Digital Commons Network^™

Strategies For Providing Loans To Small Businesses, Linda Faye Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Between 2007 and 2013, the number of loans banks provided to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) declined. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that senior bank lending officers used to improve lending to SMEs. The sample size consisted of 4 senior small business lending officers who have in lending for 5 or more year in Houston, Texas. The conceptual framework used was agency theory. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 4 senior bank lending officers from a bank in the Houston, Texas area, a review of documents from lending officers, and other artifacts …

Assessing Perceptions Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among A Cohort Of Noncontracted Rotc Cadets, Stephen P. Gontz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stigmatization has shown to negatively impact service members with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Published research has shown stigma to significantly affect service members through increased suicide, homicide, unemployment, homelessness, and criminal justice system interaction rates. Additionally, stigma also affects overall readiness and cohesion of the military organization. However, little research has focused on the perceptions of Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets about service members with a combat-related stress disorder in which they will eventually be charged with leading. The purpose of this quantitative study was to measure a cohort of ROTC cadets and determine their perceptions about service members …

Mentoring Relationship Preferences Of Early, Middle, And Late Career Stage Registered Nurses, Tonya M. Harewood-Lawrence

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Registered nurses perceive the healthcare work environment as stressful. Stress can have a negative effect on patient care and nurses' attrition and health. In the literature, mentors have been identified as having a positive influence on nurses. This qualitative study was an examination of nurses in mentoring relationships in the early, middle, and late career stage and working in a hospital setting. Two research questions addressed mentoring relationship preferences and mentors' influence on perceived stress. Fourteen nurses were interviewed in the study. The conceptual framework was based on the career and psychosocial mentoring theory, the mentoring the adult learner theory, …

Management Of Social Media Usage By Microenterprises In Rural Trinidad And Tobago, Cheryl-Ann Henry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Microenterprise owners in developing countries may be uncertain although aware of how to use technologies, such as social media, to advance their economic interests. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to determine how microenterprise owners in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) can benefit from social media usage in their business operations. The conceptual framework was Rogers's innovation decision process. The overarching research question for this study was how microenterprise owners in rural T&T could overcome the uncertainty of using social media for business growth and competitiveness. Data collection involved the administration of a business demographic survey and semistructured …

Developing A Clinical Practice Guideline For Improving Communication During Transitions Of Care, Darla P. Hardy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transition of care refers to the movement of patients between health care settings; it occurs each time patients move between providers within the same setting or between settings based on the patient's acute or chronic health care needs. Care transition includes the efficient and accurate exchange of information needed to provide high-quality continuity of care. A rural community hospital in in the northeastern region of the United States has a skilled nursing facility and an acute care hospital on one campus. This project focused on the development of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for the hospital to improve communication during …

High School Students' Perceptions Of Safety Concerns Predicts School Avoidance, Ann Marie Howard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School violence is a growing concern and an impending danger for American youth. Students' perceptions of violent school incidents may lead to fear and this fear may lead to school avoidance. Although researchers have found that teenage pregnancy and working to support family are two of the main reasons that students stay home from school, there has been no research conducted on whether students' perceptions of safety concerns, solely focusing on the presence of guns, gangs, student bullying, and fear of victimization, predict their decision to stay home from school. Therefore, based on social disorganization and resilience theories, the purpose …

The Relationship Between Methods Of Calculating The Ahi And Daytime Sleepiness, Severity Of Sleep Apnea, And Cpap Pressure Settings, Kathryn J. Kane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sleep apnea impacts one's mental and physical health, and has social consequences which affect all of society. Not only is there is a weak correlation between the severity of sleep apnea and daytime sleepiness as reported on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), but there is also a weak correlation between the severity of sleep apnea and prescribed treatment as indicated by 95th percentile pressure on a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This poses difficulty for providers as well as patients throughout screening and treatment. The purpose of this study was to use a biopsychosocial approach to perform a within-subjects …

Implementing Aromatherapy For Falls Reduction In The Inpatient Hospice Population, Kimberly Kay Pistek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls among the elderly is a health concern affecting multiple patients annually. Hospice patients and those with multiple comorbidities are at the greatest risk of falling and sustaining injuries from falls. Aromatherapy has been used for reducing multiple symptoms as well as for decreasing falls. The practice-focused question explored whether an education program on using aromatherapy for fall prevention would increase knowledge of this intervention for an interdisciplinary group of hospice staff. The design was developed using Knowles's theory of andragogy and Bloom's taxonomy. Thirteen staff members from the same facility participated in the education program. The program was targeted …

