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School Teachers' Perceptions Of Adolescent Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) Vaccination: A Systematic Review, Jihye Choi, Efrat K Gabay, Paula M Cuccaro

Journal Articles

School nurses are uniquely positioned to educate students about immunizations, including human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, but schools are often without a nurse for different reasons. In lieu of nurses, teachers who closely interact with students and are traditionally well-trusted by parents may be able to communicate about HPV vaccination, alleviating parental vaccine hesitancy. This systematic review explores school teachers' perspectives on adolescent HPV vaccination and factors influencing their willingness to make vaccine recommendations. We searched three databases with appropriate medical subject headings and keywords to identify relevant studies. We reviewed fifteen studies and provided an extensive summary and a comparison …

Parent-Reported Provider Recommendation Of Hpv Vaccination Among Minority Adolescents Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Findings From The National Immunization Survey-Teen, 2019-2021, Chinenye Lynette Ejezie, Paula Cuccaro, Casey Durand, Lara Savas, Ross Shegog

Journal Articles

Provider recommendation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescents has steadily improved over the years, however, limited research has been conducted to examine if the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this positive trend in parent-reported provider recommendation among minority adolescents. Therefore, we conducted the present study to determine if there is an association between the pandemic and parent-reported provider recommendation of HPV vaccine among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic adolescents. We also examined whether any changes in parent-reported provider recommendation in the years 2019, 2020, and 2021 differed by race or ethnicity. Using a cross-sectional design to examine data from the National Immunization …

Shared Decision Making In Self-Care Management And Health Outcomes Of Adolescents And Young Adults With Sickle Cell Disease, Judith M. Odityo

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Background: Shared decision making (SDM) is a model of care with a potential to guide disease self-care management and promote optimal health outcomes in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with sickle cell disease (SCD).

Aims: To identify the perceived involvement of AYA with SCD in the SDM process and examine its association with self-care management and health outcomes.

Methods: Data were collected from a major sickle cell center. Using a cross-sectional design, participants completed surveys and data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, multiple linear regression, and correlational statistics.

Results: Participants (N=25) were on average age 22.72 (SD …

Lessons Learned From All For Them: Best Practices For A Cross-Collaboration Approach To Hpv Vaccination In Public Schools, Paula M Cuccaro, Jihye Choi, Efrat K Gabay, J Michael Wilkerson, Diane Santa Maria, Sanghamitra M Misra, Mayra Aguilar Mcbride, Sally W Vernon

Journal Articles

The Community Preventive Services Task Force endorses vaccination programs in schools to increase access to vaccinations. However, implementing a school-based approach requires substantial coordination, planning, and resources. All for Them (AFT) is a multilevel, multicomponent approach to increase HPV vaccination among adolescents attending public schools in medically underserved areas in Texas. AFT comprised a social marketing campaign, school-based vaccination clinics, and school nurse continuing education. Process evaluation metrics and key informant interviews to understand experiences with AFT program implementation informed lessons learned. Lessons emerged in six domains: strong champion, school-level support, tailored and cost-effective marketing approaches, mobile provider collaboration, community …

Sars-Cov-2 Serostatus And Covid-19 Illness Characteristics By Variant Time Period In Non-Hospitalized Children And Adolescents, Sarah E Messiah, Michael D Swartz, Rhiana A Abbas, Yashar Talebi, Harold W Kohl, Melissa Valerio-Shewmaker, Stacia M Desantis, Ashraf Yaseen, Steven H Kelder, Jessica A Ross, Lindsay N Padilla, Michael O Gonzalez, Leqing Wu, David Lakey, Jennifer A Shuford, Stephen J Pont, Eric Boerwinkle

Journal Articles

OBJECTIVE: to describe COVID-19 illness characteristics, risk factors, and SARS-CoV-2 serostatus by variant time period in a large community-based pediatric sample.

DESIGN: Data were collected prospectively over four timepoints between October 2020 and November 2022 from a population-based cohort ages 5 to 19 years old.

SETTING: State of Texas, USA.

PARTICIPANTS: Participants ages 5 to 19 years were recruited from large pediatric healthcare systems, Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers, urban and rural clinical practices, health insurance providers, and a social media campaign.

EXPOSURE: SARS-CoV-2 infection.

