HPV vaccine recommendations by age: A survey of providers in federally qualified health centers.

Clinician recommendation remains a critical factor in improving HPV vaccine uptake. Clinicians practicing in federally qualified health centers were surveyed between October 2021 and July 2022. Clinicians were asked how they recommended HPV vaccination for patients aged 9-10, 11-12, 13-18, 19-26, and 27-45 y (strongly recommend, offer but do not recommend strongly, discuss only if the patient initiates the conversation, or recommend against). Descriptive statistics were assessed, and exact binomial logistic regression analyses were utilized to examine factors associated with HPV vaccination recommendation in 9-10-y-old patients. Respondents (n = 148) were primarily female (85%), between the ages of 30-39 (38%), white, non-Hispanic (62%), advanced practice providers (55%), family medicine specialty (70%), and practicing in the Northeast (63%). Strong recommendations for HPV vaccination varied by age: 65% strongly recommended for ages 9-10, 94% for ages 11-12, 96% for ages 13-18, 82% for age 19-26, and 26% for ages 27-45 y. Compared to Women's Health/OBGYN specialty, family medicine clinicians were less likely to recommend HPV vaccination at ages 9-10 (p = .03). Approximately two-thirds of clinicians practicing in federally qualified health centers or safety net settings strongly recommend HPV vaccine series initiation at ages 9-10. Additional research is needed to improve recommendations in younger age groups.

Emergency preparedness is a healthcare issue: COVID-19 pandemic's influence on attitudes and behaviors among a national sample of parents.

BACKGROUND: Improving household emergency preparedness (EP) is a public health priority, yet little is known about what influence the COVID-19 pandemic had on families' EP. This study aimed to explore current EP attitudes and behaviors. METHODS: We conducted online focus groups in Winter 2022 with a nationwide sample of parents of adolescents. We held six 90-min focus groups of 9-15 participants using a semi-structured interview script that elicited parental knowledge and attitudes related to household EP. Two researchers conducted qualitative content analysis on focus group transcripts. First-level coding within and across scripts was used to identify broad categories or themes regarding EP. The process was reviewed continuously to verify data and coding procedures. Three investigators independently verified the final themes that emerged. RESULTS: Participants (N = 64) were mostly female (n = 54, 84.3%), white (n = 46, 71.9%), and college-educated (n = 49, 76.6%). Major themes included: 1) Expanded awareness and behavioral change related to EP due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) Reconceptualization of planning for family health as part of EP, 3) Changing perspectives related to vaccination as a component of EP, and 4) Perspectives related to discussing EP with their health care provider. CONCLUSIONS: EP was described as a healthcare issue and healthcare providers were identified as trusted sources of EP information. Interventions to support providers' ability to assist with individual EP health action plans, including discussing vaccination as part of preparedness are needed.

Effects of the COVID 19 Pandemic on School Nurses' Resiliency and Ability to Cope: A Mixed Methods Study in the State of Hawaii.

This mixed-method study examined school nurses' experiences during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic related to role change, psychological feelings, and coping/resiliency in the State of Hawaii. A total of 30 school nurses completed a Brief Resilience Coping Scale plus a series of open-ended questions in January 2022. On the coping scale, over 40% of participants scored high, 52% scored medium, and 7% scored a low resilient/coping level. We did not identify any association between coping level and participant characteristics. Three qualitative themes emerged: 1) school nurses experience chronic negative emotions related to the pandemic, 2) school nurses demonstrate attributes of resilience, and 3) school nurses utilize positive coping techniques. The pandemic created significant stresses and negative emotions among school nurses. Yet, school nurses reported effective coping strategies and demonstrated strength/resilience. Support and open communication between school nurses, their employers, and other school-based stakeholders is needed to provide continued support for school nurses.

Parental Decision Making Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines for Children under Age 5: Does Decision Self-Efficacy Play a Role?

