination. There is a pressing need for public education about the potential impact of HPV on male health in order to facilitate uptake of the vaccine in the event of the vaccination programme being extended to men or to facilitate informed decision making about seeking the vaccine privately in the event that it isn’t.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Zhao ◽  
Xiaoli Xin ◽  
Huiwen Deng ◽  
Junjie Xu ◽  
Wenjia Weng ◽  
...  

Objectives: To investigate the acceptability of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among men who have sex with men (MSM) and its associated factors.Methods: We searched studies written in English in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science with no geographical or time restrictions. We evaluated the quality of the included literature. We calculated the pooled acceptability and performed meta-analysis of selected studies, including factors associated with the acceptability among MSM, using Review Manager (v5.3).Results: The acceptability among the 15 studies (n = 8,658) was 50% (95% CI: 0.27–0.72). The meta-analysis of seven articles (n = 4,200) indicated that having a college or higher degree (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.35–1.95), disclosure of sexual orientation to healthcare professionals (HCPs; OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.47–3.86), vaccination with at least one dose for hepatitis A or B (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.42–3.10), awareness of HPV (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.21–2.83), knowledge of HPV (SMD = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.16–0.39), perceived susceptibility to HPV infection (SMD = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11–0.50), and perceived severity of HPV-related disease (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.28–0.51) can promote acceptance of HPV vaccines. Meanwhile, people who have had unprotected anal sex or have more sex partners tend to have low acceptance of HPV vaccines.Conclusions: HPV education should be actively promoted according to the factors that influence the acceptability of HPV vaccines among the MSM population. HPV education should be especially aimed at people with low academic qualifications and people with risky sexual behaviors, and should emphasize the aspects of susceptibility to and severity of HPV-related disease. More intervention trials should be conducted to increase the credibility of the results.


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