Post-Hurricane Sandy Coping Strategies And Resilience Factors Among People With Disabilities, Miriam Mukasa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People with disabilities are likely to experience difficulties overcoming the impact of natural disasters. Few scholars have focused on this population's ability to recover and handle stress following a natural disaster. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe coping strategies and resilience factors that people with physical or mental disabilities used in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Resilience theory was used as the theoretical framework. Through face-to-face interviews, 10 persons with disabilities shared their experiences of coping and resilience. A lens of interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to identify emergent themes related to persons with disabilities' …

Insurance Coverage And Completion Of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Series Among Hispanic Girls, Adrienne A. Scott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and the leading cause of cervical cancer in the United States. Women from racial and ethnic minorities with genital HPV are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop cervical cancer. Vaccines are currently available to prevent HPV infections; however, despite their effectiveness, national completion rates for these vaccines remain low among Hispanic adolescents compared to non-Hispanic White adolescents. The reasons for this racial/ethnic disparity are not fully understood. In this quantitative, cross-sectional study, which was guided by the socioecological framework, the extent to which insurance coverage and having a …

Transitioning From Student To Nurse Practitioner Using The One-Minute-Preceptor Model, Yetrevias Seymour

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are significant members of the health care team. Variation and lack of standardization in the practicum preparation of the NP has been identified as problematic. There is a need to improve NPs preparation to efficiently and independently impact health care. This project presented the 1-minute-preceptor (OMP) model as a standard tool in the practicum preparation of the NP through a preceptor-focused continuing education session. The aim of the OMP is to help ensure that students are exposed to the level of critical thinking and problem solving needed in the role of an independent, efficient NP. Knowles's adult …

Substance Use Treatment Needs For Survivors Of Commercial Sexual Exploitation Of Children, Emma Elisa Riley-Horvath

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) is the sexual exploitation of minors

for commercial profit. The intersection between sex trafficking victimization and substance use has not yet been explored in clinical research and is not reflected in current clinical treatment of survivors when they exit their exploitation. The research question explored in this study focused on the substance use treatment considerations and challenges clinical social workers face when treating survivors of CSEC living in Massachusetts. Subquestions included understanding how cumulative trauma from CSEC impacts substance use treatment and how the coercive use of substances aimed at maintaining victim submission impacts …

The Regulatory Transformation In Using Medicinal Cannabis To Treat Disease In The United States, Kevin Rubin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Therapeutic benefits of medicinal cannabis are well documented in the treatment of a variety of medical conditions. There is not, however, a nationally consistent delivery system, which has prevented many patients from realizing these benefits. Using policy feedback theory as the foundation, the purpose of this general qualitative study was to better understand how state-level regulatory efforts in medicinal cannabis may provide guidance on formulating national public policies that are beneficial to patients. This study compared 3 core tenets of NORML, an authority in the cannabis industry, against the policies of 3 states with exemplary state medical cannabis programs. The …

Accounts Receivable Management Strategies To Ensure Timely Payments In Rural Clinics, Anthony N. Medel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare business leaders in a rural clinic setting can enhance profitability by implementing strategies to ensure timely payments. The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine strategies applied by healthcare leaders in rural clinics to improve profitability. The population included 10 rural clinic managers and billing staff from 5 rural clinics in the southwestern region of the United States. The conceptual framework for this study was Wernerfelt's resource-based value theory. Implementing Yin's multiple-step data analysis process, data from semistructured interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed to identify strategies used by rural clinic managers and billing staff to enhance …

Enterprise Resource Planning Implementation In One Government Agency, Stephen N. Strayer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation strategies can have a negative impact on business competitive advantage. Business leaders who struggle to maintain global operations and audit readiness are at high risk of failure. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies business leaders used to promote an awareness of the effects of performance on competitive advantage. The participants comprised of 22 business leaders on a military base in the state of Washington who effectively used ERP systems to increase global operations, audit readiness, and maximize competitive advantage. Data were …

