Background Science-driven storytelling and entertainment-education (E-E) media demonstrate potential for promoting improved attitudes and behavioral intent towards health-related practices. Months after the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), emerging research highlights the essential role of interventions to improve public confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine. To improve vaccine confidence, we designed three short, animated videos employing three research-informed pedagogical strategies. These can be distributed globally through social media platforms, because of their wordless and culturally accessible design. However, the effectiveness of short, animated storytelling videos, deploying various pedagogic strategies, needs to be explored across different global regions. Methods/design The present study is a multi-site, parallel group, randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the effectiveness of (i) a storytelling-instructional-humor approach, (ii) a storytelling-analogy approach, (iii) a storytelling-emotion-focused approach, and (iv) no video. For our primary outcomes, we will measure vaccine hesitancy, and for secondary outcomes, we will measure behavioral intent to seek vaccination and hope. Using online platforms, we will recruit 12,000 participants (aged 18–59 years) from the USA and China, respectively, yielding a total sample size of 24,000. Discussion This trial uses innovative online technology, reliable randomization algorithms, validated survey instruments, and list experiments to establish the effectiveness of three short, animated videos employing various research-informed pedagogical strategies. Results will be used to scientifically support the broader distribution of these short, animated video as well as informing the design of future videos for rapid, global public health communication. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register DRKS #00023650 . Date of registration: 2021/02/09. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06067-5.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, protocol, Vaccine hesitancy, Vaccine acceptance, List experiment, Hope, Rrandomized controlled trial, Vaccine confidence, 【초록키워드】 Randomized controlled trial, coronavirus disease, Vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, vaccination, Trial, randomization, media, Intervention, RCT, China, outbreak, clinical, Research, Effectiveness, experiment, USA, distribution, Support, Algorithms, supplementary material, parallel group, Secondary outcomes, global public health, Primary outcomes, social media platforms, participant, total sample size, regions, approach, highlight, IMPROVE, Result, Date, Month, recruit, yielding, 【제목키워드】 Vaccine, Randomized, experiment, participant, IMPROVE,