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Identifying Communication Barriers And Trust Issues Of Black Women Seeking Preventive Health Services In Houston, Texas, Melissa E. Shelton Jan 2017

Identifying Communication Barriers And Trust Issues Of Black Women Seeking Preventive Health Services In Houston, Texas, Melissa E. Shelton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black women mortality rates are perceived to be impacted by communication barriers, trust issues, and the lack of quality preventive health services. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore communication barriers and trust issues perceived by Black women when seeking preventive health services. HMB was used to identify public attitudes around receiving preventive health services and to construct each question based on perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of communication barriers and trust issues. An ecological model of the communication process was used as a framework to identify fundamental relationships between the Black female patients and health care providers. …


The Lived Experience Of In-Center Hemodialysis Patients Receiving Treatment In Dekalb County, Georgia, Stacey Deniese Cooper Jan 2017

The Lived Experience Of In-Center Hemodialysis Patients Receiving Treatment In Dekalb County, Georgia, Stacey Deniese Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is preventable and reversible in the early stages with upstream strategies; however, the number of individuals diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is increasing annually. Although researchers have documented the physiological and psychological stressors associated with hemodialysis (HD), little is known about the effects of in-center HD on the recipients in DeKalb County, Georgia. This study described the experiences of 10 African American HD patients who dialyze in DeKalb County. Using a phenomenological approach, the interviews were transcribed and then analyzed for significant quotes and recurrent themes relevant to receiving HD in DeKalb County. The health …


Spirituality Among African American Christian Women Who Have Contemplated, Marilyn Wiley Jan 2017

Spirituality Among African American Christian Women Who Have Contemplated, Marilyn Wiley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that African American women had the lowest recorded number of suicide completions among all ethnic and gender groups in the United States. In addition, the number of suicides among African American women continued to soar without a clear reason or understanding of their lowest completion rates. Further research in the area of spirituality among African American women may be critical in understanding why African American women's rates of completed suicides are statistically lower than other ethnic groups and how to prevent future rate increases. A phenomenological framework was used to examine the …


Risk Perception Of Hiv Infection Among The Nigerian African- Immigrant Population In Houston, Texas, Esther Titilayo Ogunjimi Jan 2017

Risk Perception Of Hiv Infection Among The Nigerian African- Immigrant Population In Houston, Texas, Esther Titilayo Ogunjimi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV/AIDS studies mostly lack distinction between the US-born Blacks and non-US-born Blacks while African Americans (AAs) continues to represent the group with the heaviest burden of AIDS deaths and new diagnosis of HIV. A review of studies on HIV infection in the US, Europe, and other Western countries revealed a knowledge gap on HIV infection with non-refugee African immigrants (NRAIs), especially the Nigerian African Immigrants (NAIs) who are non-US-born Blacks. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study is to address this gap by exploring the expressed views of NAIs, a sub-group of the NRAIs living in Houston, Texas, on the …


Influence Of Media Messages On Obesity And Health Perceptions Among African American Women, Carolyn Grant Jan 2017

Influence Of Media Messages On Obesity And Health Perceptions Among African American Women, Carolyn Grant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, thus increasing their risks for chronic diseases. Their understanding of their health status and response to it could be triggered by messages in the media, yet few researchers have examined this topic with African American women. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how advertisement and editorial content in media contributed to perceptions African American women have about overweight and obesity. Following the theoretical foundation of the social cognitive theory, the research questions explored what messages study participants encountered and which messages prompted …


Brachytherapy And External Beam Radiation And Survival Of Jamaicans With Prostate Cancer, Salome Elizabeth Brown-Williams Jan 2017

Brachytherapy And External Beam Radiation And Survival Of Jamaicans With Prostate Cancer, Salome Elizabeth Brown-Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Jamaican males are a high-risk population for aggressive prostate cancer (PrCa) due to genetic influences, and identifying empirical data on treatments, which provide survival benefits is a prime challenge for clinicians who manage Jamaican PrCa patients. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to elucidate treatment effects of brachytherapy and ERBT in the survival of a Jamaican PrCa cohort. Differences in survival outcomes of brachytherapy and ERBT treated Jamaican, and White U.S.-born PrCa patients with localized PrCa were compared. The mechanism of radiation programmed cell death in PrCa carcinogenesis explained in the oxidative stress theory, was the theoretical base for …


Spiritual Leadership: Achieving Positive Health Outcomes In African-American Christian Churches, Cynthia Bracey Jan 2017

