Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Prenatal Care And Systematic Hiv Testing In Preventing Perinatal Transmission In Tanzania, 2011-2012, Nkembi Lydie Bianda, Patrick A. Tschida, Vasileios Margaritis

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

In 2012, the prevalence of HIV infection among Tanzanian women was 6.3%, and 18% of Tanzanian children were born infected with HIV. The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of prenatal care attendance on comprehensive knowledge of HIV mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), HIV testing and counseling, and awareness of HIV testing coverage services in Tanzania. The study population was Tanzanian women of childbearing. Guided by the health belief model, this cross-sectional survey design used secondary data from the 2011–2012 Tanzania Demographic Health Survey. Factors of interest were comprehensive knowledge of HIV MTCT, HIV testing and counseling, and awareness …

Exploring The Development Of Three Law-Based Competency Models For Public Health Practitioners, Montrece Mcneill Ransom, Brianne Yassine

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

As public health promotion and protection become increasingly complex and integrated into various fields, public health law is emerging as an important tool for public health professionals. To ensure that public health professionals are adequately trained public health law, public health law-related competencies should to be integrated into educational and other programming. This article provides three competency models developed by the Public Health Law Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: (a) the public health emergency law competency model, (b) the public health law competency model, and (c) the legal epidemiology competency model. These competency models provide a …

Public Service Announcements To Promote Physical Activity, Jennifer Erickson, Jay Greiner

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The World Health Organization promotes physical activity (PA) as important for successful maintenance of health, but many individuals are inactive. Despite the potential for public service announcements (PSAs) to communicate health information and promote behavior change, no previous research on developing video PSAs to promote PA was found. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine how video PSAs designed for public health campaigns affect future levels of intention to engage in PA. The PSAs assessed perceived effectiveness of message foci and the impact of stage of change readiness. They were developed specifically for this study using the model …

“Tell Me When ‘Normal’ Stops”: How Parents Recognized Their Child’S Mental Illness, Lori Salgado

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Many parents do not recognize psychological disorder, and current mental health service delivery programs are not sufficiently responsive to the early help-seeking dynamics of families. This mixed-methods study explored Colorado parents’ experiences of recognizing their child’s mental illness as a precursor to seeking treatment, revealing that the phenomenon of parental recognition was a process of “waiting to hear that ‘normal’ had stopped,” wherein parents miscategorized symptoms as typical behaviors in a passing developmental phase. Prior experience with mental illness appeared to significantly decrease both the length of time and the level of distress necessary for recognition. Ultimately, recognition did not …

Successful Climate Change Strategies In Corporate Farming, Deann Renee Reaves

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information (2016), climate-related disasters occurring from 2011 to 2015 caused property damages in excess of US$230 billion—and the agriculture sector incurs some of the largest losses (Hoffmann, 2013). The purpose of this case study was to identify, through an in-depth interview and document review, successful climate-change-based sustainability strategies in a publicly held farming operation. The findings indicated that the farm’s climate-change-based sustainability strategy had basic qualities of corporate social responsibility, triple-bottom-line thinking, and systems thinking. Specific approaches identified were mitigation- and adaptation-oriented approaches. Implications for social change include …

Advanced Practice Nursing In Nigerian Healthcare: Prospects And Challenges, Raymond O. Chimezie, Sally N. Ibe

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

This study explored the prospects and challenges of introducing advanced practice nursing (APN) in the Nigerian health system. It sought to address the following: career pathways for registered nurses and midwives, advanced duties performed by them and the circumstances, their views and willingness for autonomous practice, and doctors’ degree of acceptance. Research population composed of registered nurses, midwives and medical doctors in primary healthcare. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the scope of practice, standards and competencies of the APN established by the International Council of Nurses (2008). A 12-item checklist of typical duties of APN from …

#Socialworkadvocacy, Angela N. Bullock, Alex D. Colvin

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

What separates social work from other fields of human services is the underlying need to work toward equality and social justice for every population. This is often accomplished by working on behalf of those who are oppressed, marginalized, or disenfranchised. For that reason, it can be argued that advocacy is at the foundation of social work practice (Belluomini, 2014). The growth of social media and availability of low-cost and user-friendly innovations have changed the way people engage in advocacy. Social media has become an emerging tool for electronic advocacy. In the 21st century, social workers have engaged in electronic advocacy …

