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Objective Despite the fact that the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPVV) has been approved in mainland China since 2016, there is a lack of inoculation among Chinese college women. This multi-center, online interventional RCT based on the information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model intended to investigate if the intervention may improve human papillomavirus vaccine acceptance and awareness among target women. Methods Participants were selected from comprehensive universities and allocated to 1 of 2 groups: intervention or control. After the baseline survey, participants in the intervention group were given 10-minute online IMB model-based education every day for 7 days. Self-administered questionnaire surveys on Human papillomavirus knowledge, HPVV acceptability, and IMB construct toward HPV vaccination were performed at pre- and post-intervention. Results The baseline survey was completed by 3739 female university students from the intervention (n = 1936) and control groups (n = 1803) between February and April 2020. The average score of students on 11 HPV-related questions was 5.225 ± 2.739, and only 32.07% (1199/3739) of them showed a willingness to be vaccinated against HPV. After the intervention, the intervention group had a higher willingness to vaccinate themselves and encourage their friends to get the HPVV compared to the control group (40.39% vs 31.56%, 82.67 vs 73.18%, P < .001), and the difference in knowledge scores between the 2 groups was significant (7.917 ± 1.840 vs 5.590 ± 2.859, P < .001). In addition, 8 students in the intervention group self-reported receiving HPVV during the research period. Conclusions This IMB model-based intervention showed positive effects on the participants’ knowledge, motivation, and perceived objective skills toward HPV vaccination and has the potential to improve the vaccination among Chinese college women.

Background This study aimed to assess the awareness and attitudes toward human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among female college freshmen and explore their willingness and associated factors to receive the HPV vaccine based on the information–motivation–behavior skills (IMB) model. Methods From February 21 to April 30, 2020, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among female freshmen in seven colleges in mainland China. Socio-demographic characteristics, health-related awareness, knowledge of HPV, motivation, and behavioral skills toward HPV vaccination were assessed using questionnaires. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the influencing factors of willingness to receive the HPV vaccine in the next 6 months. Results Among the 3867 students invited to participate in this study, 102 (2.64%) reported having taken the HPV vaccine. Among the unvaccinated participants, 59.89% had previously heard of HPV, and 32.08% were willing to take the HPV vaccine in the next 6 months. Willingness to get the HPV vaccine was associated with sexual experience(s) (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.25–3.08), family or friends with cancer (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.04–1.48), having heard of HPV (AOR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.03–1.47), and having actively searched for or having consulted on issues concerning HPV vaccine (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.02–1.45). In the dimensions of the IMB model, “perceived susceptibility” (AOR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.09–1.31), “perceived severity” (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.11–1.39), “subjective norms” (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.75–2.49), and “self-efficacy” (AOR: 2.95, 95% CI: 2.44–3.58) were positively associated with HPV vaccination acceptance, while “perceived barriers” (AOR = .60, 95% CI: .52–.69) negatively affected intention to get HPV vaccination. Conclusion HPV vaccination rates and willingness to receive the HPV vaccine in the next 6 months were found to be poor among female college freshmen in mainland China. Having a positive attitude toward HPV vaccination, creating vaccine-friendly social norms, and removing related barriers are important measures to promote HPV immunization.