About

Dr. Jade Burns is a nurse scientist, clinician, and scholar with over 15 years of experience working with youth and young adults in clinical, community, non-profit, and academic settings. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Clinical Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. As a pediatric nurse practitioner specializing in adolescent health, family planning, and HIV/STI prevention, Dr. Burns leads innovative, community-engaged research aimed at expanding access to reproductive and preventive health services. Her work leverages technology, including social media, mobile apps, and digital platforms, to improve sexual health outcomes and healthcare uptake among adolescents and young adults in inner-city settings. She is dedicated to advancing nurse workforce development and connecting youth with community health centers to promote equitable care and policy change.

Research topics

• Psychology
• Medicine
• Nursing
• Social psychology
• Gerontology

Selected publications

• Cognitive factors associated with condom use intentions in young African American women

  Discover Public Health · 2026-01-18

  articleOpen access

  Young African American women (YAAWs) experience disproportionately high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), yet condom use remains inconsistent. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study investigates cognitive and gendered predictors of condom use intentions and examines the influence of prior STI history on key TPB constructs. We conducted a secondary cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a culturally tailored, community-based STI/HIV prevention program in Detroit, Michigan. Participants (N = 196; ages 14–19) completed validated subscales assessing attitudes toward condoms, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, masculine norms, and intentions to use condoms. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests, multiple linear regression, and path analysis. The mean intention score for condom use was (M = 1.49, SD = 1.00), with attitudes toward condoms emerging as the strongest predictor of intention (p < 0.001). Subjective norms and behavioral control approached significance. Approximately 27% of participants reported a prior STI diagnosis. Participants with a history of STIs reported significantly less favorable condom attitudes (p = 0.015) and lower perceived social support for condom use (p = 0.025). Masculine norms were not significantly associated with condom use intentions. The TPB model explained 7.9%–8.3% of the variance in intention. Condom-related attitudes and perceived norms play a central role in shaping condom use intentions among young African American women, particularly among those with a history of STIs. These findings suggest the need for culturally grounded interventions that target individual beliefs and normative influences to enhance condom use. Strengthening cognitive determinants may help reduce STI transmission risk and promote sexual health equity among high-risk adolescents.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• No Clinic, No Problem: Acceptability of STI Self Collection Kits in a National Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults

  Sexually Transmitted Diseases · 2026-04-16

  article

  BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect adolescents and young adults (AYAs), yet testing rates in this group remain low. STI self-collection kits may potentially increase testing uptake. We sought to characterize barriers to using self-collection kits among AYAs. METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined preferences and barriers related to STI self-collection kits among 445 sexually active AYAs aged 15-24 years across high STI incidence counties in the United States (U.S.). Data was collected via social media recruitment and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The study revealed disparities in comfort levels regarding receiving STI self-collection kits at home and other household members seeing them. Most participants preferred their kit to be delivered to their home, though participants aged 15-19 years and AYAs with lower education preferred to pick it up from school. Discreet delivery was perceived as more feasible by participants aged 20-24 years, those who were employed, and those living in the southern U.S. Individuals with less than a high school education were less likely to feel comfortable self-collecting for STI testing. Participants favored written or video instructions for specimen collection and email or text message for results notification. Participants expressed a high likelihood of referring their sexual partners for testing and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of tailoring STI self-collection kit design and delivery to AYA subpopulations. Future research and programs should prioritize AYAs' desires for discreet delivery, clear specimen self-collection instructions, and digital communication options to benefit and optimize STI testing for AYAs.

  PublisherDOI

• Exploring Condom Intentions and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Urban Black Emerging Adult Males: The Role of Nurse Practitioners

  Journal of Pediatric Health Care · 2025-08-31

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Perinatal Intervention Desires of New Fathers Who Have a History of Child Maltreatment: A Mixed Methods Study

  Child Maltreatment · 2025-02-19 · 1 citations

  article

  A history of child maltreatment (CM) can lead to poorer perinatal mental health and early parenting outcomes. New fathers who experienced CM may have unique needs that could be addressed with trauma-specific fatherhood programs. This sequential mixed-methods study compares the intervention desires of fathers with and without a history of CM, explores trauma-specific considerations for intervention development, and identifies barriers to participating in perinatal fatherhood programs. We surveyed 371 first-time fathers of young children (birth - 30 months) online. One third (33%, n = 123) had a history of CM, and we interviewed 15 of them. Participants desired basic parenting skills programs with optional trauma-specific add-ons. Trauma-specific topics included managing relationships, sleep, and emotions like low mood, anger, or irritability. Many lacked positive fathering role models and sought connections with other fathers who had experienced CM. Trauma-specific perinatal interventions could support fathers with a history of CM in interrupting the intergenerational transmission of trauma.

