Capella 4055 Assessment 4

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice

Prof. Name

Date

Health Promotion Plan Presentation

Good morning, and thank you all for participating in today’s session. This presentation focuses on preventing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections among adolescents and young adults aged 11 to 26 in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. We will explore how HPV contributes to cancer development, the importance of timely vaccination, and effective strategies to facilitate meaningful conversations about immunization with family members and healthcare professionals. This session aligns with the SMART goals previously established in collaboration with you and reflects the national targets set forth in the Healthy People 2030 objectives.

1. HPV Awareness and Timely Immunization

Overview and Local Context

HPV is a highly prevalent virus transmitted primarily through sexual contact. It is responsible for various cancers, including cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, and genital cancers. According to recent data, only 68.7% of Pennsylvania adolescents are fully vaccinated against HPV, with vaccination rates dropping as low as 48.7% in rural areas like Schwenksville (PA.gov, 2025). These lower rates are concerning, given the strong link between HPV and cancer incidence in these communities.

Persistent infections caused by high-risk HPV strains, such as types 16 and 18, can cause cellular changes that may progress into cancer over time (Huber et al., 2021). Since HPV can be asymptomatic for years, individuals may unknowingly carry and transmit the virus. Early vaccination, coupled with regular screenings, plays a vital role in reducing cancer risk.

Benefits of Early HPV Vaccination

The HPV vaccine is most effective when administered before exposure to the virus, typically around ages 11 or 12. Administering the vaccine at a younger age maximizes the body’s immune response, offering long-lasting protection (Hoes et al., 2021). Timely vaccination contributes not only to individual health but also to community-wide immunity.

Benefit of Timely Vaccination	Impact
Optimal immune response	Strong, long-term protection against HPV-related diseases
Cervical cancer prevention	Significantly reduces the risk in women worldwide (Huber et al., 2021)
Prevention of other cancers	Reduces risk for anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers (Cheng et al., 2020)
Reduced genital warts	Lowers physical and psychological burden
Community protection	Contributes to herd immunity (Xu et al., 2024)

These health benefits demonstrate that timely vaccination is a crucial preventive measure to reduce HPV-related diseases, both at the individual and population levels.

2. Communication Strategies and SMART Goals

Effective Communication Approaches

Communicating about the HPV vaccine with families and healthcare providers can be challenging. Effective dialogue begins with sharing credible facts, asking thoughtful questions, and addressing misinformation with empathy and clarity.

Strategy	Description
Use of evidence-based facts	Share safety and efficacy data from the CDC or WHO
Asking informed questions	Prompt open discussions (e.g., “What are the vaccine’s long-term benefits?”)
Addressing common myths	Clarify that the vaccine’s goal is cancer prevention, not behavioral influence (Kassymbekova et al., 2023)

SMART Goals Overview

As part of our educational initiative, SMART goals were developed to guide participant learning and encourage action. These goals are as follows:

1. Knowledge Attainment: 90% of participants will be able to correctly identify at least three key facts about HPV and its link to cancer by the end of the session.
2. Vaccination Commitment: At least 80% of participants will commit to scheduling their first HPV vaccine dose within 30 days.
3. Communication Confidence: 85% of participants will express increased confidence in discussing HPV vaccination with healthcare providers and family members.

Each of these goals is designed to empower individuals with knowledge and practical tools for preventive action.

3. Evaluation and Alignment with Public Health Goals

Session Evaluation Based on SMART Goals

The session yielded promising outcomes. A quiz revealed that 92.5% of participants could correctly identify three or more HPV facts, successfully meeting the first SMART goal. Regarding vaccine scheduling, 75% of eligible participants committed to initiating vaccination within 30 days—just short of the 80% goal. Nonetheless, the third goal was met, as 85% of participants reported enhanced confidence in discussing the HPV vaccine.

Challenges included a few adolescents hesitating to make immediate vaccination decisions without family consultation. Additionally, four participants voiced uncertainty about confronting myths independently. These observations highlight the need for increased family engagement during sessions, structured myth-debunking practice, and possibly extending or repeating sessions for better follow-up.

SMART Goal	Target	Achieved	Remarks
HPV knowledge	90%	92.5%	Goal met
Vaccine commitment	80%	75%	Slightly below target
Confidence in communication	85%	85%	Goal met

Alignment with Healthy People 2030 Objectives

This session aligns well with the Healthy People 2030 goals, particularly those promoting increased vaccination coverage among adolescents. Most participants demonstrated increased understanding of HPV risks and the benefits of timely immunization, advancing objectives around informed health decision-making (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.).

However, the 75% commitment rate to vaccine initiation suggests the need for improvement in meeting early immunization targets. Some participants remained uncertain about vaccine safety, pointing to the importance of further addressing myths through updated scientific evidence and interpersonal engagement.

Future improvements may include:

• Family-inclusive discussions during sessions
• Enhanced myth-busting content and role-play scenarios
• Follow-up sessions for ongoing support and vaccine tracking

Such adjustments will help bridge the gap between education and action, better supporting national goals to reduce HPV-related diseases.

Conclusion

In conclusion, HPV vaccination plays a critical role in reducing cancer risk and improving long-term health outcomes in adolescents and young adults. Today’s session in Schwenksville, PA, has built awareness, strengthened communication strategies, and highlighted the importance of timely immunization. Although we met most SMART goals, areas for growth remain, particularly in vaccine uptake and sustained myth reduction. With continued commitment, collaborative education, and alignment with Healthy People 2030, we are well on our way to fostering healthier, more informed communities.

References

Cheng, L., Wang, Y., & Du, J. (2020). Human papillomavirus vaccines: An updated review. Vaccines, 8(3), 391. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8030391

Hoes, J., Pasmans, H., Schurink-van ’t Klooster, T. M., van der Klis, F. R. M., Donken, R., Berkhof, J., & de Melker, H. E. (2021). Review of long-term immunogenicity following HPV vaccination: Gaps in current knowledge. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2021.1908059

Capella 4055 Assessment 4

Huber, J., Mueller, A., Sailer, M., & Regidor, P.-A. (2021). Human papillomavirus persistence or clearance after infection in reproductive age. What is the status? Women’s Health, 17, 174550652110207. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455065211020702

Kassymbekova, F., Zhetpisbayeva, I., Tcoy, E., Dyussenov, R., Davletov, K., Rommel, A., & Glushkova, N. (2023). Exploring HPV vaccine knowledge, attitudes, barriers and information sources among parents, health professionals and teachers in Kazakhstan: A mixed-methods study protocol. BMJ Open, 13(9), e074097. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074097

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

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Vaccination – Healthy People 2030. Health.gov. https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/vaccination

Capella 4055 Assessment 4

Xu, M., Choi, J., Capasso, A., & DiClemente, R. (2024). Improving HPV vaccination uptake among adolescents in low-resource settings: Sociocultural and socioeconomic barriers and facilitators. Adolescent Health Medicine and Therapeutics, 15, 73–82. https://doi.org/10.2147/ahmt.s394119