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Hurricane Irma's Impact On Mortality Among The Chronically Ill Populations In Florida, Cody Ray Thornton Feb 2025

Hurricane Irma's Impact On Mortality Among The Chronically Ill Populations In Florida, Cody Ray Thornton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Natural disasters pose significant risks to individuals with chronic diseases, exacerbating health disparities through disruptions in healthcare access and systemic vulnerabilities. This study investigated the association between chronic disease-related mortality occurring within 2 months of Hurricane Irma, and whether demographic variables, including age, sex, race, Hispanic ethnicity, poverty, urbanicity, and educational attainment, modified this relationship. This cross-sectional study used the social-ecological model to analyze secondary mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression revealed that deaths from chronic illnesses, occurring between September 2017 and October 2017, were 2.694 times higher, compared to the same period …


A Disparities Analysis Of Cancer Patients’ Access To Depression Treatment By Health Insurance Status And Type, Stephanie Minbiole-Snider Feb 2025

A Disparities Analysis Of Cancer Patients’ Access To Depression Treatment By Health Insurance Status And Type, Stephanie Minbiole-Snider

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has demonstrated that comorbid conditions like depression in cancer patients reduce quality of life, prolong recovery, and reduce survival time of the cancer patient. Although other studies have investigated the issue of depression among cancer patients, there is a dearth of studies looking at differences in taking depression medication with health insurance as a source of disparity. Using survey data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), and the health belief model as the theoretical framework, this study had two purposes. The first was to determine if there were differences in the likelihood of taking medication for depression based …


Staff Education On Advantages Of Administering Phq-9 Screening To Adolescents And Young Adults Receiving Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Tms) Therapy In An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Florence O. Gbadehan Feb 2025

Staff Education On Advantages Of Administering Phq-9 Screening To Adolescents And Young Adults Receiving Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Tms) Therapy In An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Florence O. Gbadehan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

page This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) study filled a practice gap in an outpatient mental health clinic by increasing staff understanding of the PHQ-9 screening tool for teenagers and young adults undergoing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy. The project sought to answer the following practice-focused question: will teaching staff about the PHQ-9 increase knowledge? A staff education program was developed and implemented to address this gap, with professional persons examining and approving the content before it was distributed. Twelve voluntary clinical staff members attended a sixty-minute in-person educational session, which was followed by a ten-question multiple-choice pre/post-test to assess …


Training Staff To Improve Medication Adherence Among Outpatient Mental Health Patients, Josephine Nada Bondje Feb 2025

Training Staff To Improve Medication Adherence Among Outpatient Mental Health Patients, Josephine Nada Bondje

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication adherence is a practice issue in the treatment of patients suffering severe mental illness. A suburban outpatient clinic in the Eastern United States did not have standardized staff education regarding medication adherence strategies for treating psychiatric patients diagnosed with major depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. The purpose of this project was to enhance the staff’s knowledge regarding methods for helping patients achieve medication adherence. The clinical question that guided the project was: Will staff education regarding medication adherence strategies related to mental health conditions in an outpatient clinic increase the knowledge of the staff? Data were collected from …


Leadership Strategies To Address Employee Turnover In Therapeutic Foster Care Within The Southeastern United States, Angelique Allen Feb 2025

Leadership Strategies To Address Employee Turnover In Therapeutic Foster Care Within The Southeastern United States, Angelique Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addresses the problem of low staff recruitment and retention rates in therapeutic foster care, resulting in staff burnout and reduced program performance and affecting the program’s targeted population and their communities. A case study allowed for a holistic view of the problem through the unique perspectives of behavioral health leaders within the program selected, which is based in the southeast United States and serves children within the foster care system. The study is grounded using the Baldrige excellence framework. Data were obtained through semi-structured interview with three of the program’s behavioral health leaders. The data were analyzed using …


Solutions To Retaining Leaders In Behavioral Health Organizations, Kelly Murphy Feb 2025

Solutions To Retaining Leaders In Behavioral Health Organizations, Kelly Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Retaining qualified behavioral health leaders is critical to the success of the behavioral health organization. Continually exploring solutions and strategies helps the organization to assess and improve its effectiveness in meeting its mission, vision, and values. This study focused on the development and execution of the strategic plan as a tool for the organization to successfully meet its goals. The problem addressed in this study is the leadership turnover rate and how this change impacts progress toward achieving the mission, vision, and values of the organization. The Baldrige Excellence Framework was used in this study to evaluate processes of hiring, …


Reducing Patient No-Show Rates In A Mental Health Outpatient Clinic, John K. Kamau Feb 2025

Reducing Patient No-Show Rates In A Mental Health Outpatient Clinic, John K. Kamau

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project is a quality improvement initiative to enhance staff knowledge and confidence through expert feedback validating educational interventions at a mental health outpatient clinic. The practice problem highlighted staff preparedness gaps to effectively address patient-specific barriers, impacting patient engagement and care delivery, resulting in high appointment no-shows. Addressing this issue within nursing practice was essential, as consistent care was critical for managing psychiatric conditions effectively. The question guiding the project was as follows: How does implementing a specialized staff training program impact staff knowledge and confidence in reducing no-shows? This project aimed to equip staff with evidence-based tools …


Factors In Teacher Turnover Within A Nonpublic Special Education Setting, Sarah Wilson Feb 2025

