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Oral Health Literacy And Oral Hygiene Habits In A Kentucky Appalachian Community, Katie D. Schill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study sought to identify the level of oral health literacy held by people who live in transitional and distressed Kentucky Appalachian areas and if this effects how often they are using oral hygiene techniques. Data were also collected to describe the attitudes Kentucky Appalachian adults hold toward oral hygiene and oral health status. Current documentation shows that poor oral health remains a public health threat in this population despite efforts such as school-based sealant programs and increased dental insurance coverage. This study followed a quantitative design and 99 participants were polled using a survey specifically developed for this study's …

Influence Of Low Rate Of Reporting Of Adverse Events Following Immunization On Immunization Dropout, Samuel Errie Yenyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Immunization protects millions of children. Yet, many children drop out of immunization in Jigawa State of north Nigeria. This cross-sectional quantitative correlational study based on the Health Belief Model was designed to determine whether the dropout from routine immunization (RI) was influenced by low rate of reporting of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) to health facilities by caregivers. Primary data was collected from 307 caregivers with dropout children using structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using logistic regression and descriptive statistics. The results showed that 61.3% of the children had AEFI and dropped out. Rate of reporting of AEFI …

Juvenile Offender Risk Factors Associated With Participation In Diversion Programs And Recidivism, Latasha Lavette Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although reducing recidivism among juvenile offenders is an important goal of the criminal justice system and diversion programs are known to reduce recidivism, little is known about the risk factors associated with participation in diversion programs or recidivism. The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify the juvenile offender risk factors associated with participation in diversion programs and recidivism. Social learning theory was the theoretical framework. The key research questions focused on how juvenile offenders'€™ demographic characteristics, risk factors, and participation in different types of diversion programs were associated with recidivism. Archival data from a large juvenile justice agency …

"Exploring Telehealth Feasibility For Hiv Status In Individuals Aged 17 To 34 In Southwestern Nigeria", Michael Funso Olaniyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

The use of smart phones among young people in Southwestern Nigeria has grown since the early 1990'€™s while traditional healthcare access had continued to deteriorate. HIV care centers have been concentrated in large cities, but earlier studies had shown higher prevalence of HIV in rural areas that constituted a larger portion of the population. However, existing studies had not adequately explored the use of mobile phones to supplement traditional healthcare access. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of telehealth for healthcare access among individuals aged 17-34 with positive HIV status and those at high risk …

Dissertation: Professionalism In Trinidad And Tobago's Early Childhood Sector: A Case Study, Cynthia Juliana Celestin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This case study explored early childhood practitioners' response to government mandates for increased professionalism in Trinidad and Tobago; the impact of mandates on their personal and professional lives; and their conceptions of professionalism. The study addressed government concerns about lack of professionalism in Early Childhood Care and Education; informed policymakers of the myriad challenges therein; and included practitioners' voices in international discourse on professionalism. Change theory, systems thinking, and voice elicitation formed the conceptual framework for understanding changes needed to increase professionalism in the sector. The meaning of professionalism as defined in mandates; difference between practitioners and officials' definitions of …

Secondary School Educators' Perspectives On Strategies To Support Acculturation Of Haitian Students, Brian Clarke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adjusting socially and emotionally to a new cultural environment can be challenging for immigrants. Yet, the academic and behavioral performance of immigrant children can be enhanced when acculturative strategies are implemented in schools to address their unique cultural differences and needs. However, a scarcity of information exists pertaining to educational strategies to support acculturation of Haitian students, particularly those with disabilities. A qualitative case study was conducted to explore strategies that support acculturation of Haitian students with disabilities and the link between the use of acculturation strategies and student achievement from the perspectives of 3 regular education educators, 2 special …

Classroom Teacher And Adminstrators Perception Of The Teacher Librarians' Contribution To Student Academic Achievement, Barbara Florence Dowell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Library research studies have provided evidence that teacher-librarians (TLs) impact student academic success; nevertheless, TLs statewide and internationally are at a critical juncture due to stakeholder groups' ambiguous perceptions regarding their influence on student achievement. The problem in this study involves a local independent school district's lack of conclusive evidence to demonstrate TLs' contribution to student achievement on standardized testing. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of TLs, classroom teachers (CTs), and administrative staff (AS) concerning student achievement as instructed by local TLs. Using Piaget's cognitive theory and Mezirow's transformative learning theory, this qualitative case study …