  PublisherDOI

• Exploring condom use intentions among urban Black emerging adult men

  Nursing Outlook · 2025-05-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 104. Exploring Condom Intentions and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Urban Black Emerging Adult Males

  Journal of Adolescent Health · 2025-02-07

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 7. National Perspectives of Youth: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Home-based STI Testing

  Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology · 2024-04-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Facilitators and Barriers to Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Practice in the United States: A Systematic Review

  Journal of Pediatric Health Care · 2024-01-29 · 14 citations

  reviewOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Exploring the Use of Customized Links to Improve Electronic Engagement With Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Among Young African American Male Individuals: Web-Based Survey Study

  JMIR Formative Research · 2024-02-13 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Research has shown that heterosexual African American male individuals aged 18-24 years have a higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior. There is a critical need to promote sexual reproductive health (SRH) services among this population, especially in urban settings. Young African American male individuals use social media platforms to access health information, showcasing the potential of social media and web-based links as tools to leverage electronic engagement with this population to promote SRH care. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore electronic engagement with young African American male individuals in discussions about SRH care. This paper focuses on the recruitment and social media marketing methods used to recruit young, heterosexual African American male individuals aged 18-24 years for the Stay Safe Project, a larger study that aims to promote SRH services among this population in Detroit, Michigan. We investigate the use of TinyURL, a URL shortener and customized tool, and culturally informed social media marketing strategies to promote electronic engagement within this population. METHODS: Participants were recruited between December 2021 and February 2022 through various modes, including email listserves, Mailchimp, the UMHealthResearch website, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. Images and vector graphics of African American male individuals were used to create social media advertisements that directed participants to click on a TinyURL that led to a recruitment survey for the study. RESULTS: TinyURL metrics were used to monitor demographic and user data, analyzing the top countries, browsers, operating systems, and devices of individuals who engaged with the customized TinyURL links and the total human and unique clicks from various social media platforms. Mailchimp was the most successful platform for electronic engagement with human and unique clicks on the custom TinyURL link, followed by Instagram and Facebook. In contrast, X, traditional email, and research recruiting websites had the least engagement among our population. Success was determined based on the type of user and follower for each platform, whether gained in the community through sign-ups or promoted at peak user time and embedded and spotlighted on nontraditional media (eg, social media sites, blogs, and podcasts) for the user. Low engagement (eg, traditional email) from the target population, limited visibility, and fewer followers contributed to decreased engagement. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight into leveraging customized, shortened URLs, TinyURL metrics, and social media platforms to improve electronic engagement with young African American male individuals seeking information and resources about SRH care. The results of this study have been used to develop a pilot intervention for this population that will contribute to strategies for encouraging sexual well-being, clinic use, and appropriate linkage to SRH care services among young, heterosexual African American male individuals.

  PublisherDOI

• Internet-based Sexual Health Survey: Protocol for Data Verification and Respondent Validity (Preprint)

  2024-01-26

  preprintOpen access

  <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> As technology continues to shape the landscape of health research, the utilization of online surveys for collecting sexual health information among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) has become increasingly prevalent. However, this shift towards digital platforms brings forth a new set of challenges, particularly the infiltration of automated bots that can compromise data integrity and the reliability of survey results. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> To outline the data verification process used in our study design, which employed survey programming and data cleaning protocols. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> A 26-item survey was developed and programmed with several data integrity functions, including reCAPTCHA, RelevantID fraud and duplicate score, verification of IP addresses, and honeypot questions. Participants aged 15-24 years were recruited with social media advertisements over seven weeks and received a $15 incentive after survey completion. Data verification occurred through a two-part cleaning process, which removed responses that were incomplete, did not meet inclusion criteria, were flagged as spam by Qualtrics, or were from duplicate IP addresses. Final comparisons of reported age with date of birth and reported state with state inclusion criteria were performed. Participants who completed the study survey were linked to a second survey to receive their incentive. Responses without first and last names and full addresses were removed, as were those with duplicate IP addresses and/or the exact longitude and latitude coordinates. Finally, IP addresses used to complete both surveys were compared, and consistent responses were eligible for an incentive. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> Over seven weeks, online advertisements for an internet-based survey reached 1.4 million social media users. Of the 20,585 survey responses received, 4,589 (22.3%) were verified. Incentives were sent to 462 participants; of these, 14 were duplicates and three contained discrepancies, resulting in a final sample of 445 respondents. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Confidential online surveys are an appealing method for reaching populations—particularly AYAs, who may be reluctant to disclose sensitive information to family, friends, and clinical providers. Despite the challenge of fraudulent responses, online surveys are a useful tool for researchers targeting hard-to-reach populations due to the difficulty in obtaining a representative sample. Researchers face the ongoing threat of bots and fraudulent responses in a technology-driven world, necessitating the adoption of evolving bot detection software and tailored protocols for data collection in unique contexts. </sec> <sec> <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> <p/> </sec>

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Mackenzie Adams

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  6 shared

• Cleopatra H. Caldwell

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  5 shared

• Gabrielle Darville

  Mercer University

  5 shared

• Keith Johnstone

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  5 shared

• Tanaka Chavanduka

  City University of New York

  5 shared

• Lynae A. Darbes

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  4 shared

• Valery Pena

  Florida State University

  4 shared

• Amanda P. Bettencourt

  University of Pennsylvania

  3 shared

Labs

• Jade Burns LabPI

Education

• MSN (Nursing) - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care

  University of Pennsylvania

• Ph.D. (Nursing)

  University of Michigan

• BS (Nursing)

  University of Michigan

Awards & honors

• University of Michigan, Dr. John Matlock Faculty Cornerstone…
• University of Michigan School of Nursing, Daisy Award, 2024
• Midwest Nursing Society (MNRS) Adolescent Health Research Mi…
• Society for Adolescent Health & Medicine – Racial Justice an…
• Detroit Regional Chamber - Leadership Detroit fellow (XLI),…