Factors influencing parental trust in medical researchers for child and adolescent patients' clinical trial participation.

Parental trust in medical researchers is a commonly cited barrier to their child's participation in clinical research. Yet, there is little understanding of factors influencing parental trust to be implemented in interventions to address their concerns. This study seeks to identify psychosocial and modifying factors influencing parental trust in medical researchers to improve child and adolescent patients clinical trial participation, and potentially their health outcomes. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 307 parents. Multiple ordinary linear (OLS) regression was conducted to determine: (1) psychosocial and modifying factors associated with parental trust; and (2) perceived advantages and disadvantages associated with parental trust. Parent's race (White) (ß = .343, p < .001), higher education level (ß = .409, p < .001), higher perceived advantages of adolescent clinical trials (ß = .142, p < .001), and lower perceived disadvantages of adolescent clinical trials (ß = -.337, p = .001) were the most significant predictors of higher levels of parental trust in medical researchers. Parents who were African American and had lower education levels expressed lower levels of trust in medical researchers. Education on the benefits of clinical trials could reduce parents' apprehension towards their child's participation in clinical trials. Results support the development of a clinical trial education program for parents to improve their trust in medical researchers.

Black mother's intention to vaccinate daughters against HPV: A mixed methods approach to identify opportunities for targeted communication.

OBJECTIVE: The cervical cancer disparity continues to exist and has widened between Black and non-Hispanic White women. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines could potentially reduce this disparity, yet remain underused among Black female adolescents. We investigated psychosocial and cultural factors associated with Black mothers' intentions to vaccinate their daughters against HPV, and explored views toward a HPV vaccine mandate. METHODS: In this quantitative dominant, mixed methods study, cross sectional surveys (n=237) and follow-up semi-structured interviews (n=9) were conducted with Black mothers of daughters. A 2-step logistic regression determined factors associated with Black mothers' intention. Thematic content analysis determined emerging themes. RESULTS: Perceived susceptibility (p=.044), perceived barriers (p<.001), and subjective norms (p=.001) were significant predictors of maternal HPV vaccination intentions. Follow-up interviews provided insight into factors influencing mothers' intentions. Mothers with low intentions did not perceive their daughter to be currently sexually active or in near future, thus, not at HPV risk. Pediatricians were identified as the most influential person on maternal decision-making if there was a pre-existing relationship. However, many mothers had not received a pediatricians' recommendation for their daughters. Barriers influencing mother's decision-making include knowledge, daughters' age, and mistrust in pharmaceutical companies and physicians. Mothers were not in favor of the HPV vaccine mandate. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate the need to develop and evaluate physician-led interventions on HPV and vaccine importance, and engage these mothers in intervention development to build trust between physicians, researchers, and Black mothers to improve HPV vaccine uptake in Black female adolescents.

A Physician's Recommendation for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: What Makes African-American Mothers Compliant?

BACKGROUND: Improving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among African-American (AA) female adolescents to reduce the cervical cancer burden is important and cost-effective. The study objective is to identify factors most influential to AA mothers' likelihood to comply with a physician's recommendation to get their daughters the HPV vaccine. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey. Participants were recruited through online and community sites (ie, schools, community centers, etc.) in Alabama. A total of 280 AA mothers and their adolescent daughters completed the survey. A binary logistic regression was used to determine factors influencing mother's likelihood to adhere with a physician's recommendation to get their daughters the HPV vaccine. RESULTS: The most significant factors influencing mother's likelihood to comply with physician's recommendation were culture: future-time orientation (P = 0.001), perceived barriers of HPV vaccination (P = 0.007), perceived susceptibility to HPV (P = 0.047) and perceived benefits of HPV vaccination (P = 0.002). Further exploration of perceived barriers and perceived benefits found mother's perception that the HPV vaccine is a good way to protect my daughter's health as the only significant benefit. No measures of perceived barriers were significant. CONCLUSIONS: A physician's recommendation should advise AA mothers on the risk of HPV and the importance of HPV vaccination at an early age to reduce cervical cancer risk. It should further address mothers' perceived disadvantages of HPV vaccination (eg, side effects). Incorporating this information in physician recommendation practices could increase HPV vaccination rates with implications in reducing the cervical cancer burden among this high-risk population.

In Situ Study of Strain-Dependent Ion Conductivity of Stretchable Polyethylene Oxide Electrolyte.

There is a strong need in developing stretchable batteries that can accommodate stretchable or irregularly shaped applications including medical implants, wearable devices and stretchable electronics. Stretchable solid polymer electrolytes are ideal candidates for creating fully stretchable lithium ion batteries mainly due to their mechanical and electrochemical stability, thin-film manufacturability and enhanced safety. However, the characteristics of ion conductivity of polymer electrolytes during tensile deformation are not well understood. Here, we investigate the effects of tensile strain on the ion conductivity of thin-film polyethylene oxide (PEO) through an in situ study. The results of this investigation demonstrate that both in-plane and through-plane ion conductivities of PEO undergo steady and linear growths with respect to the tensile strain. The coefficients of strain-dependent ion conductivity enhancement (CSDICE) for in-plane and through-plane conduction were found to be 28.5 and 27.2, respectively. Tensile stress-strain curves and polarization light microscopy (PLM) of the polymer electrolyte film reveal critical insights on the microstructural transformation of stretched PEO and the potential consequences on ionic conductivity.