How Virtual Reality Can Improve HPV Vaccine Initiation

Published June 2022 | American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Research led by Joe Real, MD, MEd, Brittany Rosen, PhD, MEd, and colleagues has identified a novel way to use virtual reality (VR) technology to improve the uptake of vaccinations, particularly for the three-part HPV series.

The research involved engaging providers in Virtual Immersive Communication Training on Recommending Immunizations (VICTORI). VICTORI gives physicians a safe virtual space to practice providing vaccine communication to families. The platform also gives feedback to physicians. Providers who used VICTORI showed an 18% increase in HPV vaccine initiation rates among their patients.

Vaccinations remain one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent disease. The HPV vaccine is an important one for children to receive early. HPV causes almost all cervical cancers and most vulvar, vaginal, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancer cases in the U.S.

Even with the benefits of a safe and effective vaccine, only 75% of children aged 13–17 years have received an initial dose. Even more are not current with the full series.

Families often rely on physicians to provide vaccine recommendations for their children. Unfortunately, many physicians feel they lack the resources to advise vaccine-hesitant families. This study demonstrated that training through VR can help lower the barriers to counseling and increase uptake among families.

Moreover, the success of this trial has the potential to help increase vaccination against other diseases.

“In addition to the success achieved with HPV vaccination, there was a spillover effect to other adolescent vaccines, including those for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) and meningococcal infection (MCV4),” Real says. “Now we are creating a COVID-19 vaccine curriculum that similarly uses virtual reality simulations to allow providers to practice vaccine counseling behaviors.”