NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice

Prof. Name

Date

Health Promotion Research

The prevention of Human papillomavirus (HPV) continues to be a critical issue in public health, especially for adolescents and young adults, who are within the recommended age for vaccination. Misinformation and lack of awareness contribute to lower vaccination rates, leaving many young individuals vulnerable to HPV-associated diseases and cancers. This concern is particularly relevant in semi-rural areas like Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, where coverage is lower than the state average.

A robust health promotion strategy is needed to educate adolescents, their parents, and educators about the importance of HPV vaccination. This approach should include accurate information, accessible resources, and easy-to-navigate vaccination services (Schlecht et al., 2021). This research investigates HPV’s impact on youth health, highlights the challenges in vaccination uptake, and presents targeted solutions to improve immunization rates in Schwenksville, thereby protecting the broader community.

Population Analysis

The focus of this study is on individuals aged 11 to 26 in Schwenksville, PA. Though the state average for full HPV vaccination in adolescents aged 13 to 17 is around 68.7%, the local rate in Schwenksville lags at just 48.7% (PA.gov, 2025). Several barriers hinder vaccine uptake in the community. These include restricted access to adolescent healthcare, lack of strong provider recommendations, and hesitancy or embarrassment among parents due to cultural or informational gaps (Lipsky et al., 2025).

As a semi-rural area, Schwenksville faces infrastructure and transportation limitations, which may prevent regular healthcare visits. Adolescents in particular may be under-informed about the long-term risks of HPV. Since parents largely drive healthcare decisions for minors, tailored education addressing both youth and guardians is critical to improving vaccination coverage.

Points of Uncertainty and Community Context

Due to limited specific data for Schwenksville, assumptions were made based on trends in similar rural areas in Pennsylvania. This includes assuming comparable cultural beliefs, healthcare access challenges, and vaccine hesitancy. However, variations may exist in community education levels, religious attitudes, and prior exposure to health campaigns. Gathering localized data would help customize effective interventions.

Schwenksville is a small, semi-rural borough in Montgomery County, with roughly 1,500 residents (Datausa, 2023). The population is primarily white and middle-income, with health education often delivered through schools or community centers. Parents may hold conservative views, making open discussions about HPV sensitive. Therefore, successful strategies must be culturally appropriate and focus on family-centered messaging (Kim et al., 2023).

Educational institutions and community partnerships play a vital role in reaching this population. This health promotion model can also be adapted to other similar rural populations facing comparable vaccination barriers.

Relevance of HPV Prevention

HPV-related cancers, such as cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers, present long-term health risks. Given Schwenksville’s lower-than-average vaccine uptake, there is a heightened need for proactive health promotion. Interventions that combine education, access, and cultural sensitivity are key to improving these outcomes and reducing healthcare disparities.

Contributing Factors and Health Disparities

Several structural and social factors contribute to lower HPV vaccination in Schwenksville. These include limited access to healthcare facilities, infrequent public health campaigns, and a shortage of pediatric or adolescent-focused services. Moreover, conservative cultural values can amplify vaccine hesitancy, particularly when the vaccine is associated with sexually transmitted infections (Magana et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023).

A lack of health literacy among parents and teens further exacerbates this gap. Addressing these issues through targeted, community-based strategies that promote understanding and accessibility is crucial for equitable health outcomes.

SMART Health Goals

To improve vaccination outcomes, three SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals are proposed:

1. Goal 1: 90% of participants will identify three HPV facts after the educational session. This will combat misinformation and raise awareness (Bowden et al., 2023).
2. Goal 2: 80% of eligible participants or guardians will commit to scheduling the first HPV dose within 30 days. This measurable pledge indicates intent to vaccinate (Zhang et al., 2023).
3. Goal 3: 85% of attendees will express increased confidence in discussing HPV vaccination, measured through a pre-and post-session scale. This fosters advocacy and improved communication (Bowden et al., 2023).

Conclusion

HPV vaccination is crucial in protecting adolescents and young adults in Schwenksville from preventable cancers. The community’s rural context, healthcare limitations, and cultural factors contribute to its health disparities. However, targeted and culturally appropriate promotion strategies, guided by SMART goals, can increase awareness, empower families, and ultimately raise vaccination rates in this vulnerable population.

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Summary Table

Heading	Key Details	Community Application
Population and Health Analysis	Focus on individuals aged 11–26; vaccination coverage in Schwenksville is 48.7% compared to state average of 68.7%; barriers include healthcare access and parental hesitancy (PA.gov, 2025; Lipsky et al., 2025).	Need for family-centered, school-based outreach programs with better transportation and provider engagement.
Health Disparities and Challenges	Rural context limits public health infrastructure and health literacy; conservative values contribute to hesitancy; parents often uninformed about HPV’s link to cancer (Magana et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023).	Implement culturally-sensitive education through schools, local health centers, and parent engagement sessions.
SMART Goals for HPV Promotion	Goal 1: Raise HPV knowledge (90% success); Goal 2: Encourage vaccine scheduling (80% pledge); Goal 3: Improve communication confidence (85%) (Bowden et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023).	Evaluate through post-session surveys, schedule support, and confidence scale; replicate in similar communities.

References

Bowden, S., Doulgeraki, T., Bouras, E., Markozannes, G., Athanasiou, A., Grout-Smith, H., Kechagias, K. S., Zuber, V., Chadeau-Hyam, M., Flanagan, J. M., Tsilidis, K. K., & Kyrgiou, M. (2023). Risk factors for human papillomavirus infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer: An umbrella review and follow-up Mendelian randomisation studies. BMC Medicine, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-02965-w

Datausa. (2023). Schwenksville, PA | Data USA. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/schwenksville-pa

Kim, S., Ou, L., Larkey, L., Todd, M., & Han, Y. (2023). Developing a culturally and linguistically congruent digital storytelling intervention in Vietnamese and Korean American mothers of human papillomavirus–vaccinated children: Feasibility and acceptability study. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e45696. https://doi.org/10.2196/45696

NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research

Lipsky, M. S., Wolfe, G., Radilla, B. A., & Hung, M. (2025). Human papillomavirus: A narrative review for dental providers in prevention and care. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(3), e439. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22030439

Magana, K., Strand, L., Love, M., Moore, T., Peña, A., Ito Ford, A., & Vassar, M. (2023). Health inequities in human papillomavirus prevention, diagnostics and clinical care in the USA: A scoping review. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 99(2), 128–136. https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2022-055587

PA.gov. (2025). Dear VFC provider. https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/programs/immunizations/3.3.25%20-%202025%20HPV%20Call-to-Action%20Letter%20and%20Resources.pdf

Schlecht, N. F., Diaz, A., Nucci-Sack, A., Shyhalla, K., Shankar, V., Guillot, M., Hollman, D., Strickler, H. D., & Burk, R. D. (2021). Incidence and types of human papillomavirus infections in adolescent girls and young women immunized with the human papillomavirus vaccine. JAMA Network Open, 4(8), e2121893. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.21893

NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research

Zhang, L., Yang, J., Cao, Y., & Kang, W. (2023). Sociocultural–psychological predictors influencing parents’ decision-making regarding HPV vaccination for their adolescent daughters in mainland China: An extended TPB model. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1035658