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

Dorothy Ngo Sheung Chan & Winnie Kwok Wei So et al. · 2025-01-17

Abstract

Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusion

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.

Trial registration

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