Student Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice
Prof. Name
Date
Health Promotion Research
Human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention represents a crucial public health priority for adolescents and young adults, who are at the ideal age for vaccination yet often remain unprotected due to misinformation and low awareness. Unvaccinated individuals face heightened risk for HPV-related cancers and other diseases. A well-rounded health promotion initiative should aim not only to educate young people, their parents, and educators about the vaccine’s benefits but also to provide clear, reliable guidance and facilitate easy access to immunization services (Schlecht et al., 2021).
Population Analysis
In Schwenksville, PA, targeting residents aged 11–26 is strategic, given HPV’s status as one of the most common STIs in the U.S. While statewide HPV vaccination completion among 13–17-year-olds is about 68.7%, rural communities like Schwenksville report rates as low as 48.7% (PA.gov, 2025). Barriers include limited adolescent-focused healthcare access, scarce vaccine endorsements by providers, and parental hesitancy driven by embarrassment or lack of information—challenges compounded by transportation difficulties in this semi-rural setting (Lipsky et al., 2025).
Points of Uncertainty and Underlying Assumptions
This analysis assumes that vaccination patterns and cultural attitudes in Schwenksville mirror those in other rural Pennsylvania communities, despite a lack of local immunization data. Uncertainties remain regarding specific community beliefs, educational backgrounds, and the reach of school-based or public health HPV initiatives. Gathering localized survey and health-department data would sharpen intervention design.
Community Characteristics and Relevance to the Broader Target Population
Schwenksville is a small, predominantly White, working- and middle-class borough of roughly 1,500 residents (Datausa, 2023). Limited local clinics force many to seek pediatric and adolescent care elsewhere. Schools and community centers serve as trusted health-information hubs, yet conservative parental attitudes can stifle open dialogue about sexually transmitted infections. Tailored, family-centered, culturally sensitive health promotion is therefore essential (Kim et al., 2023).
Importance of HPV Prevention in Schwenksville
With only 48.7% of local adolescents fully vaccinated—well below Pennsylvania’s 68.7% average—Schwenksville faces an increased burden of HPV-related cancers, including cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal types (PA.gov, 2025). Effective promotion strategies are critical to reducing long-term disease burden and improving community health.
Factors Contributing to Health and Health Disparities
Key contributors to low vaccination rates include constrained healthcare access in rural settings and infrequent public health campaigns (Magana et al., 2023). Additionally, conservative cultural norms and limited understanding of HPV’s cancer-preventing potential fuel vaccine hesitancy, necessitating culturally attuned educational outreach (Zhang et al., 2023).
Need for Health Promotion
To bridge these gaps, initiatives must combine parent-adolescent education on HPV’s cancer prevention benefits with convenient vaccine delivery—such as school-based clinics—and expanded community outreach (Zhang et al., 2023). These efforts will help ensure timely vaccination and reduce HPV-related health disparities.
SMART Health Goals for HPV Prevention
- Knowledge Gain: By session end, 90% of attendees will identify three critical facts about HPV and cancer linkage, verified via post-session quiz (Bowden et al., 2023).
- Vaccination Commitment: Within 30 days, 80% of participants or guardians will pledge to schedule the first vaccine dose, tracked through on-site sign-ups (Zhang et al., 2023).
- Communication Confidence: Post-session, 85% of participants will report greater confidence in discussing HPV vaccination, measured by a pre-/post-session scale, and will learn three communication strategies (Bowden et al., 2023).
Conclusion
Addressing under-vaccination in Schwenksville demands a multifaceted health promotion approach that overcomes access barriers, counters cultural hesitancy, and delivers clear, actionable information. The outlined SMART goals provide a precise framework for boosting awareness, driving vaccine uptake, and fostering sustained community engagement for HPV prevention.
NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research
| Section | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Health Promotion Research | Emphasizes the urgency of educating young people and influencers on HPV risks and vaccine benefits; calls for accurate information and service access (Schlecht et al., 2021). |
| Population Analysis | Notes statewide vs. local vaccination rates; identifies barriers like limited care access, provider endorsements, and parental hesitancy (Lipsky et al., 2025; PA.gov, 2025). |
| Points of Uncertainty and Underlying Assumptions | Assumes rural Pennsylvania patterns apply locally; highlights gaps in belief, education, and intervention data. |
| Community Characteristics and Relevance to the Broader Target Population | Describes Schwenksville’s demographics, healthcare landscape, and reliance on schools for health information; stresses need for culturally sensitive outreach (Kim et al., 2023). |
| Importance of HPV Prevention in Schwenksville | Underlines low local vaccination coverage and linked cancer risks, calling for targeted promotion (PA.gov, 2025). |
| Factors Contributing to Health and Health Disparities | Identifies access constraints and cultural norms driving hesitancy; advocates tailored education (Magana et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023). |
| Need for Health Promotion | Recommends combined educational efforts and convenient vaccine delivery via school clinics and outreach (Zhang et al., 2023). |
| SMART Health Goals for HPV Prevention | Sets measurable objectives for knowledge gain, vaccination commitment, and communication confidence, with specific targets and timelines (Bowden et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023). |
| Conclusion | Calls for a comprehensive, data-driven promotion strategy to increase uptake and reduce HPV disease burden. |
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. Biomed Central Medicine, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-02965-w
Datausa. (2023). Schwenksville, PA | Data USA. Datausa.io. 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
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
NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research
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
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