Capella 4055 Assessment 1

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice

Prof. Name

Date

Health Promotion Research

Human papillomavirus (HPV) poses a growing public health issue, especially for adolescents and young adults. This age group is at a pivotal stage for receiving the HPV vaccine, yet many remain unprotected due to persistent misinformation and limited awareness. Such gaps in knowledge can increase the risk of HPV-related cancers, including cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. Effective health promotion strategies are vital to bridge this knowledge gap. These should focus on educating adolescents, parents, educators, and community leaders, while also ensuring access to accurate resources and preventive services (Schlecht et al., 2021). In particular, the community of Schwenksville, PA, is the focus of this study, given its below-average vaccination rates and rural characteristics that may impede healthcare access. This research explores the consequences of HPV, identifies local vaccination barriers, and recommends interventions to enhance vaccine uptake and community protection.

Population Analysis

Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, is a rural community with adolescents aged 11 to 26 who are key targets for HPV vaccination. Nationally, HPV remains one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections, making vaccination a crucial preventive strategy. In Pennsylvania, 68.7% of adolescents aged 13–17 have completed their HPV vaccine series, but this rate drops significantly in Schwenksville, with only 48.7% achieving full vaccination (PA.gov, 2025). The lower rates in this semi-rural area highlight disparities in access and acceptance, particularly among minority groups.

Several contributing factors hinder the community’s vaccination progress. Adolescents in Schwenksville may face limited access to adolescent-focused healthcare services, a lack of healthcare provider endorsements, and parental concerns stemming from stigma or misinformation. Moreover, irregular visits to health facilities and transportation barriers further impede vaccine access. Adolescents often rely on parental decisions, which may be influenced by conservative attitudes or discomfort in discussing sexual health topics (Lipsky et al., 2025). These structural and cultural factors jointly limit vaccination outreach and effectiveness in this population.

Table 1: Vaccination Rates Comparison

Location	Adolescents Fully Vaccinated (%)	Source
Pennsylvania	68.7%	PA.gov (2025)
Schwenksville	48.7%	PA.gov (2025)

Points of Uncertainty and Underlying Assumptions

There are notable limitations due to the absence of HPV-specific immunization data exclusive to Schwenksville. As a result, this analysis assumes that vaccination patterns in Schwenksville resemble those observed in other rural regions of Pennsylvania. Additionally, cultural and socioeconomic resistance to HPV vaccination in rural areas is presumed to be similar across these communities. However, local dynamics, including parental beliefs, levels of education, and access to reliable health information, may vary. Furthermore, it remains uncertain how much impact local schools or community-based health education programs have had on HPV awareness. Obtaining detailed community-level data through surveys or collaboration with the local health department would enhance the development and precision of future interventions.

Community Characteristics and Relevance to the Broader Target Population

The focus of this health promotion initiative is on adolescents and young adults in Schwenksville aged 11–26, along with their caregivers. Schwenksville, a borough located in Montgomery County, has a population of approximately 1,500 (Datausa, 2023). The community predominantly consists of White, middle-class working families. Though the county offers some healthcare access, Schwenksville’s limited clinics and rural geography restrict easy access to pediatric and adolescent health services.

Educational institutions in the area, including a middle school and multiple high schools, often serve as essential hubs for health information. Given the conservative nature of the population, many parents are hesitant to initiate conversations about HPV and sexual health with their children (Kim et al., 2023). Therefore, it is essential that any health promotion plan in this context be culturally sensitive, family-oriented, and rooted in community norms.

These conditions mirror those of other rural communities across Pennsylvania and the United States, where vaccine hesitancy, insufficient public health outreach, and healthcare limitations contribute to low HPV vaccination rates. The strategies developed in Schwenksville could be adapted as a scalable model for similar semi-rural and rural populations. For example, establishing school-based vaccine clinics or holding vaccine education sessions during parent-teacher meetings could improve health literacy and vaccination uptake (Kim et al., 2023).