Gaming, Workplace, Self-Esteem, Counterproductive Work Behaviors, Sarah Marie Dyson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although there is ample information on the negative aspects of video game playing, we know less about the benefits and how the benefits transfer to the gamers’ workplace. Further understanding of these relationships may offer employees and employers more insight on how they can reduce counterproductive workplace behaviors (CWB) while also improving workplace morale and productivity. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study is to examine the relationships between time spent engaging in gameplay, workplace self-esteem, and positive and negative workplace behaviors among gamers. Participants anonymously completed an online questionnaire utilizing the Behind the Screen Measure, Counterproductive Workplace Behavior Checklist, …

Caregivers' Challenges In Accessing Services For Children With Autism, Anita Payne Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The perspective of the caregiver is vital to understanding the experiences of raising a child with autism, including the challenges faced in accessing services. The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of primary caregivers raising a school-age child with autism and to bring about an understanding of the challenges faced in accessing services. Resiliency theory provided the conceptual framework for the study. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 participants raising a child with autism in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Data were analyzed using Moustakas's descriptive approach. Results yielded 5 themes: overall …

Employee Retention Strategies In Nonprofit Organizations, Ann Laing

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The nonprofit sector is faced with the business problem of low employee retention rates. Low employee retention rate presents various business challenges, which includes the inability to offer community members much needed social service programs as well as providing a competitive compensation package to their employees. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the evidence-based best practice strategies in employee retention used in the nonprofit sector. The research included a conceptual framework focusing on Herzberg's Motivation - Hygiene Theory. The conceptual framework utilized in this study included segmentation of different employee retention strategies in nonprofit organizations. Data …

Social And Cultural Factors Influencing The Management Of Type 2 Diabetes Among African American Men, Lavetta W. Lopez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American men are more likely to have diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes than non-Hispanic White Americans and are less likely to adhere to treatment. Culture in the African American community plays a key role in how this community copes with illness and the health care system. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of social and cultural determinants of Type 2 diabetes self-management among African American men. Bandura's social cognitive theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. The research question sought to identify cultural and social factors that contribute or protect how African American men …

Probation Officers And Parole Agents' Perceptions Of Institutional Obstacles To Reducing Recidivism In A Midwestern State, Gertha Lee Lusby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prison management and key stakeholders lack an understanding of how institutional obstacles interfere with probation officers and parole agents' ability in managing offenders to reduce recidivism in a Midwestern state. In 2014, 1 out of 52 adults in the U.S. were under the supervision of probation officers or parole agents. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to identify the institutional obstacles that exist for probation officers and parole agents in terms of their lived experiences in their jobs. The participants were 5 probation officers and 6 parole agents from a municipal district in a county in a Midwestern …

The Relationship Of Online Communication Modes On Counselor Educator Job Satisfaction, John-Mike Nelson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the increase in pressures related to teaching online, counselor educators are experiencing greater amounts of burnout. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative survey study was to assess for significant differences and correlations between synchronous and asynchronous communication modes on online counselor educators' job satisfaction levels as measured by the Online Instructor Satisfaction Measure, and levels of burnout, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory Educators Survey. The researcher used Moore's theory of transactional distance as the theoretical framework to answer 2 research questions: (a) Is there a significant difference in faculty satisfaction and burnout levels based on communication modes?; …

Antenatal Care And Maternal Sociocultural Determinants Of Childhood Immunization In Northern Nigeria, Amaka Tonia Okafor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Immunization has been recognized globally as a cost-effective public health intervention. However, despite its benefits, children in northern Nigeria are still adversely affected by the negative consequences of inadequate uptake of immunization. The purpose of this study was to assess antenatal care and maternal sociocultural determinants that influence childhood immunization within 2 months of birth in northern Nigeria. Constructs of social cognitive theory were applied to this retrospective correlational cross-sectional inquiry involving women 15-49 years old in northern Nigeria. Secondary data (the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey) were analyzed using univariate, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) predictors of uptake of childhood immunization within 2 months of birth were the person who delivered antenatal care, the number of antenatal care visits, the number of tetanus injections, maternal educational level, religion, wealth index, husband/partner educational level, and the person who decides on health care. Educated Christian women from middle-class or rich homes, whose husbands/partners were also educated and who jointly decided on health care, made numerous contacts with health care professionals, and received at least one tetanus injection during antenatal care, had a higher likelihood of immunizing their children within 2 months of birth. The positive social change implications for this study include providing evidence of deterrents to childhood immunization that could lead to relevant policies and interventions leading to healthier children, communities, and society.