Victimization Of The Homeless: Public Perceptions, Public Policies, And Implications For Social Work Practice, Marion M. Turner, Simon P. Funge, Wesley J. Gabbard

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

Homeless individuals are particularly vulnerable to victimization, sometimes resulting in fatalities. Theories of victimization prove useful to understanding the risks inherent in being homeless as well as the public’s perception of the homeless population. Problematically, public policy that criminalizes this population may exacerbate the victimization of this group. Municipalities have turned to law enforcement and the criminal justice system to respond to people living in public spaces. Programs that ensure adequate income, affordable housing, and supportive services to prevent homelessness and address the needs of those who are homeless are essential. In addition, increased law enforcement training and the implementation …

Security Mechanisms On Web-Based Exams In Introductory Statistics Community College Courses, Yelena Feinman

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The credibility of unsupervised online exams is an ongoing concern in higher education. Proctoring, in the form of physical or remote supervision, has been the main mechanism for maintaining academic integrity. However, both forms of proctoring are expensive and inconvenient. Several researchers have examined security mechanisms as a substitute for proctoring and obtained mixed results. This article describes a quasi-experimental study, the main goal of which was to examine the effectiveness of nonbiometric security mechanisms. The security mechanisms were selected based on the taxonomy of cheating reduction techniques rooted in the fraud triangle theory. The security mechanisms were considered effective …

The Significance Of Articulating An Institution’S Intellectual Distinctions In Response To The Crisis Of The Liberal Arts, Christian Teeter

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This case study details an investigation to gain greater insight about the intellectual distinctions that prevail within the academic environment at Crestline College, a pseudonym for an eastern institution of higher learning, in support of the significance of a liberal arts education. While many graduates of Crestline report satisfaction with their academic experience, many alumni volunteers have felt more work could be done to explain the exact nature of what makes Crestline strong academically, articulating the practical value of a liberal arts education. Developing a compelling argument for a strong vision for academics would help reinforce the value and importance …

Using Focus Groups To Explore Sources Of Self-Efficacy In Puerto Rican Preservice Teachers, Yitza A. Arcelay-Rojas

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This article used focus groups to explore Puerto Rican preservice teachers' perceptions of sources of self-efficacy. The present study allowed, through a qualitative design, examination of the experiences of preservice teachers at the end of their student teaching practicum. The qualitative design and the use of the focus group technique provided insight into the main sources of their perceived self-efficacy through the self-assessment of their field experience. The beginning of the student teaching practicum provoked an intense process of emotions in which the preservice teachers needed support and guidance, particularly in aspects of planning, differentiation, and classroom management. The participants …

Employee Perceptions Of Well-Being Programs, Alice V. Edwards, Susan Marcus

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Measuring the effectiveness of well-being programs in the workplace is important for optimizing the return on investment and selection of programs that meet organizational objectives. A pilot study was performed to assess employee well-being using the Happiness Mini-Survey and a one-sample pre–post study design intended to quickly allow employees to subjectively rate their well-being before and after participating in various classes as part of a well-being program. The findings demonstrated statistical significance in employee subjective ratings; they reported feeling better emotionally, physically, and mentally after participating in the classes. The employees’ self-rating for stress level also had statistically significant improvement …

Strategies For Improving Healthcare Efficiency While Reducing Costs, Jean Calvin Tchatchoua Mbitcha

2018 Program & Posters

• In comparison to the European healthcare system, the U.S. healthcare system has lower quality care, higher costs, and covers a smaller percentage of the population (Thomas et al., 2016).

• The United States spends annually approximately $9,523 per person on healthcare, which is more than 2.5 times the average paid by the other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries (Abbott, Sutton, & Edwards, 2014; Martin et al., 2016).

• The general business problem is that the high cost of limited and modest healthcare services jeopardizes the standard of living and the economic security of U.S. citizens.