MAIN OUTCOME(S) AND MEASURE(S): SARS-CoV-2 antibody status was assessed by the Roche Elecsys

RESULTS: Over half …

Adolescent Sleep Behavioral Interventions And Opportunities To Improve Cognitive Functioning: A Call For Action, Leonell Torres-Pagan, Angelica Terepka, Renata Vaysman, Nicole M. Velez-Agosto, John Usseglio, Ari Shechter

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Sleep is related to cognitive functioning, learning, and brain development in the adolescent population. Recent research indicates a rise in the presence of chronic sleep disorders such as insomnia in adolescents, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, research on the effectiveness of sleep interventions for adolescents is necessary to guide treatment in adolescents. The authors conducted a systematic review of literature examining research on outcomes of treatment interventions for insomnia on sleep quality and cognitive functioning in adolescents. Results indicate a dearth of research examining effectiveness of treatment in adolescents, particularly in relation to the impact of such treatment on …

Integrating Group And Teletherapy Into Public School Settings: A Qualitative Analysi, Peggy Smith, Anne Van Horn, Sophie Mccollum, Catherine Christian, Sarah Kennedy, Mayra Perez Ms, Eric A. Storch Ph.D.

Journal of Family Strengths

We report on a program which aimed to deliver evidence-based mental healthcare services to disadvantaged adolescents in an inner city high school in the Southeastern United States experiencing symptoms of emotional disorders. This program had two main components: in-person group counseling and individual cognitive behavioral therapy via a tele-health platform. The goals of this paper are to: (1) describe the design, implementation, and efficacy of a school based mental health program (2) summarize self-reported behavioral health issues and themes generated from participant responses, and (3) assess the implications of the use of tele-health platforms in school-based behavioral health systems. Preliminary …

Using Intervention Mapping To Develop An Efficacious Multicomponent Systems-Based Intervention To Increase Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) Vaccination In A Large Urban Pediatric Clinic Network, Claire A. Crawford, Ross Shegog, Lara S. Savas, Erica L. Frost, C. Mary Healy, Sharon P. Coan, Efrat K. Gabay, Stanley W. Spinner, Sally W. Vernon

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Background: The CDC recommends HPV vaccine for all adolescents to prevent cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, vaginal, vulvar, and penile cancers, and genital warts. HPV vaccine rates currently fall short of national vaccination goals. Despite evidence-based strategies with demonstrated efficacy to increase HPV vaccination rates, adoption and implementation of these strategies within clinics is lacking. The Adolescent Vaccination Program (AVP) is a multicomponent systems-based intervention designed to implement five evidence-based strategies within primary care pediatric practices. The AVP has demonstrated efficacy in increasing HPV vaccine initiation and completion among adolescents 10-17 years of age. The purpose of this paper is to describe …

Examining Differences In Physical Activity By Socio-Demographics, Employment, And Social Support Among U.S. Adolescents, Ashleigh Marie Johnson

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

The overall decline in physical activity levels during adolescence supports the examination of intrapersonal-, interpersonal-, and behavior-level factors that may influence physical activity behavior among this population. The three papers within this dissertation aimed to examine associations of socio-demographics and socio-environmental factors with physical activity among U.S. adolescents. Papers 1 and 3 used data from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) Study. Paper 1 examined differences in adolescent physical activity by gender and race/ethnicity, and examined modification by grade and socioeconomic status (SES). Paper 3 examined the association of parent- and adolescent-reported parental social support with adolescent …

Development And Usability Testing Of Quit4health, A Smoking Cessation Smartphone App For Young Adults, Katarzyna Czerniak

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Tobacco use is the leading cause of death in the United States. As of 2016, 23.5% of American 18-25 year olds reported having used cigarettes in the last month compared to 20.2% of adults and only 3.4% of adolescents. Due to the efficacy and widespread general use of mobile technology today, mobile-phone health, or mHealth apps, have become increasingly popular methods of delivering smoking cessation programs. However, there is a lack of evidence in regards to the quality and the effectiveness of using mHealth to deliver smoking cessation interventions to young adults. This study aims to fill this gap to …

Health Outcomes Of Adolescents And Young Adults After Traumatic Injury: The Role Of Stress Resilience And Social Support, Belanie Peavy

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Background: Traumatic injury is a major health problem and has been linked to mental and physical disability following injury. Although it is the leading cause of disability in the United States (US) for adolescents and young adults, there is a paucity of evidence in the literature regarding association(s) of perceived stress on the outcomes of anxiety and depressive symptoms and the moderating role of resilience and social support in which to develop prevention and treatment interventions for this patient population.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perceived stress on anxiety and depressive symptoms …

Associations Between Physical Activity, Health-Related Quality Of Life, Regimen Adherence, And Glycemic Control In Jordanian Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes, Yousef Aljawarneh

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Background: Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) display a greater than two-fold higher risk of developing microvascular and macrovascular complications compared with the non-diabetic population and the risk increases markedly as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) increases. The majority of the findings on the associated factors with improved glycemic control are geared toward Western population with a clear lack of studies on Middle Eastern populations.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effect of Physical Activity (PA), Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), and regimen adherence on glycemic control in Jordanian adolescents with T1D.

Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional design. Jordanian adolescents …

Adolescent Marijuana Use And Co-Occurrence With Tobacco Use: Implications For Tobacco Regulation, Erika Trapl, Sarah J. Koopman Gonzalez

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Background: Marijuana use among high school youth has been declining over the past two decades. However, there has been a notable shift in the national landscape with regards to social norms and marijuana legalization that could allow marijuana to become more available and may compete against prevention efforts among youth. Further, youth continue to utilize innovative ways to consume marijuana. There is a documented relationship between marijuana and tobacco use, particularly with the use of blunts. Despite the documented relationship between tobacco and marijuana use, little is known about the modes of marijuana use in relation to different tobacco products. …

A Comparison Of Sociodemographic Correlates Of Cigarette, Alcohol, And Energy Drink Consumption Among High School Students In The United States, 2010-2015, Eun Me Cha, Nalini Ranjit, Deanna M. Hoelscher

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

OBJECTIVE: Despite growing awareness about the harmful physiological effects of energy drinks, especially among young people, there is little regulation governing the marketing and sale of these products to adolescents. Thus, in contrast to substances such as cigarettes and alcohol, energy drinks are readily available to adolescents, and widely consumed. It is not known if the easy availability of energy drinks has the effect of increasing usage of these substances among adolescents, and reducing sociodemographic differences in the consumption of energy drinks. In this study, we use pooled data (2010-2015) from the nationally representative Monitoring the Future survey (n=43,283), to …

Treatment Recidivism In Adolescents With Mental Illness: A Focused Applied Medical Ethnography, Chukwudi C. Ekwemalor

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Background

Treatment recidivism, described as frequent unplanned relapse readmissions, is a national problem predominant in adolescents with mental illness with significant socioeconomic consequences. Adolescents living with mental illness are a sub-culture of adolescence, the critical growth period of developmental and social transition from childhood to adulthood. The main triggers of treatment recidivism in this population are not fully understood from previous studies.

Purpose

The study purpose was to explore treatment recidivism with the following aims:

1. To illuminate treatment recidivism from the perspectives of recidivist adolescents with mental illness.

2. To describe the main factors that contribute to treatment recidivism …

Clinical And Demographic Variables Associated With Cognitive Deficits, Symptom Severity, And Duration After Concussive Injury In Adolescents: A Retrospective Study, Seema S. Aggarwal

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Background: Concussions in adolescents are a public health concern with the growing popularity of high school sports. Recent legislation mandates that athletes who are suspected of a concussion be cleared to return-to-play by a clinician. More research is needed to develop a concussion predictive model to identify populations at risk for more severe and prolonged symptoms and long-term neurologic deficits.

Aims: The aims of this study were to (1) examine the effect of race and gender on neurocognitive and symptom scores and (2) determine which clinical (e.g., number of concussions, migraine history, learning disabilities/ attention deficit disorders) and demographic factors …

Food Insecurity And Cardiovascular Risk Factors In U.S. Adolescents, Elisabeth L P Sattler, Vibha Bhargava

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Introduction: Disparities in cardiovascular diseases are one of today’s most important public health challenges. Pathological processes related to modifiable cardiovascular risk factors have shown to begin in childhood and disparities in these risk factors have been reported in adolescence. Food insecurity is significantly associated with cardiovascular risk factors in adults; however, little is known about cardiovascular risk in food insecure adolescents.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between food insecurity and cardiovascular risk factors in U.S. adolescents aged 12-17 years.

Methods: Using cross-sectional data on 1,853 adolescents aged 12-17 years from the National Health and …

The Influence Of “Westernization” On Nutrition And Physical Activity Behaviors Of Adolescents In New Delhi, India: Are We Exporting An Epidemic Of Obesity?, Melissa Harrell, Emily Ussery, Blanche Greene-Cramer, Nalini Ranjit, Shreela V. Sharma, Monika Arora

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Purpose. To examine the relationships between “westernization” and nutrition and physical activity behaviors among older adolescents in Delhi, India. These relations have not been explored, despite increasingly strong and pervasive socio-cultural influences from the West.

