Journal of Community Health最新文献

{"title":"Investigation of the Relationship Between Physical Activity Level, Posture Disorder and Cardiopulmonary System in University Students.","authors":"Abdurrahim Yıldız, Ece Cömer, Sude Sultan Deniz, Rojbin Ektiren","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01552-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10900-026-01552-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To examine the relationship between physical activity level, postural disorders and cardiopulmonary functions in university students. Regular physical activity is known to support postural balance and improve the functions of the cardiopulmonary system through its positive effects on the musculoskeletal system. In this context, considering the prevalence of sedentary lifestyle in university students, the effects of physical activity on these systems were investigated. The study was conducted with 164 volunteer students between the ages of 18-25 years studying at Sakarya University of Applied Sciences. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess the physical activity levels of the participants, the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale was used to assess quality of life, the 6 min Walk Test (6MWT) was used to measure cardiopulmonary capacity, and the Posture Analysis Method was used to assess posture disorders. The findings of the study showed that low physical activity level was associated with postural imbalances and decreased cardiopulmonary capacity. It was observed that as the physical activity level increased, postural disorders decreased and cardiopulmonary functions improved. A positive correlation was found between physical activity levels and physical function, energy/vitality and general health subscales of SF-36 scale. In addition, 6MWT performance showed better results in individuals with higher physical activity levels. It has been demonstrated that regular physical activity supports postural balance and improves the functions of the cardiopulmonary system in university students. It is clear that interventions to increase the level of physical activity will provide significant benefits on students' postural and cardiopulmonary health in this period when sedentary lifestyle is common. It is recommended to develop programs that encourage physical activity in universities.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":"575-581"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13384998/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147729036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Participatory Mixed-Methodology Study of HIV and STI Testing Barriers Among Latino College Students in the California Inland Empire.","authors":"Stephen D Ramos, Andrea Manzur, Nicole Arkadie","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01582-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10900-026-01582-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Young adults in the United States experience a disproportionate burden of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with Latino populations and residents of California's inland regions facing compounded disparities. This study examined multilevel barriers to HIV and STI testing among Latino college students in the California Inland Empire using Group Concept Mapping (GCM), a mixed-methods participatory approach. Twenty-six students participated in brainstorming sessions, and nineteen completed sorting and rating activities. Analyses identified five clusters of barriers: access, awareness, and competing priorities; knowledge, social norms, and normalization of testing; structural and healthcare system barriers; emotional and relational barriers; and moralized sexual health stigma rooted in family, cultural, and religious norms. All clusters were rated as moderately to highly important, with access- and knowledge-related barriers emerging as the most influential. Go-zone analyses highlighted actionable targets, including improving access to low-cost testing, integrating sexual health into routine care, enhancing privacy and confidentiality, and fostering supportive provider and peer environments. Barriers perceived as less acceptable to address included culturally embedded stigma and limited sexual health education. Findings underscore the need for multilevel, culturally grounded interventions that address structural, interpersonal, and sociocultural factors to improve testing engagement and advance sexual health equity among Latino college students in underserved regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":"676-686"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148005399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mpox Awareness and Knowledge Among Residents of the Northern Border Region, Saudi Arabia: Implications for Community Preparedness.","authors":"Baraah Abu Alsel, Elaf Ali A Alenezi, Hajar Abdullah K Alanazi, Fai Tulail N Alenezi, Waten Led Atiwi Alenezi, Munirah Suliman Al Suogaih, Rimas Khalid A Alanazi, Norah Suliman Al Suogaih, Safya E Esmaeel, Fathia Ahmed Mersal, Eslam K Fahmy, Mohammed M Ismail, Manal S Fawzy","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01565-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10900-026-01565-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In August 2024, the World Health Organization declared the ongoing mpox upsurge in Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, underscoring mpox as an emerging global threat. In non‑endemic countries such as Saudi Arabia, understanding community awareness is critical for public health preparedness and prevention. This study assessed mpox awareness and knowledge among residents of the Northern Border Region and identified factors associated with better knowledge, to inform targeted community‑based health communication strategies. A community‑based cross‑sectional survey was conducted between 1 March and 20 August 2025 among 1,362 adults. A structured, pre‑validated questionnaire assessed general knowledge, symptom recognition, and preventive measures. Knowledge scores (0-15) were summarized descriptively and categorized as poor, moderate, or good. Ordinal logistic regression and machine‑learning classifiers were used to identify predictors of higher