Using a video game to encourage HPV vaccination in children
Official title: Pilot Testing of a Game-Based Intervention to Promote HPV Vaccination in Families with Unvaccinated Children
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-10909265 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a fun video game called HPV Detective that helps kids and their parents learn about the importance of getting the HPV vaccine, with the goal of making more families want to get vaccinated.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $171,256 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NR020828-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10909265 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are families with children aged 0-11 who have not yet received the HPV vaccine.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already been vaccinated against HPV or are outside the age range of 0-11 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new approach to increase HPV vaccination rates among children aged 0-11 by using a video game called HPV Detective. The game is designed for both youth and their parents, aiming to educate them about the importance of HPV vaccination in a fun and engaging way. The study will assess how well this game is accepted and whether it effectively increases the intent to vaccinate and actual vaccination rates. By focusing on the challenges faced by healthcare providers in promoting HPV education, this intervention seeks to provide a scalable solution to improve vaccination rates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase HPV vaccination rates among children, leading to reduced incidence of HPV-related cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using game-based interventions to improve health behaviors, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Angela Chia-Chen — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Chen, Angela Chia-Chen
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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.