# Investigating Behavioral Mechanisms and Efficacy of a Provider-Directed Intervention for HPV Vaccine Promotion in Real-World Dental Settings

> **NIH NIH UG3** · HEALTHPARTNERS INSTITUTE · 2024 · $363,322

## Abstract

Project Summary
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers in the US. Despite the safety and
effectiveness of the HPV vaccine (HPV-V), coverage is far below that for other routine adolescent vaccines
and the Healthy People 2030 goal of 80%. HPV-V promotion at dental visits is seen as a prime opportunity to
prevent oropharyngeal and other cancers, yet many dental providers are not comfortable doing so due to lack
of knowledge and self-efficacy, and fear of harming the patient-provider relationship. Using the NIH Stage
Model of Behavioral Intervention Development as our guide, we propose to develop a theory-based
intervention to address dental provider barriers to HPV-V promotion, elucidate the intervention's behavioral
mechanisms, and test the real-world efficacy of the intervention in catalyzing provider HPV-V promotion. The
intervention will consist of 1) provider training about HPV/HPV-V; 2) tailored scripts to aid providers in
responding to patient/parent/guardian concerns about HPV-V. During the UG3 phase, we will randomize 21
HealthPartners Dental Group clinics to intervention vs. usual care (UC; n=~131 providers). UG3 aims are to:
develop survey measures and pilot-test provider HPV-V promotion training (Aim 1) and tailored scripts (Aim 2);
develop measures and methods for monitoring provider fidelity to the training and intervention activities (Aim
3); and draft compliance/study documents and obtain IRB/NIDCR approvals (Aim 4). During the UH3 phase,
we will conduct a cluster (clinic)-randomized clinical trial (intervention vs. UC) to test the real-world efficacy of
the intervention to increase HPV-V promotion activity (Aim 5). We will assess whether the intervention
impacted the three intended behavioral mechanism targets: increased knowledge of HPV/HPV-V; increased
self-efficacy for HPV-V promotion; and reduced fear of HPV-V promotion negatively affecting the patient-
provider relationship (Aim 6). For each target, we will also assess whether the intervention's effects followed
the full mechanistic pathway to the endpoint behavior, HPV-V promotion (Aim 7). Beyond our aims, we will
conduct exploratory work examining two additional candidate behavioral mechanisms: adequacy of material
resources to support dental providers in promoting HPV-V, and providers' perception that HPV-V promotion
comports with their professional identity. We will also conduct an exploratory analysis of the intervention's
efficacy in increasing HPV-V uptake (30-day post-visit patient vaccination rates). Our long-term goal is to
reduce HPV and oropharyngeal cancer prevalence through HPV-V promotion by dental providers. Significant
impact of the project includes: 1) developing the first theory-based behavioral intervention for HPV-V promotion
aimed at dental providers; 2) delivering the first evidence of real-world efficacy of such an intervention; 3)
illuminating behavioral mechanisms purported to underlie provider behavior change; 4) prod...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10769887
- **Project number:** 5UG3DE030063-02
- **Recipient organization:** HEALTHPARTNERS INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Patricia Lombard Mabry
- **Activity code:** UG3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $363,322
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-02-01 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10769887

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10769887, Investigating Behavioral Mechanisms and Efficacy of a Provider-Directed Intervention for HPV Vaccine Promotion in Real-World Dental Settings (5UG3DE030063-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10769887. Licensed CC0.

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