knowledge and to explore the prediction of adequate knowledge from sociodemographic characteristics and prior mpox awareness, supporting risk stratification for community interventions. Among 1,362 participants (78.1% female; 56.8% aged 18-30 years), 48.4% had previously heard of mpox. Overall knowledge was suboptimal (mean 7.64/15; 50.9% correct); 48.3% had poor knowledge, 38.2% moderate, and 13.5% good. Suboptimal knowledge across sociodemographic groups suggests substantial vulnerability to future mpox introductions in this border region. Social media and other internet sources were the main information channels, underscoring their potential as primary platforms for risk communication. In multivariable ordinal regression, prior mpox awareness was the strongest predictor of higher knowledge (adjusted odds = 4.1), alongside higher education and health‑related occupations. Logistic‑regression-based machine‑learning models showed moderate discrimination and acceptable calibration (AUC‑ROC = 0.72; Brier = 0.19), with prior awareness consistently the most important feature. Mpox knowledge in the Northern Border Region is suboptimal and low across sociodemographic groups, particularly among less educated and non‑health‑sector participants. Prior exposure to mpox information is a central, modifiable determinant of adequate knowledge, underscoring the need for targeted, evidence‑based communication strategies, particularly via widely used digital platforms. Tailored community‑level interventions focusing on less educated and non‑health‑sector groups are essential to strengthen mpox preparedness and broader infectious‑disease readiness in this underserved border region.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":"549-562"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147627819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Business and Service Provider Attitudes Towards Police Involvement in Overdose Response: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Rhode Island Overdose Hotspots.","authors":"Saba Rouhani, Joseph G Rosen, Brandon Del Pozo, Mary Figgatt, Rehan Aslam, Josiah D Rich, Ju Nyeong Park","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01570-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10900-026-01570-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Police presence at overdose scenes can deter life-saving help-seeking behaviors due to fear of legal consequences, leading some jurisdictions to consider police non-attendance policies. However, business stakeholders' attitudes toward the role of law enforcement in overdose response remain understudied. We surveyed 100 business employees and service providers in areas of high overdose concentration in Rhode Island from November 2022 to April 2024. Participants completed structured questionnaires assessing attitudes toward police effectiveness in overdose prevention, service linkage, and public safety. Participants expressed mixed views on police effectiveness: 39% believed police presence helps prevent overdoses, 40% felt it connects people who use drugs to services, and 52% thought it prevents drug selling. Most (66%) agreed police keep communities safe, yet only 5% endorsed incarceration for people who use drugs. Significant variations in attitudes were observed by race, urbanicity, and organization type, including near-universal opposition to incarcerating people who use drugs. While stakeholders valued police for general safety, most did not endorse their effectiveness in overdose prevention and service linkage. Policymakers implementing police non-attendance or alternative response models must proactively engage diverse local stakeholders to address specific safety concerns while leveraging the community's existing receptivity toward non-punitive overdose interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":"535-541"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13541100/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147574188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Over 20 Years of Training in Community-based Participatory Research and Service Learning through the Community Health Fellowship Program.","authors":"Nora Gimpel, Philip Day, Tiffany Kindratt, Victoria Udezi, Juliana Dixon, Hira Hasan","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01579-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10900-026-01579-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A growing number of institutions have integrated Community-Based Participatory Research into their curricula, using diverse models that range from elective to required, short-term to longitudinal, and single profession to interprofessional programs to align with the American Association of Medical Colleges learning objectives. This paper reviews the past two decades of the Community Health Fellowship Program (CHFP) at UT Southwestern Medical Center. It highlights key program accomplishments and presents a mixed-methods analysis of student feedback, including post-program evaluations, program organization, didactic lectures, and community partnerships. Post-program quantitative and qualitative data from student feedback surveys were analyzed to identify patterns and trends across multiple years. From 2002 to 2025, 106 fellows were trained through the CHFP, working with over 50 academic practice and community partnerships. Overall, the program received high ratings, with the strongest scores reflecting knowledgeable staff and instructors, while comparatively lower, though still positive, scores highlighted opportunities to improve program organization and alignment with student expectations at enrollment. Data show that the CHFP successfully built student competence in CBPR aligned with community-identified priorities, with consistent accomplishments, demonstrating the program's sustained impact on community needs and the scientific literature. As a long-standing and evolving initiative, the CHFP offers a model for both emerging and established CBPR-based programs at other academic institutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":"667-675"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13385025/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148015829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of