Factors In Teacher Turnover Within A Nonpublic Special Education Setting, Sarah Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The persistent turnover among special educators poses significant challenges to the quality of education provided to students with disabilities. The problem addressed in this study was the significant rate of turnover of special education teachers in a nonpublic special needs school on the east coast of the United States. Guided by Maslow’s theory of motivation and hierarchy of needs, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate the experiences of special education teachers and factors that influenced their decision to remain within the classroom environment. Eight special educators participated in semistructured interviews sharing the experiences they perceived as …


Cauti Bundle Education In A Long-Term Care Facility, Pius Awandem Tanyifor Feb 2025

Cauti Bundle Education In A Long-Term Care Facility, Pius Awandem Tanyifor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most frequent but preventable infections that patients may acquire in healthcare, also known as HAI or nosocomial. A CAUTI bundle is a set of evidence-based practices (EBPs) that, when implemented together, can significantly reduce the occurrence of CAUTIs in any healthcare setting. The practice problem in a long-term care facility was the staff knowledge deficit on the CAUTI bundle. This is a staff education project. The pre- and post-survey results showed an increase in knowledge of the CAUTI bundle, from 56% in the pretest to 97 % in the posttest.


Executive Summary: Staff Education Project Reducing Burnout Through Mindfulness Education, Shateria Michelle Boone Feb 2025

Executive Summary: Staff Education Project Reducing Burnout Through Mindfulness Education, Shateria Michelle Boone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focused on addressing burnout for staff nurses working in a psychiatric hospital. Evidence indicated that burnout among nurses, caused by emotional stress and heightened responsibilities, may result in increased medical errors, diminished patient satisfaction, and significant dangers to patient safety and care. The practice-focused question for this project addressed whether a mindfulness-based educational intervention program would increase staff knowledge and decrease burnout among nurses working in a psychiatric hospital. The program incorporated a pretest/posttest format, educational content delivered via a PowerPoint presentation that included an interactive mindfulness meditation training session, and a …


Implementation Of An Educational Program To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge Of Basic Ostomy Care, Angela Trajcevski Feb 2025

Implementation Of An Educational Program To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge Of Basic Ostomy Care, Angela Trajcevski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project aimed to determine if an educational program would improve nurses’ knowledge of basic ostomy care in a surgical unit. Nurses in the surgical unit lack the knowledge and skills to perform proper ostomy care. Regardless of the years of experience, nurses may lose skills over time if they do not refresh their knowledge on basic ostomy care. The PICO (population, intervention, comparison, and outcome) question for this project was as follows: Does participation in an educational program focused on basic ostomy care improve the ostomy knowledge of staff nurses working on a surgical unit? This project …


Gad-7 Screening Tool Implementation, Charity Allwell Feb 2025

Gad-7 Screening Tool Implementation, Charity Allwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was to provide a staff education program to improve staff knowledge about the use of the GAD-7 screening tool. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) remains an underdiagnosed condition, often due to inadequate use of standardized tools in clinical settings, leading to delayed treatments and suboptimal outcomes for patients experiencing anxiety disorders. The identified gap in practice necessitated an educational intervention to equip healthcare providers with the skills to effectively use the GAD-7 screening tool. To address this gap, a 2-hour staff education program was delivered via in-person sessions and online modules. …


Educating The Crisis Unit Staff On Implementing The Brief Trauma Questionnaire, Ambrose Oyemhen Ukpebor Feb 2025

Educating The Crisis Unit Staff On Implementing The Brief Trauma Questionnaire, Ambrose Oyemhen Ukpebor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Facility-Based Crisis Unit (FBCS) nursing staff demonstrated an inadequate understanding of how to apply evidence-based trauma screening tools, such as the Brief Trauma Questionnaire (BTQ), to patients with substance use disorders. Studies indicate that over 60% of individuals recovering from or actively using illicit drugs report experiencing childhood and lifetime trauma. Integrating trauma screening into nursing practice can significantly improve patient care outcomes. This educational project aimed to enhance providers’ knowledge of BTQ administration using the ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate) model to ensure effective learning. The project utilized expertise from content specialists, the Walden University manual, …


Evaluation Of A Global Capacity Development Project To Educate, Empower And Advance Sustainable Food Production, Felicia J. Tuggle, Olubusola W. Afolayan Msw, Mollie Smith M.Aq., David J. Cline Phd, Onesimus Kiadii Bs Feb 2025

Evaluation Of A Global Capacity Development Project To Educate, Empower And Advance Sustainable Food Production, Felicia J. Tuggle, Olubusola W. Afolayan Msw, Mollie Smith M.Aq., David J. Cline Phd, Onesimus Kiadii Bs

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

This article presents evaluation findings from the Integrated Aquaculture for Food Production, Education, Empowerment, and Development (iFEED) project, a global capacity development project designed to educate, empower, and advance sustainable food production in Monrovia, Liberia. To develop K–12 teachers’ capacity to integrate STEM education into math and science curriculum for the purpose of preparing a future aquaculture workforce in Liberia, the iFEED project provided educational materials, teacher training, and technical support to 25 teachers in the greater Monrovia Consolidated School District (MCSS). Evaluation findings indicate positive outcomes in increasing instructional capabilities among participating math and science teachers and accelerating action …


Perceptions Of Nurse Preceptor Program Structure, Process, And Outcomes, Shinto Thomas Feb 2025

Perceptions Of Nurse Preceptor Program Structure, Process, And Outcomes, Shinto Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Precepting is crucial in successfully onboarding nurses in healthcare organizations, yet challenges remain in ensuring effective preceptor development. