Interactive, Health Literacy Promoting Text Messages and HPV Vaccine Completion In Minority Adolescents

Emerging communication technologies, such as text messaging offer low-cost, scalable opportunities to improve health literacy and promote healthy behaviors, such as vaccination. While the investigators reported the success of text message vaccine reminders, effects were limited by their untailored approach. The trans-theoretical model of behavior change supports tailoring interventions to an individual's stage of decision-making. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted virus in the U.S. and can lead to genital warts, and cervical, anal and penile cancer. The three-dose vaccine is 90-100% efficacious. Minorities are at greatest risk for such cancers but have low HPV vaccine completion rates. Limited health literacy regarding the vaccine can affect series completion. The investigators will compare the effects of enhancing text message vaccination reminders with interactive, vaccine health literacy-promoting information tailored to vaccine decision making-stage on HPV vaccine series completion. The effects of these messages represent a new paradigm in interactive health communications.