# An mHealth Approach to Increasing Adolescent Vaccine Uptake

> **NIH NIH K23** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $120,180

## Abstract

PROJECT
SUMMARY
The
recommended
(HPV)
being
Healthy
optimizing
lack
recommendations
vaccination
US adolescent immunization schedule has expanded to include four vaccines that are routinely
for all adolescents: meningococcal conjugate ( MenACWY ) vaccine, human papillomavirus
vaccine, tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, and influenza vaccine. Despite
a major public health priority, rates of uptake of several adolescent vaccines continue to fall short of
People 2020 goals; in particular, uptake of HPV vaccine remains unacceptably low . Multiple barriers to
vaccine coverage among adolescents exist, including less frequent health visits by dolescents,
of awareness of recommended vaccines by parents and adolescents, and weak or lack of
for vaccination by clinicians. Therefore, strategies that can avert missed opportunities for
of adolescents in the clinical setting are of critical importance. This proposal
a
describes a plan of
mentored research and training to facilitate the career development of Dr. Hansen, a pediatric infectious diseases
specialist, to become an independent clinical investigator in the area of adolescent vaccination.
She
will
accomplishthis through formal coursework and mentored research to 1)gain skills in the research methods
necessary to design, perform, and evaluate patient-oriented research aimed at increasing both the acceptance
and the uptake of adolescent vaccines, and 2) develop the professional skills and gain the career guidance
necessary to successfully transition into an independent investigator. The
innovative, interactive prototype mobile app, informed
proposed study will refine
by qualitative feedback from parents and clinicians,
an
to
support the consistent delivery of recommendations for the vaccines included in the adolescent platform by
clinicians to all eligible patients in a way that promotes vaccine acceptance and uptake, (Aim 1) and will then
assess
Aim
user
rich
t he acceptability of using the refined app during routine clinical care (Aim 2). The proposed method in
2 is not designed to evaluate the effects of the app on the participants, but instead is designed to assess
acceptability and to provide data for a future larger cluster randomized study. the resource-
infrastructure and supportive environment of Yale to conduct this research, and her
She will utilize
mentors are experts in
clinical research, vaccination, public health, and technology-based health interventions. Through the experience
acquired while carrying out the mentored research and training activities described in this proposal, Dr.
will
translatable
anticipated
will
award
Hansen
acquire new skills in clinical and health services research and intervention development that will be
to future projects . While initial studies will focus on vaccines targeted for use in adolescents, i t is
that the knowledge gained through this work will be applicable to a range of different vaccines and
have implications for improving th...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10143274
- **Project number:** 5K23HD098710-03
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Caitlin Hansen
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $120,180
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-05-01 → 2021-05-02

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10143274

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10143274, An mHealth Approach to Increasing Adolescent Vaccine Uptake (5K23HD098710-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10143274. Licensed CC0.

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