• The specific business problem …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Mental Health Assistance Programs At A Suburban Chicago Fire Department, Christina Spoons

2018 Program & Posters

The increase in suicide rates among fire personnel has been an ongoing challenge for jurisdictions. One survey of more than 4,000 first responders found that 6.6 percent had attempted suicide, which is more than 10 times the rate in the general population (Venteicher, 2017). Between 2008-2009, the Chicago Fire Department experienced seven active duty suicides within 18 months (DeGryse, 2015). There is a significant amount of literature addressing suicide, discussing symptoms, behaviors to be aware of, and demographics of those who have committed suicide. Despite increased attention to the topic, the number of firefighter suicides in the United States has …

Beliefs Influencing Hiring Agents’ Selection Of Qualified Autistic Candidates, Angela Marie Mai

2018 Program & Posters

United States unemployment rate year end 2017: • General populace = 4% • Employable autistics = 83% Many scholars inferred the beliefs of those responsible for hiring but lacked research.

Crisis Intervention Team Training Among Cit-Trained Police Officers, Monique Allen

2018 Program & Posters

The problem addressed in this study was the lack of knowledge on how Crisis Invention Team (CIT) training impacts police officers’ perceptions of persons in mental crisis.

Nurses’ Perception Of Their Role In Patient Safety, Janeane Walker

2018 Program & Posters

There is a growing concern that, despite the fervent increase in focus on preventing medical errors in the last few decades, small achievements have been made in patient safety efforts. This study fills the gap in gaining an understanding on why medical errors are still occurring from the nurses perspective.

Community Public-Private Partnership Leadership Synergy In Tanzania, Hawa Yatera-Mshana Dr.

2018 Program & Posters

Although the public-private partnership(PPP) concept in health and social health has been politically accepted as a best pathway to improving health outcomes in many developing countries, implementation lacks leadership synergy (LS). Lack of awareness and engagement of community leaders about PPP interventions and their benefits affect accountability and ownership of health and social care interventions. Lack of accountability on PPP interventions and lack of community engagement requires a synergistic approach between public and private sector to improve health and social welfare of the population (Cramm et al., 2013; Itika, et al., 2011:White et al., 2013). The leadership gap in the …

Effects Of Micronutrients On The Status Of Hiv-Infected African American Women, Veronica Alicia Graham

2018 Program & Posters

As of 2017 there are 48,126 of African American Women (AAW) who are infected with HIV each year who report weight loss within the first year of HIV and then progress to AIDS without the use of micronutrients. Without micronutrients the weight loss would be greater.

Development Of A Doctoral Internship Program For Walden’S Journals, Leann Stadtlander, Amy Sickel, Daniel Salter

2018 Program & Posters

A challenge facing all doctoral students is to learn to write with a scholarly voice, so that they can be successful in academic careers. A question arose about whether participation in a doctoral internship program for Walden’s 4 journals would improve interns' research skills, writing skills, writing efficacy, and knowledge of the publication process.

2018 Walden University Research Symposium, Daniel Salter

2018 Program & Posters

Welcome to the 2018 Walden University Research Symposium. We are excited to be back in Minneapolis this year, where the symposium originally started 11 years ago! We also want to note that, for the first time this year, we have invited alumni who had previously participated in a New Scholars Workshop to serve as reviewers. The Research Symposium is an annual event that showcases research projects from our academic community, especially work by our recent graduates. As is usually the case, the nature of the research presented at the symposium is quite varied and reflects many of the challenges currently …

Social Studies Teacher–Athletic Coaches' Experiences Coping With Role Conflict R2, Caroline Conner, Chara Haeussler Bohan

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The current study provides insight into the experiences of the most common content area teacher–coaches: social studies teacher–coaches. Substantial research findings support the idea that occupying the dual role of teacher–coach may lead to role conflict, role overload, and burnout in teacher–coaches. The purpose of the study is to illuminate the unique stressors associated with occupying the dual role of social studies teacher and athletic coach (SSTC) simultaneously, and to discover ways in which SSTCs manage such conflict. Through a case study of three football SSTCs in the southeastern United States, we explored participants’ experiences with role conflict, role overload, …

A Case Study Of Relationships, Resilience, And Retention In Secondary Mathematics And Science Teachers, Angela W. Webb

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Reasons why mathematics and science teachers leave the profession have been well documented and discussed. However, a critical examination of the nuances contributing to their retention warrants our attention. In this qualitative case study, I applied relational–cultural theory (Miller, 1986) to the experiences of three female mathematics and science teachers. I sought to unpack teachers’ decisions to remain in the classroom year after year and make meaning of their experiences as related to resilience in and through relationships. Based on findings from participants' experiences, recommendations for improving teacher retention along the career trajectory are offered.

