A social media microinfluencer intervention to reduce coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine hesitancy in underserved Tennessee communities: A protocol paper.

BACKGROUND: Central to effective public health policy and practice is the trust between the population served and the governmental body leading health efforts, but that trust has eroded in the years preceding the pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy among adults is also a growing concern across the United States. Recent data suggest that the trustworthiness of information about the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine was a larger concern than the vaccine's adverse effects or risks. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the methods used to create a public health microinfluencer social media vaccine confidence campaign for the COVID-19 vaccine in underserved Tennessee communities. A secondary objective is to describe how the Social-Ecological Model (SEM) and Social Cognitive Theory may address vaccine hesitancy using community pharmacies. METHODS: In late 2020, 50 independent community pharmacies in underserved communities across Tennessee were involved in a public health project with the State of Tennessee Department of Health and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy. The project involved a 3-pronged, pharmacy-based COVID-19 vaccination outreach project, including (1) social media messaging (i.e., microinfluencer approach), (2) community partner collaboration, and (3) in-pharmacy promotion. Quantitative and qualitative data will assess the quality and effectiveness of the program. Social media outcomes will also be assessed to measure the impact of the microinfluencer social media training. RESULTS: Project implementation is planned for 6 months (January 2021 to June 2021) after an initial month of planning by the research team (December 2020) and preceding several months of assessment (July 2021 and beyond). CONCLUSIONS: Novel, theory-based approaches will be necessary to improve vaccine confidence. One approach to promoting public health, derived from the SEM, may be to use trusted microinfluencers on social media platforms, such as local community pharmacists and community leaders.

Implementation of Safety Standards for Youth Sports Leagues: The "Safe Stars" Example in Tennessee.

OBJECTIVE: Discuss the implementation of the nation's first statewide standardized youth sports safety program and review the current culture and status of youth sports which led to its development. DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: State of Tennessee. INTERVENTIONS: The "Safe Stars" Initiative. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Provide a summary of the process of devising, developing, and deploying a set of evidence-based and best practice criteria to improve the health, safety, and well-being of youth athletes. CONCLUSIONS: Safe Stars provides a structured opportunity for every child to play sports and develop successful habits and skills for life while safely doing so. We intend for this to serve as a roadmap for others to adopt and institute a statewide philosophy that emphasizes the importance of a safe, positive, and high-quality experience for children while holding their respective youth sports communities accountable for its achievement. Currently, very few leagues meet the recommended minimum standards of safety. Continued advancement of strategic partnerships as well as research into the program's impact on sports participation, health, and safety will be some of the critical next steps in realizing the full value of this program.