Community Pharmacies in Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Syracuse, Italy.","authors":"Claudio Fiorilla, Fabio Contarino, Francesco Leonforte, Vito Nicosia, Giuseppe Leonardo Cucè, Salvatore Caruso, Gioacchino Nicolosi, Antonio Mistretta","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01566-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10900-026-01566-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Influenza remains a major public health challenge, and vaccination is the primary strategy to reduce its burden. Community pharmacies have been introduced as additional vaccination providers in Italy, but their contribution remains insufficiently documented. This study assessed the role of community pharmacies in influenza vaccination in the Siracusa Local Health Authority (LHA) across the 2022/23-2024/25 seasons. A retrospective analysis of the local electronic vaccination registry was conducted. All adults vaccinated during the three influenza seasons were included, with a focus on individuals aged 18-65 years, the group eligible for pharmacy-based vaccination under regional guidelines. Information on vaccine type, administration setting, and patient characteristics was analyzed. Overall, 83,517 individuals received at least one influenza vaccination. Of these, 1,709 (2.0%) were vaccinated in community pharmacies, where standard-dose vaccines predominated (97.1%). Among pharmacy-vaccinated individuals, 272 had at least one underlying condition. In the 18-65-year subgroup, 32,028 individuals were vaccinated, with approximately 2% receiving vaccination in pharmacies. The pharmacy contribution in this subgroup increased over the three seasons from 1.8% to 2.7%. Community pharmacies played a modest but increasing role in influenza vaccination, particularly among adults aged 18-65 years. Within this local setting, the findings reflect an early phase of implementation of pharmacy-based vaccination in Italy. Expanding pharmacy-based vaccination services may improve access to vaccination and support public health strategies to increase adult immunization coverage.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":"629-636"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147772987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"HIV and Tuberculosis Coinfection in Brazil: Cohort Profile Monitored by the Unified Health System (2015-2018).","authors":"Evelyn Lima de Souza, Maria Ines Battistella Nemes, Ana Maroso Alves, Ana Paula Sayuri Sato","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01585-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10900-026-01585-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To describe the sociodemographic and clinical profile of individuals with HIV-tuberculosis coinfection followed in services of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), through the integration of data from the Qualiaids-Brazil Cohort and national health information systems.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nationwide observational study using data from the Qualiaids-BR Cohort, composed of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2015 and 2018 in SUS services participating in the Qualiaids 2016/2017 survey. Individuals with at least one episode of active tuberculosis after ART initiation were included.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 7,747 individuals with HIV-tuberculosis coinfection were identified. The majority were men, young, mixed-race, with low educational levels, and residing in the Southeast region. Social vulnerabilities included alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use (> 20%). Half presented an initial viral load > 100,000 copies/mL and 60% had baseline CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm³. Regarding tuberculosis, 80.3% were new cases, 9.5% re-entries, and 5.7% relapses. Treatment duration was concentrated between 6 and 12 months, with a cure rate of 70.9% and abandonment in 10.4% of cases, of which 21.3% also discontinued ART.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Data integration enabled a comprehensive profile of HIV-tuberculosis coinfection, consistent with national findings and marked by social vulnerabilities that impact adherence and outcomes. The high proportion of treatment abandonment, also associated with ART discontinuation, highlights systemic weaknesses and the need for integrated care strategies for individuals with HIV-tuberculosis coinfection. The findings reinforce the importance of promoting comprehensive and continuous care to mitigate the impacts of coinfection.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":"656-666"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13385018/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148004987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"HIV Mortality Surveillance in Nigeria, A Systematic Review of Trends, Determinants, and Implications For Public Health Policy.","authors":"Oluwadamilola M Oladunjoye, David Ishaleku, Olaposi J Olatoregun, Bisayo A Ogundipe","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01575-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10900-026-01575-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite substantial progress in expanding antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage and scaling up prevention interventions, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) related mortality remains a significant public health challenge in several high-burden settings, including Nigeria. Persistent data system fragmentation, late diagnosis, and socio-structural inequities have slowed progress toward epidemic control. