Vaccination Motivators and Deterrents Among Undervaccinated Older Adults in North Dakota.

Despite increased risk of morbidity and mortality among older adults due to preventable infectious diseases such as influenza, shingles, pneumonia, and COVID-19, many forego receiving some, if not all, of these vaccinations. This study examines vaccination motivators and deterrents for undervaccinated older adults in North Dakota (ND). Adults aged 65+ in ND were mailed a survey (n = 901) with questions gauging vaccination behaviors and perceptions, with 132 of these indicating not receiving certain vaccinations.

Reliance on sources of immunization information and vaccine uptake among older adults in a rural state: The mediating role of trust.

Older adults are more vulnerable to the negative impacts of infectious diseases than younger individuals. However, regardless of the importance and effectiveness of vaccines to reduce morbidity and mortality, issues remain with vaccine hesitancy among this population. Older adults' sources of immunization information and their level of trust in those sources may play a role in their vaccination behaviors.

"Stronger Than I Thought I Was": Older Adults' Coping Across Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background And Objectives: Throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, older adults developed coping strategies to adapt to the necessary social distancing precautions; however, over time, especially as vaccines became available, their need and ability to adapt and cope shifted. This longitudinal, mixed-methods study investigates changes in older adults' perceptions of coping across the first 2 years of the pandemic.

Research Design And Methods: Between April 2020 and June 2022, 5 waves of interviews were conducted with 76 Midwestern older adults aged 70-97.

Vaccine attitudes and acceptance among older adults in North Dakota: Understanding demographic characteristic variability.

Objectives: Older adults face increased risks from infectious diseases which are often preventable with vaccines. The current study examines demographic variation in vaccine hesitancy among older adults in North Dakota.

Methods: A mailed survey assessing age, gender, years of education, self-rated health, rurality, and political leaning as well as vaccine attitudes and vaccine acceptance was conducted with 739 older adults (65+), oversampled from rural counties.

Untapped Insight: A Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis of Older Adults' Advice During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background And Objectives: Due to a lifetime of experience, older adults are uniquely positioned to contribute advice and insight to others during a historical, societal crisis such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This qualitative study explores the solicited advice older adults offered their peers, family members, and communities throughout the first year of the pandemic.

Research Design And Methods: A sample of 72 older adults aged 70-97 from Minnesota and North Dakota were asked what advice they would provide to others in June 2020 and again in April/May 2021.

Patient Experience and Satisfaction with Opioid-Related Screening and Intervention in North Dakota Community Pharmacies.

Screening for patient-level opioid-related risk in the community pharmacy setting has increased patient education about opioids and naloxone distribution, helping to mitigate the impact of the opioid epidemic. However, patient experience and satisfaction with opioid screening and education is unknown. Fear of patient dissatisfaction may limit pharmacists' willingness to implement screening activities.

Shifts in Older Adults' Social Connections Throughout the Initial Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background And Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exposed older adults to increased health risks, yet social distancing precautions also heightened risks to their social well-being. This mixed-methods study explores changes in older adults' satisfaction with social engagement and interpersonal connections throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research Design And Methods: A Midwestern sample of 76 older adults aged 70-97 completed a series of 4 interviews from March 2020 through April 2021 about their experiences with COVID-19 social distancing precautions.

Teacher Perceptions of and Experiences with Student Menstruation in the School Setting.

Background: Menstrual hygiene management is an important public health issue for adolescents. The objective of this study was to explore teacher perceptions and experiences addressing adolescent menstruation experiences at school and examine their perception of the impact of menstruation on student learning.

Methods: Teachers in a Midwest school district participated in an online survey about their perceptions of adolescent school-based menstruation experiences, including: experience and comfort-level with providing menstruation assistance, presence of menstrual products in classroom/office for students, perceptions about adolescent school-based menstruation experiences, and perceptions on the impact of menstruation on student learning.

Older Adults' Loneliness in Early COVID-19 Social Distancing: Implications of Rurality.

Objectives: Older adults face greater health risks due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet preventative social distancing measures may cause increased social isolation, potentially heightening risk of loneliness. In this mixed-methods study we examine changes in older adults' loneliness due to social distancing, explore variability in perceptions, and identify whether such changes differ by rurality.