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 vaccines are now available under Emergency Use Authorization for children ages 6 months to 5 years. We examined parents' intentions to vaccinate their children under the age of 5 years and assessed whether their confidence in making an informed decision about vaccination (decision self-efficacy) was associated with these intentions. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of U.S. parents between 23 March and 5 April 2022. We examined associations between parental intention to vaccinate their young children (

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Hawai'i Nursing Workforce: A Cross-sectional Survey.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has placed extraordinary strain on health care systems. This has led to increased stress among health care workers, and nurses in particular, which has had a negative impact on their physical and psychosocial wellbeing. This is likely to negatively impact the nursing workforce at the state and national levels as the pandemic continues. The purpose of this study was to assess whether nurses licensed in Hawai'i have considered leaving the workforce. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Hawai'i nurses at all levels of licensure, with 421 responding. Of these nurses, 97 (23.0%) reported considering leaving the workforce, with safety (39.2%) and family/caregiver strain (32.0%) being the most common reasons. Reconsidering whether they should stay employed in their current roles (Odds ratio [OR] 2.05; 95% CI 1.56 - 2.69) and fear to continue providing direct patient care (OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.54 - 2.54) were associated with increased odds of having considered leaving the workforce. Based on these results, the State of Hawai'i and local health care organizations need to adjust their nursing workforce estimates and address how to alleviate nurses' stressors and safety concerns to mitigate a potential workforce shortage. Research is needed to develop interventions to support and empower nurses in their current roles but also address future emergency preparedness.

Undergraduate nursing students' COVID-19 vaccine intentions: A national survey.

INTRODUCTION: In December 2020, the first two COVID-19 vaccines were approved in the United States (U.S.) and recommended for distribution to front-line personnel, including nurses. Nursing students are being prepared to fill critical gaps in the health care workforce and have played important supportive roles during the current pandemic. Research has focused on vaccine intentions of current health care providers and less is known about students' intentions to vaccinate for COVID-19. METHODS: A national sample of undergraduate nursing students were recruited across five nursing schools in five U.S. regions in December 2020. The survey measured perceived risk/threat of COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine attitudes, perceived safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, sources for vaccine information and level of intention to become vaccinated [primary, secondary (i.e., delayed), or no intention to vaccinate]. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 772 students. The majority (83.6%) had intentions to be vaccinated, however of those 31.1% indicated secondary intention, a delay in intention or increased hesitancy). The strongest predictors of primary intention were positive attitudes (OR = 6.86; CI = 4.39-10.72), having lower safety concerns (OR = 0.26; CI = 0.18-0.36), and consulting social media as a source of information (OR = 1.56; CI = 1.23-1.97). Asian (OR = 0.47; CI = 0.23-0.97) and Black (OR 0.26; CI = 0.08-0.80) students were more likely to indicate secondary intention as compared to primary intention. Students in the Midwest were most likely to indicate no intention as compared to secondary intention (OR = 4.6; CI = 1.32-16.11). CONCLUSIONS: As the first two COVID-19 vaccines were approved/recommended in the U.S. nursing students had overall high intentions to vaccinate. Findings can guide development of educational interventions that reduce concerns of vaccine safety that are delivered in a way that is supportive and affirming to minoritized populations while being respectful of geo-political differences.

Factors associated with Texas Nurses' Consideration to Leave the Nursing Workforce: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Nurses provide a majority of the patient care in hospital and long-term care settings. The state of Texas is expected to have the third largest shortage of nurses by the year 2030, and currently the lack of registered nurses (RNs) is growing. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted Texas over the last 18 months, and there is grave concern for the future impact on the Texas nursing workforce. Purpose: Assess specific demographic and COVID-19-related predictors of intention to leave the workforce in Texas nurses. Methods: Online survey of Texas nurses. Results: 311 Texas nurses completed the survey;nearly 19% considered leaving the nursing workforce, with the two most common reasons being an unsafe work environment and family/caregiver strains. Nurses who felt strengthened in their commitment to nursing had lower odds of leaving the nursing workforce. Summary: The outcomes of this study suggest that a significant nursing shortage could be looming in Texas if interventions are not developed to support nurses in their current role, particularly around safety and balancing family/caregiver needs. The results provide additional parameters regarding workforce planning at the hospital and state level. Now is the time for nurse educators, employers, and policy-makers to expand policies and implement targeted programs to retain nurses in the workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Texas Public Health Journal is the property of Texas Public Health Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates, Intention to Vaccinate, and Predictors of Vaccination among Texas Nurses

