A Vax4HPV Mobile Application for Parents of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine-Eligible Children: Iterative Formative Assessments

Abstract

Although the human papillomavirus vaccine is efficacious, 40% of 13-year-old adolescents have been vaccinated for human papillomavirus. Implementing theory-based, user-centered applications can address this suboptimal coverage. This formative usability test aimed to develop a theory-based, user-centered interface to stimulate and inform parents' decision making on human papillomavirus vaccination and to help them act upon that decision. Iterative formative assessments were conducted through four focus groups of parents of children aged 9 to 14 years (N = 15). Participants discussed the desired content and features of a vaccine for human papillomavirus smartphone application while reviewing application prototypes. The discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then underwent qualitative content analysis. Four of the discovered themes were related to the content desired by parents: sources of information, facilitators of human papillomavirus vaccination, addressing the reasons for vaccine hesitancy, and gender-neutral content. The remaining three themes concerned the application's desirable designs and features: clear and descriptive interfaces, accessibility to broad groups of end users, and closing the intention-behavior gap. The need for adolescent human papillomavirus vaccination was generally well received by participants. This study found that theory-based, user-centered applications offering directions to appropriate clinics and human papillomavirus vaccine recommendations offered by nurses, can mitigate hesitancy by providing information via preferred routes and closing intention-behavior gaps.