No abstract

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is associated with various forms of cancer and is preventable with vaccination. Nurses are in a unique position to directly influence a person's decision to receive the HPV vaccine. A statewide sample of both school and public health nurses was used to assess knowledge and attitudes related to the HPV vaccine as well as nurse's behaviors and behavioral intentions toward educating parents and recommending the vaccine. Positive attitudes and adequate knowledge levels were found, however, the majority of school nurses did not provide information and resources to parents. Targeted health promotion programs for school nurses are recommended.

BACKGROUND: School nurses and personnel play a vital role in promoting the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with school nurses' and personnel's professional practice to provide parents with HPV vaccine information and to encourage parents to vaccinate their child against HPV. METHODS:School nurses and personnel from Ohio and Missouri completed a survey to assess their professional practice in providing HPV vaccine information and encouraging parents to vaccinate their child against HPV. Independent variables included demographics, HPV knowledge/attitudes, perceptions of their as an opinion leader for the HPV vaccine, self-efficacy to provide vaccine education, and perception of school district support. RESULTS:Providing parents with HPV vaccine information was predicted by age, role within the school, grade-serving, knowledge, perceptions, self-efficacy, and district support; accounting for 38% of the variance (p < .000, R 2 = .38). Encouraging parents to vaccinate their child against HPV was predicted by perception, self-efficacy, and grade-serving; accounting for 39% of the variance (p < .000, R 2 = .39). CONCLUSIONS: To enhance school nurses' and personnel's professional practice, interventions should focus on nurses'and personnel's perception of their role as opinion leaders and self-efficacy to provide HPV education and vaccine recommendation.Citation: Rosen BL, Rhodes D, Visker J, Cox C, Banez JC, Lasser B. Factors associated with school nurses' and personnel's professional practice to encourage parents to vaccinate against human papillomavirus.

A convenience sample of senior adults with rheumatoid arthritis enrolled and not enrolled in the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP) were compared to determine the eight-week program's acceptability as an intervention for sleep quality/sleep disturbance in people with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as to determine if this outcome measure was appropriate as justification for possible larger studies. Results of an analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a statistically significant difference in sleep quality/sleep disturbance scores between the groups. This study provided preliminary, cautious evidence of a relationship between participation in the AFEP and its effect on sleep quality as an outcome measure for further study.

Clergy members suffering from burnout face both personal and professional complications. This study assessed occupational burnout and stress coping mechanisms among ministers affiliated with the Assemblies of God, a denomination that has received little attention in previous burnout-related studies. A cross-sectional design was employed using two instruments with acceptable psychometric properties. Approximately 65 % of those surveyed were either suffering from burnout or on the verge of burnout. Statistical differences in coping mechanism use were found between those who were and were not experiencing some level of burnout. The results of this study add to the existing understanding of occupational burnout among clergy members and ways in which burnout may be alleviated.