Women's Health Commons^™

Developing A Virus-Like Particle (Vlp)-Based Vaccine For Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, Ashvini Vaidya

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) is a sexually transmitted bacterium that infects human reproductive mucosal surfaces. Due to the risk of complications in untreated cases and evolving antibiotic resistance, a prophylactic vaccine is critical for preventing infection. There are four Ng outer-membrane proteins that contribute to Ng survival and resistance: PorB, BamA, TbpA, and MtrE. Each protein contains surface-exposed loops that are targets of bactericidal antibodies. Vaccines were developed by displaying Ng epitopes on the surface of bacteriophage virus-like particles (VLP). VLPs are immunogenic, multivalent, self-assembling complexes composed of viral structural proteins. Antigenic peptide sequences can be displayed on the surface …

Vietnamese American Women’S Beliefs And Perceptions On Cervical Cancer, Cervical Cancer Screening, And Cancer Prevention Vaccines: A Community-Based Participatory Study, Connie Kim Yen Nguyen-Truong, Kim Quy Vo Nguyen, Thai Hien Nguyen, Tuong Vy Le, Anthony My Truong, Keara Rodela, Rachael Allan

Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal

Cervical cancer remains commonly diagnosed in Vietnamese American women. Despite efforts to increase cervical cancer screening among Vietnamese American women, participation rates are persistently lower than the national goal. The objective of this study is to explore beliefs of Vietnamese American women about cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, and cancer prevention vaccines. A qualitative descriptive investigation captured group perceptions about meaning and beliefs of cervical cancer, screening, and cancer prevention vaccines, and participants’ stories using a community-based participatory research approach.

Forty Vietnamese American women were recruited from the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area into four focus groups. Using a process of …

Hpv Vaccine Reminders At The Point Of Service: Efficacy And Missed Opportunities. A Claims Based Study Within One Health Plan, B. Dale Magee, Katherine G. Leung, Tiffany A. Moore Simas

B. Dale Magee

Introduction: Our objective is to assess HPV vaccine series completion rates, whether on-screen Point of Service reminders (POS) make a difference, and missed opportunities for reminders to have an effect. Methods: Retrospective, claims-based study of females aged 9-26 receiving an initial dose of HPV vaccine during 2 periods: before (period 1) and after (period 2) implementation of a POS reminder system in 1(“Change Group”) of 2 physician groups using EHRs for both periods. Completion rates, and missed opportunities during eligible periods were calculated for those with continuous enrollment in the health plan investigated. Results: Completion rates within 1 year of …

The Inclusion Of Women’S Health In Sustainable Medical Mission Trip Models: A Pa Student’S Perspective, Jillian G. Goles

VA Engage Journal

Like many disadvantaged countries around the world, Nicaragua is visited by numerous medical missions each year. The efficacy of these missions relies on the organization’s relationship with the communities they serve. Although the general goal of all medical missions is to ultimately help underserved populations, many missions inadvertently do harm. Two critical causes of such inadvertent harm are lack of sustainable practices and failure to form a long-term relationship with the communities. Shenandoah University’s Physician Assistant Program has worked tirelessly to form an ideal medical mission model and relationship with El Ayudante, a local non-government humanitarian organization, and the local …

Missed Opportunities In Hpv Vaccination, B. Dale Magee, Autumn S. Davidson, Leslie Regh

B. Dale Magee

Objective: To use the 3 dose Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine administration (given at 0, 1-2 and 6 months) to quantify opportunities to improve efficacy in the delivery of preventive health services. Methods: This was a retrospective, claims-based analysis using data provided by a single managed care plan. Female patients aged 9-26 who were continuously enrolled between 2009 through 2011 and received ≥ dose of the HPV vaccine during 2010 were analyzed. The proportion of initiators who did and did not completed the vaccine series, the timing and location of doses, and the number of outpatient visits during which the vaccine …