Text & Talk: using clinic conversations and parent text messages to prevent cancer in 11- to 12-year-olds
Text and Talk: A multi-level intervention to increase opportunities to prevent cancer
This project compares brief provider communication training and parent-directed educational text messages to help parents of 11- to 12-year-olds learn about and act on cancer-prevention options in Florida.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174301 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a parent of an 11- or 12-year-old, you may encounter this work at one of 30 participating clinics in Florida where providers either receive brief communication training or serve as comparison. About 58 providers are involved and 7,837 children were randomized so their parents might receive educational text message reminders about cancer-prevention options like HPV vaccination. Researchers will track how providers use the trained communication skills in real practice and where text messages are most helpful based on family and neighborhood factors. Findings will be used to refine provider training and better target messages to families who benefit most.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are parents or guardians of 11- to 12-year-old children who receive care at one of the participating clinics in Florida.
Not a fit: Patients outside the 11–12 age range, families who do not receive care at the participating clinics or who lack access to text messaging may not receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could increase helpful conversations and uptake of cancer-prevention measures such as HPV vaccination among preteens and their families.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show provider communication training and reminder texts can boost vaccination and preventive care, though combining clinic-level training with large-scale parent texting and geospatial analysis is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Staras, Stephanie a S — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Staras, Stephanie a S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.