Spiritual Leadership: Achieving Positive Health Outcomes In African-American Christian Churches, Cynthia Bracey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, African-American residents are an underserved population with evidence of higher health disparities than those associated with any other race, contributing to escalating health care costs. Despite the absence of health promotion and wellness training, pastors in predominately Black churches accept the responsibility for addressing more than the spiritual needs of their church members. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory research study was to explore the perspectives of African-American Christian pastors on giving health guidance and their lived experiences as health promotion advocates. A total of 10 African-American Christian pastors were voluntarily recruited from 3 southern …


Gender Differences In Health Service Utilization Among Veterans With Acute Kidney Injury, Freneka Fronsha Minter Jan 2017

Gender Differences In Health Service Utilization Among Veterans With Acute Kidney Injury, Freneka Fronsha Minter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) studies on acute kidney injury (AKI) have focused on defined procedures and outcomes but not on gender differences. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in health services utilization by gender and other predisposing factors (age and race) among hospitalized veterans with AKI during a 5-year period from 2008 to 2013. The study included a retrospective cohort design and the behavioral model of health services utilization as the underlying theoretical framework. Secondary data were collected from an existing VA cohort. Data from 1,636 hospitalized AKI veterans were subjected to t tests …


Social Network And Health Seeking Behavior Of Men Of West African Descent, Opeyemi Odewale Jan 2017

Social Network And Health Seeking Behavior Of Men Of West African Descent, Opeyemi Odewale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Men are less likely than women to seek help from health services providers regarding the health issues they face. In the United States, of the various race/ethnicity populations, Black American men are least likely to seek health related help, which is reflected in the substantially higher mortality and morbidity rates in Black American men compared to other populations. Guided by the social epidemiological framework, this study examined the relationship between social network measure and health help-seeking behavior among foreign-born and U.S.-born Black American men of West African descent residing in the state of Rhode Island. A cross-sectional study design with …


The Perceptions And Experiences Of African American Parents In The Management And Care Of Obese Children, Priscilla Ann Huggins Jan 2017

The Perceptions And Experiences Of African American Parents In The Management And Care Of Obese Children, Priscilla Ann Huggins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity is a global concern among all ethnic groups. Childhood obesity is a problem that continues into adulthood, exacerbating the incidence of diseases such as diabetes or heart disease. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore, understand, and describe the perceptions and experiences of African American parents in the management and care of their obese or overweight children. This study used the health-belief model (HBM) as its theoretical foundation, focusing on the constructs of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy. This research study used an interview tool and an 8-item …


Diabetes Self Care Behaviors And Social Support Among African Americans In San Francisco, Liseli Inonge Mulala Jan 2017

Diabetes Self Care Behaviors And Social Support Among African Americans In San Francisco, Liseli Inonge Mulala

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are significant public health issues that affect people of all races; Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects African Americans with higher diagnosis, morbidity, and mortality than it affects Caucasians, and Type 1 has been increasing in incidence. Diabetes self-care activities (DSCAs) and social support have been shown to help in managing both types, which can reduce morbidity and mortality. African Americans with diabetes in San Francisco have higher rates of complications, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits secondary to diabetes. This study assessed whether a relationship exists between emotional support, practical support, affirmational support, informational …


Barriers And Perceptions Of Black American Men About Prostate Cancer In Georgia, Martins M. Nnoko Jan 2017

Barriers And Perceptions Of Black American Men About Prostate Cancer In Georgia, Martins M. Nnoko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2016, prostate cancer was the second leading cause of fatality in the United States. However, the population in this study 'Black American men, ages 40 and older, in selected counties in Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Clayton and Atlanta metropolitan areas' tended to underutilize prostate cancer care. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental descriptive study was to determine whether socio-economic barriers and perceptions of Black American men about prostate cancer reduce their ability to access quality care in this county in Georgia. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used to inform the predictive validity of perceptions, attitudes, and belief on individual …


Defining The Scope Of Practice For Nurse Practitioners In Miam, Samantha Lucero Jan 2017

Defining The Scope Of Practice For Nurse Practitioners In Miam, Samantha Lucero

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Minimally invasive aesthetic medicine (MIAM) is a relatively new field, which lacks a clearly defined scope of practice. The purpose of this project was to clarify the scope of practice for nurse practitioners in MIAM in California. Without a clearly defined scope of practice, nurse practitioners are unable to practice to the full extent of their license which causes them to be underutilized and face liability issues. This project sought to answer the question: What is the scope of practice of the nurse practitioner in MIAM in the state of California? The model of professional nursing practice regulation was the …


Income, Education, Age, And Physical Activity Among Physically Disabled African American Women, Sherèè Johnson Johnson Jan 2017

