Promoting HPV vaccination through dental visits

Investigating Behavioral Mechanisms and Efficacy of a Provider-Directed Intervention for HPV Vaccine Promotion in Real-World Dental Settings

NIH-funded research Healthpartners Institute · NIH-11261495

This study is all about helping dentists talk to patients and their families about the HPV vaccine during dental visits, making it easier for everyone to understand its importance in preventing certain cancers.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionHealthpartners Institute NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Bloomington, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11261495 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on increasing the promotion of the HPV vaccine during dental visits, which is a key opportunity to prevent oropharyngeal cancers. It aims to address the barriers dental providers face in discussing the vaccine, such as lack of knowledge and fear of affecting patient relationships. The project will involve training dental providers and providing them with tailored scripts to help them communicate effectively about the HPV vaccine with patients and their guardians. The effectiveness of this intervention will be tested in real-world dental settings to see if it leads to increased vaccination rates.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents and young adults under 21 who are eligible for the HPV vaccine.

Not a fit: Patients who are over 21 years old or those who are not eligible for the HPV vaccine will not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase HPV vaccination rates, thereby reducing the incidence of HPV-related cancers.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that provider-directed interventions can effectively increase vaccination rates, indicating a promising approach in this area.

Where this research is happening

Bloomington, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.