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Objective: Seasonal influenza is a preventable disease that may cause high morbidity and mortality. In the USA, the 2020 influenza season overlapped with the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. There is a dearth of research on understanding influenza vaccination uptake and attitudes towards the vaccine among marginalised communities in the USA. The aim of this study was to examine general knowledge, misconceptions about, and barriers to influenza vaccination and determine if flu education delivered via trusted messengers improved knowledge among Asian Americans. Design: Quantitative prospective pre- and post-test design. Setting: Asian American communities in Metro Detroit area, Hamtramck, and Kent County in Michigan. Method: The study started with a training event in which 26 community leaders were trained to become trusted messengers to disseminate flu education. A total of 260 Asian American participants subsequently completed pre- and post-education surveys. Results: Asian Americans in the study reported low flu vaccination rate (48.5%). Reasons varied but included access-related issues (e.g. no access and no insurance) and health literacy (did not know they needed it). After education by trusted messengers, the paired "t" tests measuring improvement between pre- and post-survey scores showed a significant improvement (p < 0.05) for all of the knowledge items. Conclusion: Educational campaigns using targeted messages to address specific barriers and acknowledge individuals' concerns regarding misconceptions while providing equitable vaccine access can be key for the successful implementation of vaccination programmes.

The purpose of this research study was to determine the effectiveness of an innovative online COVID-19 educational module among community health nursing students. Mixed-methods study. The sample (N = 86) consisted of prelicensure and postlicensure community health nursing students, who completed a pretest, COVID-19 educational intervention, and posttest. The majority of participants' scores increased from pretest to posttest, and most participants strongly agreed that the COVID-19 educational module was effective. Strategies to address vaccine hesitancy, information learned and found most helpful, and plans for application and utilization of this knowledge were revealed. An online COVID-19 community health nursing educational intervention was effective at improving participants' knowledge, confidence, and attitudes regarding COVID-19. Online COVID-19 community health nursing education was an effective strategy for increasing preparation for this pandemic and the format can be useful to utilize for future public health emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the Healthy for Life® program, virtual cook-along classes using budget-friendly recipes were provided for Hamtramck, Michigan, residents who are preparing family meals. The following Healthy for Life® experiences were delivered: Healthy Ingredient Swap, Whole Grain Hacks, Sauté, Simmer, & Steam, and Chopped Salad Competition. Our goals were to 1) recruit community participants; 2) deliver Healthy for Life® experiences in an engaging and fun manner; 3) promote healthy choices and improve the health of Hamtramck residents; and 4) support our community partner, Detroit Friendship House. The goals of the project were met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interventions are needed to reduce the high overweight prevalence noted among boys in early high school. Because decreased physical activity (PA) is a factor for weight gain and a decline in boys' PA occurs across the middle school years, a need exists to intervene, as soon as boys reach middle school, to help them get adequate PA. The purpose of this study was to explore perceived benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, enjoyment or activity preferences, and situational or environmental influences related to PA among sixth-grade boys (N = 40). Each boy participated in one of seven focus groups. Having an average weight was the most important benefit. The most prominent personal barrier focused on being unmotivated. Environmental barriers included lacking equipment and places for PA. Suggestions for increasing boys' PA were identified. Findings have implications for nurses interested in designing interventions to assist boys of this age in achieving PA recommendations. (Contains 1 table.)

Adolescence is a period of accelerated growth and change, bridging the complex transition from childhood to adulthood. This period offers adolescents an opportunity to begin planning for their futures and to adopt healthy attitudes about risk behaviors that can continue into adulthood, thus setting the stage for a lifetime of desirable health behaviors. This study used the Youth Risk Behavior Survey on middle school students and examined the gender differences of health risk behaviors among 674 8th-graders from an urban setting. The results showed that males were more likely to be involved in fights, to initiate alcohol use, and to participate in physical activity; whereas females were more likely to try to lose weight with unhealthy practices, such as fasting and laxatives. School nurses are in a prime position to promote adolescent health in the school setting by providing health-related services and teaching to help students initiate and maintain healthy lifestyles. (Contains 1 table.)

The decline of physical activity during adolescence is not well understood. This prospective study followed 969 Taiwanese students from eighth to ninth grade and examined their physical activity-related cognitions, interpersonal influences, and behavior of physical activity across the grade transition. Gender differences were found in the effects of the grade transition on physical activity and its related cognitions. The correlation coefficients showed moderate tracking for physical activity, cognitions, and interpersonal influences for both genders. The results also indicated that cognitions are more stable than behavior. The present study provides evidence of the decline in physical activity in Taiwanese youth across the grade transition as well as gender differences in the variables cognitions and interpersonal influences.

Vaccination disparities are part of a larger system of health inequities among racial and ethnic groups in the United States. To increase vaccine equity of racial and ethnic populations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designed the Partnering for Vaccine Equity program in January 2021, which funded and supported national, state, local, and community organizations in 50 states—which include Indian Health Service Tribal Areas; Washington, DC; and Puerto Rico—to implement culturally tailored activities to improve access to, availability of, and confidence in COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. To increase vaccine uptake at the local level, CDC partnered with national organizations such as the National Urban League and Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum to engage community-based organizations to take action. Lessons learned from the program include the importance of directly supporting and engaging with the community, providing tailored messages and access to vaccines to reach communities where they are, training messengers who are trusted by those in the community, and providing support to funded partners through trainings on program design and implementation that can be institutionalized and sustained beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on these lessons will ensure CDC and other public health partners can continue to advance vaccine equity, increase vaccine uptake, improve health outcomes, and build trust with communities as part of a comprehensive adult immunization infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Banglatown area of Hamtramck, Michigan is home to Bangladeshi Americans (26% of the population) and has a 49.1% poverty rate. There are no supermarkets in Hamtramck; however, there are many small food stores. The NEMS-CS tool was used to assess 21 food stores. Of the stores surveyed, 33% of offered 3 or more fruits and vegetables. Thirty-six percent offered brown rice and almost half offered dried legumes. Stores scored poorly on all three categories included in the NEMS-CS score: availability, quality, price. Results of the study contribute to the knowledge base about healthy food availability in urban Bangladeshi communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the differences in perceived barriers for mammography screening among four ethnic groups of Asian-American women. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 315 women in these four groups. Results: The results from the multivariate analyses indicated that even after taking into account insurance coverage and demographic variables, specific barriers still prevent Asian-American women from seeking mammography. Discussion: Recognizing similarities and differences in the barriers among demographic variables such as ethnicity, age, and length of U.S. residency among Asian subgroups can assist health professionals to address their needs when promoting adherence to mammography guidelines. KEYWORDS. Breast cancer, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Asian Indians

The article presents the discussion on Human milk being widely recommended as the gold standard of infant feeding by many medical and health organizations. Topics include nursing people, breastfeeding protected against breast cancer, improving birth spacing, and protecting against ovarian cancer and Type 2 diabetes; and socioeconomic backgrounds breastfed at lower rates and factors such as lack of support and acceptance, language, and literacy barriers.