NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice

Prof. Name

Date

Health Promotion Research

Human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention has emerged as a significant public health concern, particularly among adolescents and young adults who are at a critical age for receiving the HPV vaccine. As misinformation and limited awareness about HPV continue to circulate, many individuals in this age group remain unvaccinated, putting them at increased risk for HPV-related cancers and diseases.

To address this, a comprehensive health promotion strategy must be undertaken that not only informs adolescents, young adults, parents, and educators about the importance of HPV vaccination but also equips them with accurate information, resources, and access to preventive services (Schlecht et al., 2021). This research explores the impact of HPV on adolescent and young adult health, identifies key barriers to vaccine uptake, and proposes targeted interventions to increase vaccination rates and create a more informed, protected community in Schwenksville, PA.

Population Analysis

Young people in Schwenksville, PA, aged 11-26 years, are a strategic group for HPV prevention. HPV is still prevalent in the United States as one of the most prevalent STIs, and vaccination of children is one of the ways of preventing HPV-related cancers. In Pennsylvania, about 68.7% of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 have received complete HPV shots. Although Schwenksville is rural, the coverage is low, with only 48.7% of the adolescents fully vaccinated (PA.gov, 2025). This makes it important for there to be strategies that address minority groups to enhance education, access, and acceptance of the vaccine.

Several factors hinder the vaccination coverage in Schwenksville as explained below. Some barriers are restrictive access to providers specializing in adolescent care, scarcity of provider endorsement, and parental barriers resulting from lack of effective information or embarrassment. These challenges arise because Schwenksville is relatively semi-rural, and families may not visit health facilities as often and may encounter barriers such as transportation (Lipsky et al., 2025). Adolescents are most at risk in this age group since many of them lack adequate information about HPV or its long-term effects, and their vaccination is mainly influenced by their parents.

Points of Uncertainty and Underlying Assumptions

Since there is no HPV immunization data specific to the Schwenksville area, this analysis presumes that Schwenksville practices regarding HPV vaccination are similar to those in other rural areas in Pennsylvania. It also assumes that vaccination denial’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics in other non-urban regions are the same. However, some unknown factors include the various beliefs, education, and experiences in health care among families in Schwenksville. Further, the extent to which school-based education or community health interventions address HPV is unclear. Such data collected by surveys or from the health department would be useful in fine-tuning the interventions offered to this community.

Community Characteristics and Relevance to the Broader Target Population 

The main target group for the HPV prevention health promotion plan is adolescents and young people between the ages of 11 and 26 in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, and their caregivers. Schwenksville is a semi-rural borough in Montgomery County with approximately 1,500 people (Datausa, 2023). The inhabitants of the community are mainly White and working or middle-class families. While Montgomery is not completely devoid of healthcare facilities, some clinics are somewhat scarce compared to urban cities, and the residents have to rely on a few health centers or travel to nearby towns for pediatric and adolescent health needs.

One of the peculiarities of this population is that many of them turn to local schools and community centers for information and services related to their health. A single middle school and several high schools in the area make education institutions in Schwenksville work on building health literacy among adolescents. Parents and caregivers are of young age and have rather conservative views, so they can hardly discuss these issues with their children (Kim et al., 2023). Thus, any health promotion should also be culturally appropriate, family-focused, and community-acceptable while reinforcing the need and value for HPV vaccination.

NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research

They align with other rural and semi-rural populations in both Pennsylvania and the United States, where more barriers, including restricted access to health care, disbelief in vaccines, and limited campaigns against HPV, make it difficult to achieve the optimum levels of HPV vaccination. This health promotion model can be used as a blueprint for other communities because it addresses the needs of Schwenksville residents through community education, provider, and parent-adolescent education. For instance, having clinics for administering vaccines in schools and HPV talks during parent-teacher meetings can help in reducing stigma (Kim et al., 2023). They can be applied and generalized to other vulnerable groups of people living in rural areas with similar characteristics.

Importance of HPV Prevention in Schwenksville

HPV prevention is a critical health concern in Schwenksville, PA, as the community experiences lower vaccination rates, particularly among adolescents. At the same time, Pennsylvania has seen a vaccination rate of 68.7% for HPV-associated cancers among adolescents aged 13–17, while rural areas like Schwenksville report only 48.7% vaccination coverage (PA.gov, 2025). Given the potential health implications, including the prevention of HPV-related cancers such as cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers, it is essential to increase vaccination rates within this community. Addressing this health concern through effective promotion strategies will reduce the long-term burden of HPV-related diseases and improve the overall health of the community.