Doctor Of Nursing Practice Roles In Academia, Jodi Renee Raisor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over 15,000 master’s and doctoral degree students in the United States were denied admission to nursing schools in 2014 because of insufficient nursing faculty. In 2016, over 64,000 undergraduate and graduate students were unable to gain admission to nursing school due to the effects of faculty shortages. This project explored the role of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)-prepared nurse in academic settings using a systematic review of the literature to determine the role of DNP-prepared nurses in academia. Souza’s systematic review model and Melnyk’s levels of evidence were used to guide the search, review, and the selection of scholarly …

Teacher Perceptions Regarding The Influence Of Secondary Phonics Instruction On Student Reading, Alani Ramos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a Southern state at a rural high school, leadership staff implemented phonics-based strategies with 9th grade English teachers to improve students' Lexile reading scores. The absence of formative data related to program implementation left stakeholders without a clear understanding of the influence of the phonics-based strategies. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to obtain formative information from teachers to discern the perceived influence of the phonics-based strategies on reading. Dual coding theory was used to examine teachers' perceptions of the influence of phonics-based strategies on students' motivation, fluency, and self-efficacy. Data were collected using interviews with …

Perspectives Of Sierra Leoneans Healthcare Workers' Mental Health During The Ebola Outbreak, Guy O. Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The mental health of healthcare workers during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa was a serious concern for healthcare professionals and the mental health field. One area in West Africa where healthcare workers played a significant role during the Ebola outbreak of 2014 and 2015 was Sierra Leone. This qualitative research study was designed to explore the perceptions of Sierra Leoneans healthcare workers' mental health, how they coped, and treatment they received while providing care for Ebola virus patients. This study, with a phenomenological research approach, used purposeful sampling to recruit 10 healthcare workers to participate in semi structured, open-ended …

Assessment Of Risk Perception For Lyme Disease In New Jersey, Sunungurai Tongesayi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lyme disease (LD) is emerging as one of the major global health challenges of the 21st century. Although data on the diagnosis and treatment of LD is available, research focusing on people's perceptions of LD appears to be limited. Because individual perceptions can significantly affect compliance with preventative measures, such data are critical for the design and successful implementation of interventions to control the disease. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore risk perceptions and knowledge of LD among residents of a county in the U.S. state of New Jersey where the disease is prevalent. The health …

Women's Empowerment As A Policy For Poverty Reduction In Haiti, Flore Saint.Louis Weinstein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women represent more than 50% of the population of Haiti and embody the poorest group due to their lack of socioeconomic development. Numerous nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) including diaspora NGOs (DINGOs) have engaged in the fight to reduce poverty in Haiti by enabling empowerment programs to help women become self-reliant. The programs appear to be ineffective because the level of poverty remains high and there has been little research on the relative effectiveness and sustainability of the programs implemented by the DINGOs. Using the feminist theories of DeBeauvoir and Friedan in conjunction with the empowerment theory of AlMaseb and Julia as …

Exploring Employee Engagement Strategies From The Employee Perspective: A Case Study, Harley R. Barmore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses, which are important to the success of local communities, continue to fail at a much higher rate than their larger counterparts. Employee disengagement contributes to small businesses failure and is often precipitated by a misalignment of leader intent and employee perception of engagement strategies. The purpose of this case study, grounded in prevailing engagement theories, was to explore the alignment of employee perceptions to leaders' engagement strategies. Research questions elicited employee perceptions of leader engagement strategies and how these perceptions influenced their attitudes toward work. Data were collected from employees and the owner of a small Midwestern, privately …

Time And Transitions As Predictors Of Effective Postdeployment Resilience, Ricarlos Marcell Caldwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 9/11 over 2.77 million U.S. service members have deployed 5.4 million times to a theater of war with the majority serving in the U.S. Army. The increased stress inherent in a single combat deployment grows exponentially with each subsequent deployment, resulting in behavioral issues and suicide attempts and ideations. This study's purpose, following resilience theory, was to explore the associations of military life experiences (permanent changes of station, promotions, retirements, etc.) and deployment characteristics (number of deployments, operational specialties, combined lengths of deployments, etc.) to postdeployment resilience in U.S. military personnel. The study's design was a quantitative correlational research …

Safe Chemical Handling By Agrochemical Users In Plateau State, Nigeria, Adaobi Ifeoma Ekwempu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Agrochemical use has been increasing in both developing and the developed nations. The unsafe handling and use of agrochemicals can lead to accumulation of hazardous chemicals in the body, causing adverse effects on health. This quantitative cross sectional study sought to understand the level of awareness, practices, and perceptions of safe chemical handling by agrochemical using the Theory of Planned Behavior. This study was conducted among 260 farmers in Plateau State, Nigeria. Data on background knowledge and practices of safe agrochemical handling by farmers were collected using a structured paper based, interviewer-€administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics revealed that the most practiced …

Recruiting Strategies For Increasing The Number Of Emergency Medical Technician Personnel, Carolyn Denise Mack