A Consensual Inquiry Of Teachers’ Responses To Classroom Situations: Implications For School Counselors, Jeffrey M. Warren, Gretchen G. Robinson

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Although often overlooked by school leaders, teacher emotions are key factors that impact classroom climate and therefore educational outcomes and student success. We use a framework grounded in rational emotive behavior therapy and social cognitive theory to explore teachers’ perceived thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in response to common classroom situations. The consensual qualitative research methodology was used to analyze data collected from 21 elementary school teachers. Findings suggest that psychosocial barriers exist among teachers who undermine effective instruction and classroom climate. Implications for school counselor practice are discussed.

Pregnancy And Intimate Partner Violence, Leann Stadtlander

School of Psychology Publications

Millions of pregnant women are abused each year around the world. Interpersonal violence (IPV) affects physical and mental health, both short and long term. It is associated with alcohol and drug abuse, eating and sleep disorders, physical inactivity, poor self-esteem, posttraumatic stress disorder, self-harm, unsafe sexual practices, suicide, and homicide. IPV has also been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth, low birthweight, and being small for gestational age. This article provides background information on pregnancy and IPV, as well as, screening questions that may be used to support clients, and offers resources for childbirth professionals.

Adults With Liver Failure In The Intensive Care Unit: A Transplant Primer For Nurses, Cheryl Mcginnis, Stacia Hays

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Liver transplantation has become the standard of care for the treatment of a variety of liver diseases that in the past would have resulted in an early death. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) there are currently 14,433 candidates waiting for a liver transplant in the United States. A total of 7,841 liver transplants were performed in the United States in 2016[1]. Despite increased education regarding organ donation and advances in patient management, there continues to be a gap in the supply and demand of organs for transplant. Due to this scarce resource, pre and post- transplant …

Challenges Of Aging With The Hiv Virus And Comorbidities, Abele R. Navylia

2018 Program & Posters

The introduction of antiretroviral therapy led to an increased life expectancy of HIV infected individuals. However, this has been linked to early onset of chronic diseases either from old age, aging with antiretroviral therapy, or a combination of both. The literature failed to address the challenges affecting the quality of life of people 50+ living and aging with HIV.

Organizational Learning For Libraries At For-Profit Colleges And Universities: A Manual, Julie Evener

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

The purpose of this manual is an introduction to the concept of organizational learning for librarians working in for-profit colleges and universities, though the suggestions and ideas herein are applicable to librarians working in a variety of institutions. Information in this manual was collected through a literature review, as well as the author’s original research focusing on organizational learning in libraries of for-profit colleges and universities in the United States. The content of the manual includes why organizational learning is important for libraries, factors that contribute to organizational learning, challenges to organizational learning and strategies to overcome the challenges, and …

Postsecondary Online Students’ Preferences For Text-Based Instructor Feedback, Joseph J. Gredler

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Misalignment between student preferences and instructor practices regarding writing feedback may impede student learning. This sequential explanatory mixed-methods study addressed postsecondary online students’ preferences and the reasons for their preferences. A survey was used to collect 93 responses from postsecondary students attending a large private online university; data collection included interviews with a subsample of 4 participants. Findings indicated students preferred proximal, detailed, supportive feedback to enhance their writing skills and to understand deductions assessed by instructors. Findings may increase instructor awareness of students’ preferences and enhance collaboration in the feedback process to promote writing skill development and improve academic …

Between-Group Differences Among Victim Age-Based Typologies Of Juvenile Sexual Offenders, Jennifer Short

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juveniles adjudicated for sexual offenses are often described as homogenous, collectively viewed as inherently dangerous, and subject to specialized legal and clinical interventions. However, empirical studies have identified several typologies suggesting that juveniles adjudicated for sexual offenses are a heterogeneous group with varying degrees of risk and treatment needs. The purpose of this non-experimental between-groups study was to compare family composition, abuse histories, mental health diagnosis, and offense type among a victim age-based typology of juvenile sexual offenders. The theoretical framework that guided this study was developmental-contextual theory. Archival data (N = 105) were collected from Alberta Health Services in …