Income, Education, Age, And Physical Activity Among Physically Disabled African American Women, Sherèè Johnson Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was designed to identify possible risk factors about physical activity in middle-aged disabled African American women (AAW) aged 45 to 64 years. Disabled middle-aged AAW has a disproportionate prevalence of obesity and chronic illness than nondisabled women. Most disabled middle-aged AAW leads a sedentary lifestyle, and they do not meet the recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines. Little is known about this group, and a social ecological model was used to explain PA patterns. Data were extracted from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 1,599) for women who responded yes to indicate that they needed specialized …


Dietary Acculturation And Obesity In African Immigrant Adults, Stella Chinyere Onuoha-Obilor Jan 2017

Dietary Acculturation And Obesity In African Immigrant Adults, Stella Chinyere Onuoha-Obilor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial/ethnic groups are disproportionately affected by obesity and other risk factors for chronic diseases. African immigrants are an increasing segment of the U.S. population at greater risk for obesity than other immigrants living in the United States. Public health organizations that aid immigrants could benefit from information about changing dietary patterns. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between dietary acculturation and obesity among African immigrant adults living in the United States, controlling for length of stay, English proficiency, region of residence, and other sociodemographic factors. Acculturation theory guided this study. The research design was quantitative cross-sectional …


Perceptions Of Childhood Obesity Among African Americans In A Low-Income Community, Cotella Wilkes Wilkes Jan 2017

Perceptions Of Childhood Obesity Among African Americans In A Low-Income Community, Cotella Wilkes Wilkes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity is a prevalent chronic condition affecting millions of children and adolescents in the United States and is rising in record-breaking numbers among African Americans in low-income communities. Guided by the social cognitive theory, the purpose of this evidence-based project was to understand the impact of an educational intervention on parents' perceptions of childhood obesity risk factors, weight status, and prevention strategies in a rural South Carolina community. A convenience sample of parents who attended a church-based community health promotion service in a low-income area (n = 10), aged 28 to 54, completed The Childhood Obesity Perceptions survey before …


The Effects Of Hurricane And Tornado Disasters On Pregnancy Outcomes, Kenneth E. Christopher Jan 2017

The Effects Of Hurricane And Tornado Disasters On Pregnancy Outcomes, Kenneth E. Christopher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal prenatal exposure to hurricanes and tornadoes could contribute to an increased risk for adverse birth outcomes. Little is known about the effects of Hurricane Katrina of August 2005, on pregnancy outcomes in Mississippi. Additionally, little is known about the influence of the April 2011 Alabama tornado disaster on births in that state. The purpose of this study was to bridge this knowledge gap by examining the relationship between maternal prenatal exposure to these storms and adverse infant health outcomes. The theoretical framework guiding this retrospective, cross-sectional study was the life course approach. Data for this investigation included 2,000 records …


A Minority Perspective On The Public Health Response To The Obesity Epidemic, Rickey L. Ford Jan 2017

A Minority Perspective On The Public Health Response To The Obesity Epidemic, Rickey L. Ford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is currently viewed as one of the most important health concerns in the United States. Researchers have minimally investigated perspectives surrounding obesity within the African-American female population. This lack of research presented a gap in knowledge concerning the perceived social, environmental, and cultural influences of obesity within this population. The research questions asked African-American females about their views toward these influences. This research was guided by tenets of the social cognitive theory and the transtheoretical model for behavioral change. Thirteen African-American females participated in the interviews. The data collected were reviewed and coded using word frequencies and themes. Findings …


Designing And Evaluating An Educational Initiative Promoting Condom Use Among Hiv+ Hispanic Men, Gilberto Andino Jan 2017

Designing And Evaluating An Educational Initiative Promoting Condom Use Among Hiv+ Hispanic Men, Gilberto Andino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that between 252,000 and 312,000 Hispanic men and women in the United States were unaware of their risk for transmitting HV/AIDS. Guided by the logic model and Leininger's theory, the purpose of this project was to design a culturally sensitive HIV/AIDS educational program for HIV+ Hispanic males and to evaluate the program content with the staff at a medical center in South Florida, with the goal of implementing the program at that center. The educational program content focused on increasing the knowledge of Hispanic HIV+ men on the effectiveness of …


Experiences Of Middle-Aged, African American Women With Excessive Weight, Tina Ann Mcclaire Jan 2017

Experiences Of Middle-Aged, African American Women With Excessive Weight, Tina Ann Mcclaire

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity and overweight issues are nationally recognized crises for African American women. A noteworthy gap remains in the literature regarding this population's experiences with excessive weight, specifically, the role of culture and social support networks on their experience with being overweight. Without an understanding of the experience and meaning of being overweight for African American women, physicians and clinicians will not be able to fully support African American women in their weight loss journeys. Using the social learning theory as a framework, the purpose of this phenomenological research study was to explore experiences of obese or overweight middle-aged African American …


