Soojung Jo

Influenza remains one of the most widely circulating respiratory virus infections worldwide, carrying a profound clinical and economic burden across all demographic strata (Chaiyakunapruk et al., 2...

Background and Aims: Despite the high effectiveness of HPV vaccination, uptake among young adults remains suboptimal. Healthcare policies, vaccine hesitancy, and sources of vaccine information may contribute to differences in vaccination behaviors across countries. To examine cross‐national and sex‐specific differences in HPV vaccine uptake and hesitancy among undergraduates in the US and Korea, and investigate the role of information sources. Methods: This cross‐sectional study targeted undergraduate students in the US and Korea aged between 18 and 25. Data was collected from August 29, 2023, to February 20, 2024 using an online survey through social media exclusive to college students (Korea) and a university listserv (US). A total of 224 survey responses were analyzed after removing missing data ( n = 43). HPV vaccine hesitancy, uptake, and frequency of information source use were assessed. Results: HPV vaccine uptake was substantially higher in the US than in Korea (74.0% vs. 33.1%), with a significant sex gap observed only in Korea. Although no significant cross‐national differences in HPV vaccine hesitancy were observed, sex‐specific patterns emerged within each country (OR = 5.3; 95% CI = 1.1–25.3; p = 0.035). In the US, females reported slightly higher hesitancy than males, whereas in Korea, males reported greater hesitancy than females. In multivariable logistic regression, frequent use of social media was associated with higher odds of HPV vaccine hesitancy (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.0–10.4, p = 0.043), while frequent use of professional organizations as an information source was associated with lower odds of hesitancy (OR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2–0.9, p = 0.024). Conclusions: Tailored public health strategies that address social media's potential role in shaping HPV vaccine hesitancy, while expanded policy support in Korea could improve uptake and reduce hesitancy.

Tdap vaccination during pregnancy is essential to protect the fetus, yet the vaccination rate in the United States remains suboptimal. Little is known about pregnant women’s perspectives or the factors that influence their Tdap vaccination decisions. Given that many pregnant women turn to social media and online sources for health information, this study aims to analyze social media posts from Reddit to better understand the needs of pregnant women regarding the maternal Tdap vaccine. This qualitative study analyzed the posts from Reddit collected from October 2020–2023. After screening, 86 posts were included for analysis. Thematic analysis was conducted. Four key themes emerged: information seeking, vaccine hesitancy, regulation and public policy, and concerns related to contact with newborns. Pregnant women actively sought information to clarify concerns and better understand healthcare providers’ advice. Some reported a lack of vaccine recommendations from providers, and inconsistent recommendations for the vaccination timing by the providers. Vaccine hesitancy and refusal were also expressed. In addition, confusion arose around policies recommending Tdap for family members and close contacts, leading to interpersonal conflict and resistance. Many posts described pushback from family members. Pregnant women face multifaceted needs and challenges related to vaccine information, policies, and emotional support. Healthcare providers should initiate the vaccine recommendation with clear information, considering the patients’ literacy and address concerns. Additionally, public health agencies and professional organizations should prioritize promoting the maternal Tdap vaccine by supporting access, including cost coverage.

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has substantially influenced nursing environments and has underscored the importance of active patient care. Nursing intention plays a critical role in the provision of care for patients with COVID-19; however, limited evidence exists regarding the factors that influence nurses’ intention to provide patient care specific to COVID-19. This study aimed to examine factors associated with nursing intention for COVID-19 patient care, guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. Data were collected from August 30 to October 1, 2020, using structured questionnaires completed by 169 clinical nurses working in hospitals with more than 600 beds in Seoul, Korea. The collected data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results: Behavioral beliefs (β=.34, p<.001) and perceived behavioral control (β=.24, p<.001) were significantly associated with nursing intention for COVID-19 patient care. Conclusion: There is a need to develop specific strategies and educational programs to enhance nursing intention for COVID-19 patient care in the context of emerging infectious diseases by strengthening behavioral beliefs and perceived behavioral control. Providing up-to-date care protocols or simulation-based education may help increase nurses’ behavioral beliefs and perceived behavioral control.

Introduction: As the COVID-19 vaccine transitions into an annual immunization, it is important to understand the factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and uptake. This study aims to examine how information source use and trust are associated with COVID-19 and influenza vaccine hesitancy and influenza vaccine uptake. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed undergraduate students aged 18–25 years between August 29, 2023, and February 20, 2024. A total of 230 participants were included in the analysis. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used. Results: Using Internet, professional sources, friends/co-workers, and social media was associated with vaccine hesitancy and uptake. Cross-national comparisons showed that US students reported lower COVID-19 but higher influenza vaccine hesitancy than Koreans. Discussion: Information use and trust were associated with vaccine attitudes and behaviors in vaccine- and country-specific ways. Tailored strategies should strengthen professional channels, engage family networks, and optimize Internet and social media for vaccine communication.