Importance of HPV Prevention in Schwenksville

HPV prevention holds particular importance for the Schwenksville community due to its below-average vaccination rates among adolescents. While the statewide adolescent vaccination rate in Pennsylvania stands at 68.7%, Schwenksville lags with only 48.7% coverage (PA.gov, 2025). The urgency stems from HPV’s known links to serious health outcomes such as cervical and oropharyngeal cancers. Addressing these disparities through focused education, improved healthcare access, and community engagement is vital to reducing disease risk and long-term healthcare burdens in the area.

Factors Contributing to Health and Health Disparities

Several social and systemic determinants impact health outcomes in Schwenksville. Limited access to comprehensive healthcare is a key barrier, as rural residents often rely on fewer facilities that may not consistently offer HPV vaccines. Additionally, many providers in rural areas are not sufficiently trained or incentivized to recommend the HPV vaccine (Magana et al., 2023).

Cultural attitudes also influence health behaviors. In conservative communities like Schwenksville, some parents may equate HPV vaccination with promoting sexual activity, which contributes to hesitancy. Misconceptions about the vaccine’s purpose and a general lack of awareness regarding its cancer-preventing benefits further exacerbate the issue (Zhang et al., 2023). Thus, health promotion must include culturally responsive education that emphasizes cancer prevention over sexual transmission to alleviate concerns and increase acceptance.

Need for Health Promotion

To address HPV-related health disparities in Schwenksville, tailored health promotion is essential. Educating both caregivers and youth about the vaccine’s role in preventing serious diseases is foundational. Health promotion strategies should include community-based interventions, such as mobile vaccination clinics, partnerships with local schools, and widespread distribution of accurate HPV information (Zhang et al., 2023). These efforts can make the vaccine more accessible and reduce logistical and informational barriers.

SMART Health Goals for HPV Prevention

To improve HPV vaccination outcomes in Schwenksville, the following SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals have been designed:

Table 2: SMART Goals for HPV Prevention

Goal	Description	Measurement Method	Outcome
1	90% of adolescents and parents identify 3 HPV facts post-education	Post-session quiz	Increased HPV knowledge
2	80% commit to vaccine appointment within 30 days	Verbal pledge/sign-up	Higher vaccine initiation
3	85% report improved confidence in discussing HPV	Pre/post confidence scale	Enhanced communication skills

Goal 1:

By the end of the educational session, 90% of adolescents and caregivers will correctly identify at least three critical facts about HPV and its connection to cancer. Educational materials, interactive tools, and visual aids will be used to support knowledge retention (Bowden et al., 2023).

Goal 2:

At least 80% of eligible individuals aged 11–26 or their guardians will pledge to schedule their first HPV vaccine dose within 30 days of the session. Support materials such as clinic directories and assistance in booking appointments will be provided (Zhang et al., 2023).

Goal 3:

Following the session, 85% of attendees will report greater confidence in discussing HPV with family or healthcare providers. This will be measured using a confidence rating scale administered before and after the session. Participants will also be taught communication techniques like myth-busting, fact-sharing, and conversation initiation (Bowden et al., 2023).

Conclusion

HPV prevention remains a pressing concern in Schwenksville, where adolescent vaccination rates fall below state and national averages. Multiple barriers—ranging from healthcare access to conservative cultural beliefs—contribute to existing disparities. Through culturally sensitive and community-centered health promotion, it is possible to bridge these gaps. By establishing targeted SMART goals, providing accessible education, and building trust within the community, Schwenksville can significantly reduce the burden of HPV-related diseases. These efforts can serve as a model for other rural populations with similar healthcare challenges.

References

Bowden, S., Doulgeraki, T., Bouras, E., Markozannes, G., Athanasiou, A., Grout-Smith, H., … & Kyrgiou, M. (2023). Risk factors for human papillomavirus infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer: An umbrella review and follow-up Mendelian randomisation studies. BMC Medicine, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-02965-w

Datausa. (2023). Schwenksville, PA | Data USA. 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

Capella 4055 Assessment 1

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

Schlecht, N. F., Diaz, A., Nucci-Sack, A., Shyhalla, K., Shankar, V., Guillot, M., … & 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

Capella 4055 Assessment 1

Woltsche, R., Mullan, L., Wynter, K., & Rasmussen, B. (2022). Preventing patient falls overnight using video monitoring: A clinical evaluation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(21). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113735