Gabrielle Darville College of Public Health University of Georgia Fri, 03/02/2018 - 12:20pm Miller Learning Center 214 Special Information: FREE, open to all, FYO approved Friday Speaker Series Sexual Health Intervention Opportunities: Tailoring Avatars in a Digital Game for HPV Vaccine Uptake presented by Dr. Gabrielle Darville, Instructor at the University of Georgia in the College of Public Health This presentation will explore how customization of avatars proved to be an effective tailoring strategy in digital gaming and a health communication intervention. In my presentation I will explain the effects of customizing one’s character (avatar) on individual behavior within and outside of a digital game. I will also discuss how the type of avatar character played as and how one perceives them-self can have an impact on health outcomes. Lastly, I will explain how avatar type and self perception impacted HPV risk perception, HPV vaccine self-efficacy and behavioral intent to receive the HPV vaccine among college age men in an experimental study, which has positive implications for cancer prevention and sexual health interventions using technology among men and college age women.
