Development and acceptability of a peer-paired, cross-cultural and cross-generational storytelling HPV intervention for Korean American college women

Abstract

Although Korean American women have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer, currently there are limited culturally relevant intervention strategies for improving primary prevention of cervical cancer by promoting HPV vaccination in this population. This study reports the development of a cross-cultural, cross-generational storytelling HPV intervention using a peer-paired method, in which two storytellers interactively share their stories, as a particular innovation that might resonate with Korean American young women. The acceptability of the intervention was assessed by self-reported satisfaction and endorsement with the intervention in a pilot randomized control trial (RCT). We compared participants' responses to the intervention by their generation and cultural identity. One hundred and four Korean college women between the ages of 18-26 were recruited from the Northeastern US Participants randomized to the intervention group received a storytelling video (n = 54); the comparison group received written information (n = 50). The acceptability of the intervention was measured immediately post-intervention. The intervention group had significantly greater satisfaction than the comparison group (P < 0.05). Participants reported greater endorsement for videos that reflected their cultural and generational experiences. Future study is needed to examine the impact of such interventions on objective follow-up on HPV vaccination in a large-scale RCT.