Methods: A Midwestern sample of 76 older adults aged 70-97 (mean age = 82; 74% female; 95% White; 39% rural) completed a phone interview about their experiences with social distancing due to COVID-19.

Associations between oil development and sexually transmitted infections: Public health nurse perspectives.

Background: Oil development (OD) has been associated with increased sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates, with limited focus on the North Dakota (ND) oil boom. Public health (PH) nurse experiences can provide context related to health challenges during OD-related population booms.

Objective: To compare reported STI rates in ND oil-producing (OP) and non-oil-producing (NOP) counties before, during, and after the oil boom and describe PH nurse experiences during this time.

Menstruation Experiences of Middle and High School Students in the Midwest: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of this pilot study was to expand understanding of the experience of menstruation for girls in the United States and its impact in the school setting. A qualitative approach was used to gather data from focus group interviews. Descriptive content analysis was used to categorize the range and types of menstruation experiences described by 12 participants aged 12-16 years.

Lessons in Resilience: Initial Coping Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background And Objectives: In addition to increased physical health risks, older adults may also experience risks to their mental health and social well-being due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Yet, older adults may be uniquely able to cope given their life experiences and coping mechanisms. This study explores older adults' coping experiences and strategies during the initial weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Risky Driving Behaviors for Older Adults: Differences by Veteran's Status.

Veterans are at an increased risk of being injured or killed in motor vehicle crashes, potentially due to their proclivity to engage in risky driving behaviors. However, most research in this area has focused on driving behaviors of veterans who have recently returned home after deployment. No research has focused on risky driving behaviors of older veterans (aged 65 or older) and if risky driving behaviors extend beyond the time period immediately following return from deployment.

Parental perceptions of child placement within vehicles: a focus group study.

Although rear-seating children in motor vehicles results in fewer injuries and fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, many children continue to be front-seated. This study seeks to identify parental barriers to rear-seating children in motor vehicles and strategies to increase child rear seat placement. Focus groups were conducted with parents of children 12 or younger to determine barriers to rear seating and strategies to increase child rear seat placement.

Differences in Child Passenger Safety Counseling Frequency and Attitudes by Health Care Provider Specialty.

Many children are not being properly restrained in motor vehicles, resulting in unnecessary injury and fatalities. Health care provider (HCP) education is effective at increasing proper child restraint within vehicles. However, differences exist by HCP specialty in regards to frequency of child passenger safety (CPS) counseling.

Predictors of health care provider anticipatory guidance provision for older drivers.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of health care provider (HCP) driving safety/cessation-related anticipatory guidance provision and predictors of driving safety-related anticipatory guidance provision by HCPs.

Methods: HCPs in several central/upper Midwest states were surveyed about frequency of anticipatory guidance provision (n = 265).

Results: More than half of HCPs stated that they frequently or always provide driving safety/cessation-related anticipatory guidance to patients aged 85 or older, 38.

Health Care Provider Mobility Counseling Provision to Older Adults: A Rural/Urban Comparison.

The current study examined rural-urban differences in health care provider (HCP) perceptions, attitudes, and practices related to driving safety/cessation-related anticipatory guidance provision to older adults. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with HCPs in several north central states. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine dimensions of HCP perceptions and attitudes related to mobility counseling.

Socioeconomic differences in the menopausal experience of Chinese women.

Objective: This study explores the effect of employment status, occupation and education on menopausal symptoms experienced by women in an urban community in China.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Main Outcome Measures: Menopausal symptoms, medication/supplement use to relieve menopausal symptoms, sociodemographic variables.

Front versus rear seat placement of children aged 12 or younger within vehicles: a rural/urban comparison in North Dakota.

Objective: Research has shown that rear-seated children are 36 to 40 percent safer than front-seated children. Because of the substantial differences in traffic safety culture that appear to exist in rural areas and the limited research regarding seat placement and rurality, this study seeks to contribute to the safety literature by determining at what rate children are riding in the front seat and whether differences exist between rural and urban areas in regards to child front seat placement.

Methods: Current child placement frequencies within vehicles were ascertained through direct observations of morning child drop-offs at randomly selected urban and rural elementary schools in eastern North Dakota during November and December of 2009, with a focus on children aged 12 or younger.