Predictive Relationship Between Socio-Demographics, Medication, And Treatment Completion Among Persons Experiencing Homelessness Treated For Tuberculosis, Sophia Ajoku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 80% of people who contract tuberculosis (TB) in the United States are first infected with untreated latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). LTBI is an ongoing public health concern in people who experience homelessness. Because of the transient nature of this population, it is often difficult for them to adhere to and complete treatment for LTBI. In this quantitative, correlational of a cross-sectional study, secondary data was from a public health clinic in southern U.S. The theoretical framework used for the study was the social ecological framework. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine if a statistically significant predictive relationship existed …

Separated By The Child Welfare System: The Journey Of One Set Of Fraternal Twins, Jocelyne Coan Bond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the separation of twins in foster care and examined how their lived experiences relate to their interpersonal relationships as adults. Many researchers have studied the long-term impact of nontwin sibling separation in foster care, but little is known about the separation of twins, leaving a significant gap in existing literature. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences twins who were separated in foster care as relates to their interpersonal relationships during adulthood. A qualitative, narrative approach was used to gather the lived experiences of one set of twins. The research questions examined how …

Psychological Relationship Between Acculturation And Caribbean Immigrants In The Northeast United States, Lisa Chamberlain- Gordon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Caribbean immigrants' challenges with acculturation following immigration to the United States, could result in acculturative stress, discrimination, stereotyping, and mental health issues. This study examined the relationship between cultural levels of interaction (LCI), acculturation orientation levels (AOLs), and acculturation levels (ALs) as well as examined the relationship between acculturative stress levels (ASLs), mental health problems, and discrimination/ stereotyping among Caribbean immigrants, age 25-54, in a northeast U.S. metro. Bourhis' interactive acculturation model was the theoretical foundation for this study. It was hypothesized that (a) there would be a relationship between LCI measured in language, food, religion, and education and AOL …

Gifted Students In Poverty's Perceptions Of Blended Learning, Darren Chase Crutcher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students who are raised in poverty and are not adapted to technology use have less positive learning experiences with technology usage than other students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore students' perceptions of blended learning among gifted students who are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program in a public high school district in the southeastern United States. Davis's version of the technology acceptance model was used as the conceptual framework. The research questions explored the perceptions of these gifted students when they are taught using blended learning in terms of their attitudes, perceived usefulness, perceived …

Optimizing Green Supply Chain Management Strategies, Mark Derek De La Grandiere

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some business leaders in the manufacturing industry lack strategies to optimize green supply chain management strategies that increase profitability while reducing the carbon footprint. The lack of green supply chain strategies sub optimizes the use of resources business leaders use to meet their financial goals. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore successful green supply chain strategies leaders used to increase profitability while reducing the carbon footprint. The participants were 7 business leaders in one manufacturing organization headquartered in Massachusetts who have sophisticated green supply chain strategies in place. The natural resource-based view theory was the …

The Influence Of Social Support On Recidivism Of Formerly Incarcerated Individuals, Alison Dockery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals who are released from incarceration face many challenges with reintegration into the community, and it is important that they find stable environments to foster positive social integration. Family involved treatment programs have been shown to be successful in many areas for reentry. However, these programs lack information regarding the relationship between the individual's criminal history, risk of recidivism, and social support. This quantitative study was designed to evaluate the impact of social support on recidivism among participants. Secondary data were used from a 3-year period from a reentry program located in a large northeastern city and the Division of …

A Geographic Study Of Lung And Bronchus Cancer Rates In Kentucky, Gabriel Njoh Dikong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The average age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates of lung and bronchus cancer is 55% and 56% higher in Kentucky than the national averages in the United States, respectively. Populations with low income and educational attainment, and those who live close to the mining regions across Kentucky are more affected by the high prevalence and resulting mortality rates of lung and bronchus cancer. This study was conducted because of the high incidence of lung and bronchus cancer and resulting mortality rates in the state of Kentucky that may not be caused solely by social and demographic factors. The theoretical foundation for …

