Date of Award

2026-05-01

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Interdisciplinary Health Sciences

Advisor(s)

Gabriel A. Frietze

Abstract

Hispanics make up 19.5% of the U.S. population, making them the nation's largest ethnic minority. Hispanics are disproportionately impacted by health outcomes, including many different types of cancers that are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). An HPV vaccine is available that can prevent 90% of HPV associated cancers. The purpose of this mixed-methods study and randomized experiment is to develop and test data-driven digital health messages to promote the HPV vaccine in Hispanic parents. Four specific aims were conducted among three major studies. Aim 1 (Study 1): A cross-sectional survey was conducted to obtain preliminary evidence on trusted messengers of HPV vaccine information among Hispanic parents (N = 225) of children aged 11-17 years of age. Results indicated that the top five trusted messengers of HPV vaccine information were medical doctors, registered nurses, pharmacists, the CDC, and the WHO. Aim 2 (Study 2): Focus groups (3 groups, 3-5 participants per group) were conducted with Hispanic parents of children 11-17 years of age to expand beyond the quantitative data captured in Aim 1. Thematic analysis revealed five themes: 1) top trusted messengers, 2) trust in vaccines, 3) messaging themes, 4) vaccine decision making, and 5) knowledge and misconceptions. Aim 3: Five data-driven digital health messaging interventions were developed using the findings from Aims 1 and 2. Aim 4 (Study 3): A randomized controlled trial was conducted among Hispanic parents (N = 573) of children aged 11-17 years of age to test the intervention videos and identify effective messengers for increasing parents' intentions to vaccinate. Findings included: 1) strong trust in healthcare providers and prominent public health agencies, 2) the influence of familial vaccine beliefs, and 3) differential effects of trusted messengers on vaccination intentions depending on the outcome (self vs. child). The study will contribute to the development and testing of health messages that leverage trusted messengers of health information to improve engagement in preventative health behaviors, such as vaccination.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

145 p.

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Alyssa Andrea Martinez

Download

Share

COinS