Background: Nurses are at a higher risk than the general public for contracting COVID-19. Ensuring vaccination is one measure to limit the pandemic. Purpose: To assess COVID-19 vaccination status, intention, and hesitancy among Texas nurses three months after emergency use authorization vaccine approval. Methods: Online survey of Texas nurses. Results: Nearly half of the nurses worked in a hospital setting, and 88% intended to or had been vaccinated. The odds for no intention to vaccinate were 4.23 times higher among those who tested positive or did not take a COVID-19 test. No intent to vaccinate had lower mean general (favorable) COVID-19 vaccine attitudes (Mean=3.2, standard deviation [SD]=1.1) and higher mean lack of perceived safety of the vaccine (Mean=4.0, SD=1.1). Summary: That 12% of Texas nurses who responded to the survey do not intend to receive the vaccine is a call to action. Interventions tailored to address previous COVID-19 disease, vaccine attitudes, lack of perceived severity, and vaccine safety are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Texas Public Health Journal is the property of Texas Public Health Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Assessing licensed nurses COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and intentions: a cross-sectional survey in the state of Hawaii.

Nurses are the largest single occupation of health care providers and at greatest risk for exposure to and acquisition of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In December 2020, nurses in Hawaii were recruited for an online survey that measured perceived risk/threat of COVID-19, vaccine attitudes, and perceived safety of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as level of intention: primary, secondary (i.e., delayed), or no intention to vaccinate. The final sample consisted of 423 nurses. Participants were primarily Asian (27.9%) and White (45.2%). The majority were 18-50 years (65.5%) and female (87.0%), held an RN license (91.7%), and identified as a staff nurse (57.7%) in the hospital setting (56.7%). Among participants, 52.3% indicated primary intention, 27.9% secondary intention, and 19.9% no intention to vaccinate. The strongest predictors of any level of intention were greater positive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and lower concerns related to COVID-19 vaccine safety. Findings can guide interventions to support vaccine acceptance for those who initially decline vaccination.

Undergraduate nursing students' perceptions on nursing education during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic: A national sample.

BACKGROUND: In 2020, nursing educational programs were abruptly interrupted and largely moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PURPOSE: To explore nursing students' perspectives about the effects of the pandemic on their education and intention to join the nursing workforce. METHODS: Undergraduate nursing students from 5 universities across 5 United States regions were invited to participate in an online survey to elicit both quantitative and qualitative data. FINDINGS: The final sample included quantitative data on 772 students and qualitative data on 540 students. Largely (65.1%), students reported that the pandemic strengthened their desire to become a nurse; only 11% had considered withdrawing from school. Qualitatively, students described the effect of the pandemic on their psychosocial wellbeing, adjustment to online learning, and challenges to clinical experiences. CONCLUSION: Findings highlighted the need to develop emergency education preparedness plans that address student wellbeing and novel collaborative partnerships between schools and clinical partners.

Factors associated with the intention to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine among a racially/ethnically diverse sample of women in the USA.

Widespread uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine is critical to halt the pandemic. At present, little is known about factors that will affect vaccine uptake, especially among diverse racial/ethnic communities that have experienced the highest burden of COVID. We administered an online survey to a Qualtrics respondent panel of women ages 27-45 years (N = 396) to assess vaccine intentions and attitudes, and trusted vaccine information sources. 56.8% intended to be vaccinated and 25.5% were unsure. In bivariate analyses, a greater percentage of non-Latina White (NLW) and Chinese women reported that they would be vaccinated, compared with Latina and non-Latina Black (NLB) women (p < 0.001). Those who were uninsured, unemployed and those with lower incomes were less likely to say that they would be vaccinated. In analyses stratified by race/ethnicity, NLB women remained significantly less likely to report that they would be vaccinated compared with NLW women (adjusted odds ratio: 0.47; 95% confidence interval: 0.23, 0.94), controlling for age, marital status, income, education, employment, and insurance status. When analyses were additionally controlled for beliefs in vaccine safety and efficacy, racial/ethnic differences were no longer significant (adjusted odds ratio: 0.64; 95% confidence interval: 0.31, 1.34). Given that NLB women were less likely to report the intention to be vaccinated, targeted efforts will be needed to promote vaccine uptake. It will be critical to emphasize that the vaccine is safe and effective; this message may be best delivered by trusted community members.