Factors Contributing to Health and Health Disparities

Several factors contribute to the lower vaccination rates and health disparities in Schwenksville. One key factor is limited access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas. Schwenksville residents often rely on a few local clinics, and while these clinics offer basic health services, specialized care, and vaccination programs may not always be readily available. This limited access to healthcare services can lead to missed opportunities for adolescent vaccination. Additionally, healthcare provider education and outreach efforts may be insufficient in rural settings, where public health campaigns and vaccination drives are less frequent than in urban areas (Magana et al., 2023).

Cultural factors also play a significant role in shaping health attitudes. In Schwenksville, conservative values may influence parental decisions regarding the HPV vaccine, as it is often seen as a vaccine for sexually transmitted infections. A lack of awareness about the importance of HPV prevention in reducing cancer risk can also lead to vaccine hesitancy (Zhang et al., 2023). Therefore, engaging the community through culturally sensitive education is necessary to overcome these barriers.

Need for Health Promotion

There is a clear need for targeted health promotion efforts to address the health disparities and factors influencing vaccination rates. Educating both parents and adolescents about the benefits of the HPV vaccine and its potential to prevent cancers is crucial. In addition, improving healthcare access through school-based vaccination clinics and increasing community outreach programs will help ensure that residents can receive the vaccine promptly and conveniently (Zhang et al., 2023). By focusing on these strategies, the community can reduce the burden of HPV-related diseases and improve overall health outcomes.

SMART Health Goals for HPV Prevention 

To effectively address HPV prevention among adolescents and young adults in Schwenksville, PA, the following SMART goals have been established to enhance awareness, increase vaccination initiation, and promote proactive health behaviors within this population.

Goal 1: By the end of the educational session, 90% of participating adolescents and parents will correctly identify at least three key facts about HPV and its connection to cancer.

This goal is specific in targeting knowledge about HPV and its link to cancer. It is measurable through a post-session quiz and achievable through the use of visual aids, handouts, and interactive discussions (Bowden et al., 2023). It is relevant to increasing awareness and countering misinformation and is time-bound, as knowledge will be assessed after the session. The outcome is an improved understanding of the importance of HPV vaccination.

Goal 2: By the end of the educational session, at least 80% of eligible participants (ages 11–26) or their guardians will verbally commit to scheduling the first dose of the HPV vaccine within the next 30 days.

This SMART goal is specific in its aim to prompt verbal commitment to initiate HPV vaccination. It is measurable by collecting verbal pledges or sign-ups and achievable through on-site resources, including lists of local clinics and scheduling support (Zhang et al., 2023). It is relevant because commitment to vaccination is the first step to increasing uptake and is time-bound with a 30-day window. The outcome will be increased vaccine initiation rates in Schwenksville’s adolescent and young adult population.

Goal 3: By the end of the educational session, 85% of participants will express increased confidence in discussing HPV vaccination with healthcare providers or family members, as measured by a confidence scale.

This goal is specific to improving communication about HPV. It is measurable through a pre- and post-session confidence scale and achievable by providing role-play exercises, handouts with conversation starters, and small group discussions. It is relevant to health promotion as it fosters advocacy and is time-bound to be evaluated immediately. Additionally, participants can identify three effective communication strategies: using evidence-based facts, asking informed questions, and addressing common myths (Bowden et al., 2023). The outcome is greater empowerment to advocate for HPV prevention.

Conclusion

The use of HPV vaccines is important in the health of Schwenksville, PA, because vaccination rates are low among teenagers and young adults. These include health facility access, cultural beliefs, and literacy levels, which influence health inequalities in this rural population. A targeted health promotion strategy will enhance awareness and vaccine uptake and equip the families with the correct information. SMART goals ensure that an intervention is specific and measurable and delivers change. With the help of the education of the Schwenksville community and some efforts put into preventing the causes of the disease, there is hope for the eradication of HPV diseases.

Reference

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

Datausa. (2023). Schwenksville, PA | Data USA. Datausa.io. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/schwenksville-pa 

NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research

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 

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., Hollman, D., Strickler, H. D., & Burk, R. D. (2021). Incidence and types of human papillomavirus infections in adolescent girls and young women immunized with the human papillomavirus vaccine. Journal of American Medicine Association Network Open, 4(8), e2121893. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.21893 

NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research

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