Methods. Students (n=1818) in 8^th and 10^th grades in 4 Private (higher SES) and 4 Government (lower SES) schools in Delhi, India participated in a cross-sectional study. Height and weight were measured to determine weight status. Information on “westernization” and nutrition, physical activity, sedentary, and dieting behaviors was collected in a survey. The measure of “westernization” assessed 4 domains of culture on a …

Understanding Eating Behaviors Of New Dehli's Youth, Melissa Harrell, Jose Medina, Blanche Greene-Cramer, Shreela V. Sharma, Monika Arora, Gaurang Nazar

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

This qualitative study documents perceived benefits of and barriers to engaging in healthy eating behaviors among adolescents in New Delhi, India. Researchers explored factors that influenced the consumption of breakfast, fruits and vegetables, and soft drinks in this population and adolescents’ ideas about how to intervene to encourage or discourage, respectively, these behaviors. Students (n=151 6^th and 8^th graders) from five private schools participated in focus group discussions. Findings showed that the majority of youth eat breakfast that may consist of traditional and Western choices. Despite sound knowledge of the benefits of fruits and vegetables consumption, adolescents do …

Food Matters: Food Insecurity Among Pregnant Adolescents And Infant Birth Outcomes, Stephanie A. Grilo, Valerie A. Earnshaw, Jessica B. Lewis, Emily C. Stasko, Urania Magriples, Jonathan Tobin, Jeannette R. Ickovics

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to: (1) document prevalence of food insecurity among pregnant adolescents; (2) determine if food insecurity is associated with adverse birth outcomes (i.e., lower birth weight, earlier gestational age) among their newborns; and (3) examine whether depressive symptoms, anxiety, nutrition and/or weight gain mediate these associations.

Methods: Pregnant adolescents (14-21 years old; N-881) in prenatal care at community hospitals and health centers in New York City completed a health and psychosocial survey during second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Birth weight and gestational age were recorded from medical records.

Results: Over one-half of the …

Attitudes Surrounding Contraceptive Responsibility: Do Latino Youth Differ From Other Groups?, Kari White, Kristine Hopkins, Emily Schiefelbein

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Latina teens have lower rates of contraceptive use and higher rates of pregnancy compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Differences in attitudes about contraceptive responsibility have been suggested as reasons for these disparities. We conducted 36 gender- and race/ethnicity-specific focus groups with young women aged 15 to 21 years and young men aged 18 to 24 in four large Texas cities. To explore youths’ attitudes about contraceptive responsibility, we analyzed transcripts using thematic analysis and compared themes across race/ethnicity and gender. Across all groups, youth often reported that young women were primarily responsible for contraception because of the physical implications of …

The Need For School-Based Teen Dating Violence Prevention, Jeff R. Temple, Vi D. Le, Alexandra Muir, Laurie Goforth, Amy L. Mcelhany

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Schools have several competing demands, and often suffer from inefficient access to needed resources. Thus, the addition of any program into an already overtaxed school system must be met with convincing evidence that 1) a need or problem exists and is relevant to the education of students, 2) the problem is amenable to change, and 3) addressing the problem is in the best interest of educators and students. The purpose of the present paper is to present a case for inclusion of teen dating violence prevention programs in middle and high schools. We also discuss a recent survey of 219 …

An Examination Of The Contextual Environment Of Families With Sexually Abused Adolescents, Javonda D. Williams, Debra Nelson-Gardell

Journal of Family Strengths

This study examined the impact of the contextual environment of the family on post abuse adjustment of sexually abused adolescents. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory was used to investigate how the external influences of the family impact the capacity of families to foster the recovery of sexually abused adolescents. The results from this secondary analysis of data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being Wave I (NSCAW, Dowd et al., 2002) support contextually sensitive treatment planning for sexually abused adolescents and their families.

Adolescents’ Sexual Health Matters: Texas Should Get On Board, Jane D. Brown

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Texas has an appalling record on adolescent sexual health. The Markham, et al. analysis of three data sets comparing Texas with the United States suggests what can be done to remedy the state's negative trends: (1) acknowledge that teens are having sex; (2) provide earlier, medically-accurate sex education; and, (3) provide reproductive health services in school-based health centers.

Choosing And Maintaining Programs For Sex Education In Schools: The Champss Model, Belinda F. Hernandez, Melissa Peskin, Ross Shegog, Christine Markham, Kimberly Johnson, Eric A. Ratliff, Dennis H. Li, I. Sonali Weerasinghe, Paula M. Cuccaro, Susan R. Tortolero

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Background: Despite effective solutions to reduce teen birth rates, Texas teen birth rates are among the highest in the nation. School districts can impact youth sexual behavior through implementation of evidence-based programs (EBPs); however, teen pregnancy prevention is a complex and controversial issue for school districts. Subsequently, very few districts in Texas implement EBPs for pregnancy prevention. Additionally, school districts receive little guidance on the process for finding, adopting, and implementing EBPs. Purpose: The purpose of this report is to present the CHoosing And Maintaining Programs for Sex education in Schools (CHAMPSS) Model, a practical and realistic framework to help …