Multi-Level Communication Strategies for HPV Vaccination in Hmong Adolescents

A quarter million Hmong Americans (Hmong) reside in the United States and 25% live in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. With a median age of 20.4 years old, this young community has a poverty rate of 26% in Minnesota and 27.4% nationally. Cervical cancer knowledge and prevention, such as awareness of HPV's effectiveness in reducing cancer risk, is low among Hmong women (19-50%) and men (38%), which may explain Hmong's high cervical cancer incidence rates (three times higher than other Asian Americans (AA) and four times higher than Non-Hispanic Whites). This problem is further aggravated by the rise of cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates among Hmong women. Clearly, multilevel strategies to increase HPV vaccination rates and reduce HPV-related cancers among Hmong are urgently needed. Yet Hmong women face structural and cultural barriers that limit their access to preventive health care. Language difficulties, poor health literacy, lack of time or transportation, visiting a doctor only when symptomatic or in pain and abstaining from gynecological visits due to embarrassment are some of these barriers. These barriers and beliefs must be carefully integrated into the design of any effective multilevel strategy to promote HPV vaccination uptake and completion. This study proposes to use a Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) approach to develop and test the effectiveness of a theory-based culturally and cognitively appropriate mobile application (hAppy app) intervention that facilitate HPV vaccination completion among Hmong adolescents (11 to 17 years old) and their parents. Mobile health (mHealth) technology is a promising tool allowing for effective person-centered customization. The study's primary objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of hAppy app intervention in Hmong adolescents and their parents. 100 Hmong adolescents and their parents will be recruited and a single blind, two arm, randomized controlled trial will be conducted. Participants will be randomized by a 1:1 ratio to receive the hAppy app intervention (N=50) or usual care (UC, N=50) for a 9-month period.