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the epidemiological trends, determinants, and surveillance performance of HIV mortality in Nigeria, highlighting implications for public health policy and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3. A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 framework. Peer-reviewed studies, national surveillance reports, and institutional documents published between 2010 and 2024 were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, African Journals Online (AJOL), and World Health Organization (WHO) databases. Thematic synthesis was guided by the Public Health Surveillance Theory (PHST), Health Systems Resilience Framework (HSRF), and Socio-Ecological Model of Mortality (SEMM). Data were analyzed across four domains: mortality trends, determinants, surveillance performance, and global comparators. Eighty-two studies met inclusion criteria. HIV-related deaths in Nigeria declined from approximately 220,000 in 2010 to 52,000 in 2023, though progress has plateaued since 2018. Key mortality drivers include late ART initiation, Tuberculosis (TB) and Non-communicable disease (NCD) co-infection, and structural factors such as stigma, poverty, and gender inequity. Institutional challenges including ART stock-outs, poor Electronic Medical Records (EMR-Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) linkage, and weak mortality audit systems undermine timely surveillance. Nigeria's CRVS captures < 30% of deaths, with < 10% accurately certified, compared to > 95% capture in countries with integrated digital systems such as South Africa and Brazil. Reducing HIV mortality in Nigeria requires transforming mortality surveillance into an active public health intervention. Integrating electronic medical records with civil registration, expanding verbal autopsy coverage, institutionalizing mortality audits, and addressing structural inequities will strengthen health system resilience and accelerate progress toward HIV epidemic control and SDG targets by 2030.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":"611-620"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147772938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Community Health Worker Communication: Evaluating Simulation-Based Training in Motivational Interviewing.","authors":"Rebekah Chance-Revels, Quyen Phan, Kevin Crawford, Laika Steiger, Beth Ann Swan","doi":"10.1007/s10900-025-01543-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10900-025-01543-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Community health workers act as essential links between underserved communities and healthcare systems, promoting equity, building trust, and addressing social determinants of health. To be effective, they need strong communication skills, such as motivational interviewing, which supports behavior change by encouraging self-motivation and resolving ambivalence. This evaluation examined the impact of simulation-based training on the motivational interviewing skills of community health workers enrolled in a structured workforce program. Community Health Worker trainees (n = 277) attended a one-day session that included didactic lessons and simulations focusing on vaccine confidence, smoking cessation, and childhood obesity. Trainees' confidence was assessed through pre- and post-training surveys in three areas: engaging in conversations with people holding different opinions, applying motivational interviewing techniques, and using culturally appropriate resources to combat misinformation. Results showed significant improvements in confidence across all areas, with the greatest gain in engaging individuals with differing viewpoints, followed by applying motivational interviewing skills, and a smaller but meaningful increase in addressing misinformation. Qualitative feedback reinforced these findings, highlighting the value of realistic role-play, immediate feedback, structured preparation, and reflection. While further practice and long-term evaluation are necessary, simulation-based motivational interviewing training appears promising for enhancing community health workers' ability to promote behavior change and community engagement.</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":"542-548"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13385161/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147623186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nicotine Pouch Awareness, Susceptibility, and Use Among California College Students.","authors":"Nora Satybaldiyeva, Nina C Schleicher, Page D Dobbs, Trent O Johnson, Arzoo Alam, Judith J Prochaska, Lisa Henriksen","doi":"10.1007/s10900-026-01577-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10900-026-01577-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Research about perceptions and use of nicotine pouches among young adults is limited. This study assessed changes in awareness, susceptibility, and use of nicotine pouches among college-enrolled young adults. The analysis pooled data from two independent, cross-sectional surveys of California college students (n = 9,606, ages 18-24) in 2022 and 2024. Outcomes were nicotine pouch awareness, susceptibility to use, ever and current use, all dichotomized and modeled as a function of survey year, student demographics, and college type (four-year vs. community college). In 2024, college students' awareness of nicotine pouches was 66.9%, susceptibility was 31.7%, ever use was 15.1%, and current use was 11.5%. All outcomes increased between years. In adjusted models including interactions with survey year, increase in nicotine pouch awareness (aOR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.81, 2.67) was significantly higher among sexual/gender minority (SGM) students (aOR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.71) compared to heterosexual men and was attenuated among students at community colleges (aOR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.95) compared to four-year colleges. Ever use of nicotine pouches nearly doubled (aOR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.71, 2.28). Increase in current use (aOR = 3.28; 95% CI: 2.32, 4.65) was attenuated among Hispanic/Latinx students (aOR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.99) compared to non-Hispanic/Latinx White students. Increasing awareness, susceptibility, and use of nicotine pouches among California college students raise important considerations for tobacco control. Prevention and cessation efforts should be informed by an escalated increase in awareness among students identifying as SGM and students attending a four-year university (vs. community college).</p>","PeriodicalId":15550,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Health","volume":" ","pages":"603-610"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147772871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}