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Demand for the emergency medical technician (EMT) is 2 times greater than that of all other occupations. Sustainability of ambulance services (AS) personnel is dependent upon the recruitment of EMTs into the industry. The purpose of this multiple case study was the exploration of the recruiting strategies that AS administrators used to increase the number of EMTs. Herzberg's 2 factor theory of motivation was the conceptual framework for this study. The data collection instrument included semistructured interviews with 6 AS company executives in southeastern New Mexico and southwestern Texas. Secondary data and document from each state's emergency medical services personnel …

Strategies For Mitigating The Effects Of Crisis In Microfinance Institutions In Ghana, Akorfa Ahiafor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ghana has experienced an unprecedented failure of microfinance institutions. Within a period of 8 years from 2011 to 2019, the Bank of Ghana has revoked the license of over 489 microfinance institutions. The purpose of the exploratory multiple case study was to explore strategies that microfinance managers apply to mitigate the effects of crisis to remain sustainable. The targeted population was composed of owner-managers from 6 microfinance companies in Ghana and 6 consultants who overcame the microfinance crisis and remained in practice. The situational crisis communication theory and the team leadership model were the conceptual frameworks for this study. Methodological …

Faculty And Administrator Perceptions Of The Attrition Of Female Expatriate Esl Teachers' In Saudi Arabia, Salisha Bhola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colleges in Saudi Arabia require students to take content classes in English. As the number of English learners in Riyadh continues to grow, it is important to retain quality English as Second Language (ESL) teachers. The problem investigated in this study was the high attrition of female expatriates teaching ESL at an all-female university. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore teacher and administrators' perceptions about the attrition of female expatriate ESL teachers at the university. The conceptual framework was Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory, which focuses on influences that motivate or demotivate employees. The research questions explored why …

Recommendations For African American Family Caregivers Of Adult With Congestive Heart Failure., Callista Chika Ejim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans suffer disproportionately higher incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) at an earlier age of onset and with more rapid progression compared to other races. Due to this escalating prevalence of CHF within the African American population and the lack of culturally responsive support for the caregiving role, African American family caregivers of adult CHF patients face greater challenges and suffer increased caregiver burden, stress, depression, and financial strain compared to European American caregivers. The purpose of this project was to conduct a systematic literature review to find the recommendations that target African American family caregivers of adult CHF …

Strategies For Mitigating Employee Turnover In The Nigerian Financial Services Industry, Oluwabukunmi Fapohunda

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business owners and leaders have committed resources, time, and funding to understand and mitigate the phenomenon of employee turnover. The purpose of this study was to explore the strategies that managers used to mitigate employee turnover in the financial services industry in Nigeria. The transformational leadership model was the conceptual framework for this single case study. Semistructured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 10 middle-level managers who had experience and knowledge of employee turnover at an organization in the financial services industry in Nigeria. The company's policy documents and audited financial statements were also reviewed. Thematic coding was used for data …

Health System Access To Maternal And Child Health Services In Sierra Leone, Alhassan Fouard Kanu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The robustness and responsiveness of a country's health system predict access to a range of health services, including maternal and child health (MCH) services. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the influence of 5 health system characteristics on access to MCH services in Sierra Leone. This study was guided by Bryce, Victora, Boerma, Peters, and Black's framework for evaluating the scaleup to millennium development goals for maternal and child survival. The study was a secondary analysis of the Sierra Leone 2017 Service Availability and Readiness Assessment dataset, which comprised 100% (1, 284) of the country's health facilities. …

Evidence-Based Practice Self-Study Education Program For Staff Nurses On Genomics, Nancy L. Norman-Marzella

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurses routinely obtain genomic data when collecting family health histories. However, they report low confidence in their knowledge and understanding of genomics and the genetically engineered medications prescribed for their patients. The purpose of this project was the development and implementation of an evidence-based online education program about genetics and genomics to increase the nurses' understanding and ability to provide competent care for their patients receiving treatments based on the science of genomics. Knowles's principles of adult learning theory guided the development and delivery of the online education project to 12 medical-surgical registered nurses employed in a hospital in the …

Impact Of Socioeconomic Status And Health-Seeking Behavior On Malaria In Pregnancy, Ifeanyi Livinus Udenweze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria in pregnancy remains a public health challenge in Nigeria despite the fund appropriation for malaria control. The health challenges of malaria in pregnancy vary with populations and there is limited knowledge on the impact of the socioeconomic status and health-seeking behavior on malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria. The objective of this cross-sectional quantitative survey was to examine whether socioeconomic status and health-seeking behavior predict malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria using the social cognitive theoretical model. The data from a 2015 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey was used in this study. Data were analyzed using chi-square, binary, and multivariate logistics regression …