Background: This study aims to investigate the relationship between political ideology and the awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV vaccine and the interaction with sex and race/ethnicity. Methods: This cross‐sectional study is a secondary analysis of Health Information National Trends Survey data, based on responses from 3113 American households. The analysis used listwise deletion. Data included awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine, political ideology, and demographic characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression models with interaction terms were used to examine the associations between political ideology, sex, race/ethnicity, and HPV awareness outcomes. Results: Moderate and conservative populations were less likely to be aware of HPV and the HPV vaccine compared to liberal population. However, these differences were only observed among males. Black, Hispanic, Asian, and other populations were less aware of HPV and the HPV vaccine than the White populations. Younger age, higher educational level, and higher income were associated with awareness. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the need for tailored outreach strategies for conservative males and racial/ethnic minority populations by tailoring approaches to increase awareness of the dangers of HPV and the benefits of vaccination. Nurses should play a critical role in delivering culturally appropriate education and strong vaccine recommendations to improve awareness and uptake by targeting conservative males and underserved racial and ethnic minority groups who consistently demonstrate lower levels of HPV‐related knowledge.

Background: Compassion fatigue and satisfaction impact nurses’ patient care. Resilience acts as a mediator between protective organizational practices and mental health. Objective: This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of resilience among nurses during the recent emerging infectious disease outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 233 nurses who were caring for COVID-19 patients in the United States, Japan, Korea, and Guinea. Path analysis was used to assess associations between protective organizational practices and compassion fatigue and satisfaction. Results: Path analysis indicated that resilience significantly mediated the association between protective organizational practices and the study outcomes of compassion satisfaction (indirect effect: β = 0.11, p < .01) and compassion fatigue (indirect effect: β = −0.11, p < .01). The analysis also indicated that resilience mediated associations between being asked to work at a higher patient acuity level and compassion satisfaction (indirect effect: β = −0.09, p < .05) and compassion fatigue (indirect effect: β = 0.09, p < .01). Our results provide further support for the mediating effect of resilience on compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction during the COVID-19 crisis and the impact of poor protective organizational practices on compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. Conclusions: This study highlights the critical impact of supportive protective organizational practices in enhancing nurse resilience, reducing compassion fatigue, and improving compassion satisfaction during emerging infectious disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The results emphasize the need for robust resiliency programs and organizational resources for infection control in health care settings to enhance nurses’ psychological well-being.

Introduction: Nurses are now more likely to leave their current role in direct patient care than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. Country culture and the organization of health care systems drive nurses’ decisions to leave or stay in the profession. Methods: In a fall 2020 survey of nurse professional quality of life, a content analysis of responses to the open-ended question, “ What has been challenging or rewarding during this pandemic experience?” was performed. Results were organized within Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory. Results: Six hundred and fifty-six nurses across five countries responded to the question; 526 comments were analyzed. Most (53.6%) respondents were staff bedside nurses. Themes, such as Distress and Fatigue and Building and Experiencing Social Capital were found and understood to reflect cultural values and dimensions such as Uncertainty Avoidance and Power Distance. Discussion: Recommendations include strengthening culturally tailored leadership knowledge to inform and facilitate countries’ nurse retention.

Background: Due to the rapid spread of COVID‐19 variants, the number of people hospitalized for COVID‐19 may create psychological burdens on nurses. Nurses with high levels of compassion fatigue (CF) are more likely to make work errors, deliver poor‐quality care, and have greater intent to leave their position.Objectives: This study utilized the social‐ecological model to examine factors associated with nurses' CF and compassion satisfaction (CS) during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Methods: Data were collected from the United States, Japan, and South Korea from July to December 2020. The Professional Quality of Life Scale was used to measure burnout (BO), secondary traumatic stress (STS), and CS.Results: Data from 662 responses were used in the analysis. Mean scores were 25.04 (±6.44) for BO, 24.81 (±6.43) for STS, and 37.85 (±7.67) for CS. Multiple regression analyses indicated that resilience and intention to leave nursing were related to each study outcome (i.e., BO, STS, and CS). Greater resilience predicted lower BO and STS but greater CS, whereas intention to leave nursing indicated greater BO and STS, but lower CS. Furthermore, intrapersonal factors and organizational factors (i.e., nurses involved in developing policies to prepare for COVID‐19 patients, organizational support, and personal protective equipment [PPE] provisions) were related to BO, STS, and CS.Linking Evidence to Practice: To promote nurses' psychological well‐being, improvement of organizational factors such as support, PPE, and programs to enhance resilience is recommended to prepare for future emerging infectious disease crises.