Feasibility of a Twitter campaign to promote HPV vaccine uptake among racially/ethnically diverse young adult women living in public housing

Abstract Objectives This study assessed the feasibility of implementing a one-month Twitter campaign to promote knowledge about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among low-income women living in public housing. Methods We recruited a convenience sample (n=35) of women ages 18-26 years who resided in public housing in Massachusetts. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the campaign. Online assessed changes in HPV knowledge, attitudes, and vaccine intentions before and after the campaign. Results Most believed that Twitter was an acceptable educational strategy and remained engaged with the campaign throughout the intervention. There were no changes in HPV knowledge, perceived benefits of or barriers to vaccination, decision self-efficacy, or vaccine intentions. Perceived risk for cervical cancer decreased after the campaign. Conclusions The one-month educational campaign was feasible and acceptable but did not result in measurable changes perhaps due to high vaccine awareness and uptake before the intervention. Practice Implications Twitter may be a feasible and acceptable method for promoting knowledge about the HPV vaccine, but more research is needed to understand how best to reach low-income women with low levels of vaccine uptake.