Exploring The Mechanisms Of Racial Disparity In Infant Mortality: A Grounded Theory Approach, Barry Chukwugekwu Eneh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Infant mortality (IM) is a critical health-disparity problem in the United States. Of the 23000 infants who die each year, the highest number occurs among African Americans. Previous studies implicated a mix of health determinants and risk factors, but no study has explored the mechanisms by which IM predictably persists among African Americans. This study uncovers the complex network of risk factors that underlies racial death disparities in infants. Two theoretical lenses chosen for this study were social systems theory (SST) and critical race theory (CRT). SST explains human behavior as an intersection of interrelated systems. CRT interrogates inherent social …

Race As A Predictor Of Recidivism Risk: An Epidemiological Analysis, Femi Folorunsho

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prisoner recidivism is a problem of great social importance, as recidivism represents a failure of the rehabilitative goal of incarceration. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of accurate estimates of race as a predictor of recidivism risk in the United States, after taking demographics and criminal variables into account. Applying the life-course theory of recidivism, the purpose of this archival, epidemiological study was to calculate whether recidivism risk varied based on race, across different seriousness levels of commitment offense and number of prior arrests, among a sample of male federal prisoners released from custody. A Cox proportional …

Relational-Cultural Experiences Of Burnout By Mothers Of Color In Online Counseling Programs, Juliana Forrest-Lytle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout permeates helping professions and is a concern in counselor education and training. The defining characteristics of burnout are depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and reduced personal accomplishment. Data on burnout in diverse populations are notably limited. The primary goal of this qualitative grounded theory study was to understand the experiences of burnout in mothers of color (MoCs) who were enrolled in or recently (within the last 5 years) graduated from an online Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs accredited clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) program. Another goal of this study was to investigate how MoCs managed burnout. …

Exploring Prayer Functions And Posttraumatic Growth Among Informal Caregivers In Hospice Settings, Nicole Beth Fortin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Posttraumatic growth is a positive psychological transformation resulting from the struggle to cope with a challenging life event. There is a significant association between prayer coping functions and posttraumatic growth, but its process remains unclear and studies on informal hospice caregivers are scarce. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between prayer functions and posttraumatic growth among informal caregivers while considering differences due to the caregiving environment and prayer practices. The shattered assumptions theory and model of growth in grief were used as a theoretical framework to evaluate the relationship between prayer functions, using …

Small Construction Business Owners' Strategies For Employee Retention, Charles H. Griner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Thirty-four percent of people in the United States of America work for businesses that employ fewer than 100 people. However, many small business owners lack the strategies necessary to retain their valuable employees. Businesses that fail to retain valuable employees are as much as 28% less efficient. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies small construction business owners use to retain their valuable employees. Contingency theory provided the conceptual framework. The participants were three owners of three small businesses in the construction industry located in Mississippi which implemented successful policies and procedures to retain their …

Leisure Computer Usage And Perceived Body Weight, Diet, And Physical Activity, Santina Jaronko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Screened media platforms have been blamed for contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic. The purpose of this study was to determine if leisure computer usage, such as engaging in social media, impacted perceived body weight, dietary habits, and physical activity. The social network theory and the social cognitive theory were the theoretical frameworks of this cross-sectional study using secondary data. The data set used was the 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey including a sample size of 8,241 youths between Grades 9 and 12. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were performed to …

A Phenomenological Approach To Understanding Consensual Nonmonogamy Among African-American Couples, Krishna Jones Clanton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Monogamy is recognized as a singularly accepted relationship construct within the United States. As a result, little is understood about alternative relationship constructs and those who choose them. Even less is understood regarding these practices among members of marginalized communities. Despite this lack of knowledge, there is evidence to suggest that approximately 4-5% of the United States population is engaged in some form of consensually nonmonogamous relationship pairing (a percentage comparable to the LGBTQAI community), and an estimated 25% of the population will engage in some form of consensual nonmonogamy over the course of their lifespan. This study looked to …

Drones And American Domestic Policy: An Analysis Of Elite And Mass Opinion, Kevin Michael Leonard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have primarily focused on the use of drones for military purposes. Yet, understanding how the use of drones influences domestic policymaking from the perspective of mass and elite opinion was generally absent from the academic literature. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore and describe the perceptions of policy elites and the mass public on the impact of drone use on domestic policy. Guided by Donohue, Tichenor and Olien's theories of media framing and salience, mass opinion was measured through a convenience sample via the Walden Participant Pool, whereas elite opinion was measured through a purposive sampling …