Health System Predictors Of Access To Maternal Health Medicines In Low And Middle Income Countries, Chinonso Esther Nnorom Jan 2017

Health System Predictors Of Access To Maternal Health Medicines In Low And Middle Income Countries, Chinonso Esther Nnorom

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The strength of health systems predict access to medicines that prevent death from pregnancy related complications (essential maternal health medicines). But little is known about the relative impact of each health system building block on access. This quantitative cross-sectional study applied Ishikawa model to examine the relative effect of health systems governance, facilities, service delivery, financing and medicine procurement and distribution (independent variables), on availability, affordability and accessibility (dependent variables) of maternal health medicines in resource poor settings. Data analyzed was pulled from 37 WHO pharmaceutical country profiles and USAID MCHIP survey that assessed national programs for the prevention and …


Development Of A Guideline For Hospice Staff, Patients, And Families On Appropriate Opioid Use, Trenika Alexander-Goreá Jan 2017

Development Of A Guideline For Hospice Staff, Patients, And Families On Appropriate Opioid Use, Trenika Alexander-Goreá

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is an identified problem with patients receiving suboptimal pain management at a hospice agency in the northwestern United States. At this agency, undertreatment of pain is prevalent. Evidence indicates that this may be a result of a lack of guidelines, education, and knowledge of appropriate prescribing. Known barriers to the correct prescription and administration of potent opioids in the hospice setting include prevailing beliefs, knowledge, skills, and attitudes, all of which can impact care negatively. Contextually, hospice principles mandate patient comfort and caregiver involvement in continuous quality improvement, which includes adequate and informed pain management. Moreover, hospice metrics demand …


Perceived Barriers To Lifestyle Change In Obese, Low-Income Hispanic Women, Mariana Daniela Torchia Jan 2017

Perceived Barriers To Lifestyle Change In Obese, Low-Income Hispanic Women, Mariana Daniela Torchia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low-income Hispanic women are the fastest growing minority population in the United States, and they have increased risks of obesity and secondary health issues, such as diabetes, related to their obesity. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the barriers to lifestyle change among obese, low-income Hispanic women (OLHW). A health belief model lens was used. The study sample consisted of 15 OLHW who were clinic patients and ranged in age from 20-59. Recruitment occurred in a low-income, Southern California, outpatient clinic setting through volunteer participation from recruitment flyers. Fifteen women took part in 1-hour, in-depth interviews, which …


Perceptions, Beliefs, And Behaviors Toward Breast Cancer Screening Of Filipino Women In Saudi Arabia, Cherry Rose Aguilar Fronda Jan 2017

Perceptions, Beliefs, And Behaviors Toward Breast Cancer Screening Of Filipino Women In Saudi Arabia, Cherry Rose Aguilar Fronda

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the existence of breast cancer screening that could promote early diagnosis and survival of breast cancer, high mortality rates of breast cancer persist among Filipino women. The purpose of the qualitative study was to describe the perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors of Filipino women working as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 Filipino women between the ages of 40 to 60 years who were recruited voluntarily using purposeful sampling technique. Guided by the structures of health belief model (HBM), the study used an inductive coding technique to elicit common themes from the raw …


The Chance Of Complications From Type 2 Diabetes As Perceived By Some Black Seventh-Day Adventists Who Follow A Plant-Based Diet., Charles Misori Jan 2017

The Chance Of Complications From Type 2 Diabetes As Perceived By Some Black Seventh-Day Adventists Who Follow A Plant-Based Diet., Charles Misori

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 2 diabetes has more than doubled in the past decade among Black Americans. Researchers have suggested that Black Seventh-day Adventists, who follow a plant-based diet, are concerned about preventing the complications from this disease. The purpose of this qualitative ethnographic study was to explore the chance and perceptions of complications from type 2 diabetes among 10 purposefully sampled Black Seventh-day Adventists. The health belief model (HBM) served as the conceptual framework. Two constructs, education and income, were chosen for this study. Education was chosen to increase understanding about the chronic nature of the disease, and income was chosen because …


A Developmental Project Focusing On Young Adult Hispanic-Americans, Tarsicio Gacheru Jan 2017

A Developmental Project Focusing On Young Adult Hispanic-Americans, Tarsicio Gacheru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reducing diabetes risk among Hispanic-American adults in the United States is a critical public health need and programs targeting young Hispanic-American adults with prediabetes can reduce the risk for developing diabetes. The purpose of this project was twofold: (a) to examine the literature related to diabetes prevention best practices among young adult Hispanic-Americans with prediabetes and (b) create an intervention program to promote these best practices to delay or reverse the trajectory toward diabetes. The inclusion criteria for the literature review were studies with at least a 12-month follow-up and reported outcomes related to changes in diet, increased exercise, and …