The Effects of Motivational Interviewing on Promoting Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Initiation and Completion Among South Asian Mother/Daughter Dyads: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

TL;DR

This study tested if motivational interviewing helps South Asian mothers vaccinate their daughters against HPV, finding it increased vaccine initiation and knowledge.

Contribution

A novel application of motivational interviewing to improve HPV vaccination rates in South Asian mother-daughter pairs in Hong Kong.

Findings

95% of daughters in the intervention group started the HPV vaccine series, compared to 0% in the control group.

The intervention improved mothers' knowledge of HPV and vaccination (effect size Hedges’ g = 0.77).

Most participants found the motivational interviewing intervention acceptable and satisfactory.

Abstract

Vaccination against HPV is an effective strategy for the prevention of HPV infection and cervical cancer. Nevertheless, the HPV vaccine uptake rate is low among ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. This study sought to assess the feasibility and acceptability of motivational interviewing among South Asian mother–daughter dyads and to preliminarily examine its effects on knowledge of HPV infection and vaccination, health beliefs, intention to have the daughters vaccinated, and initiation and completion of HPV vaccine series.

This was a pilot randomised controlled trial. Forty South Asian mothers with at least one daughter aged 9 to 17 years were recruited. The intervention group received a motivational interviewing intervention whereas the control group received usual care. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on the participants’ characteristics and selected outcome variables. Bias-corrected Hedges’ g and rate difference together with their 95% confidence intervals were calculated to estimate the effect sizes of the intervention on the outcomes The acceptability was assessed via semi-structured interviews.

A larger proportion of the daughters of the intervention group participants had received the first dose of HPV vaccine (95% [19 out of 20]) vs 0% [0 out of 20]). The intervention group showed greater improvement in knowledge at 3 months after the intervention (Hedges’ g = 0.77 (95%CI:0.13–1.41)). Most interviewees were satisfied with the intervention.

The intervention was feasible and acceptable. The intervention can help to increase South Asian mothers’ knowledge and to increase the initiation of HPV vaccine series by their daughters.

This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100052751) on 5 November 2021.

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