Stories to Prevent HPV Cancers
Official title: Stories to Prevent (StoP) HPV Cancers: A Communication Intervention to Increase HPV Vaccination Among Diverse Populations.
Run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center · NCT06808776 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will try short videos of local cancer survivors telling their HPV stories to see if parents of 9- to 12-year-olds are more likely to start the HPV vaccine for their children.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hershey, Pennsylvania) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 18, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | March 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | February 24, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06808776 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Parents or legal guardians of 9- to 12-year-old children who receive primary care at Penn State Health, whose child has not initiated the HPV vaccine, who read English or Spanish, and who have an email address and access to a mobile phone, tablet, or computer.
✕Probably not a fit
Parents of children who have already received or started the HPV vaccine, people without access to email or a compatible device, non-English/Spanish speakers, or those not receiving care at Penn State Health are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will enroll 200 parents of 9- to 12-year-old children who have not started the HPV vaccine and randomize them 1:1 to receive either a brief survivor-narrative video or a placebo video one week before their child's primary care visit. The survivor videos feature local cancer survivors describing their HPV-related diagnoses and recommending vaccination, while control participants view a healthy-eating tips video of similar length. The primary outcome is HPV vaccine initiation at the wellness visit (first dose received), and the study will also measure parents' cognitive and emotional reactions—such as perceived risk, hope, and anticipated regret—as theory-based mediators. Materials are delivered via digital channels (email, patient portal, or mobile device) and participants are recruited from Penn State Health pediatric and family medicine clinics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could boost HPV vaccine starts among 9- to 12-year-olds by motivating parents before clinic visits and thereby help prevent future HPV-related cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research indicates narrative messages can improve vaccine attitudes and sometimes uptake, but findings are mixed and pre-visit survivor-video interventions are a relatively novel approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Parent/guardian of a 9-12 year old receiving primary care at a Penn State Health clinic * Their child has not previously received or initiated the HPV vaccine * Is able to read and understand spoken English or Spanish * Has a valid email address and access to a mobile phone, table, desktop or laptop computer to engage in the intervention Exclusion Criteria: * Parent of guardian is less than 18 years of age * Unable to read and understand spoken English or Spanish * Does not have access to a mobile phone, table, desktop or laptop computer
Where it's running
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Penn State Health
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: William A Calo, PhD
- Email: wcalo@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
- Phone: 717-531-3535
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.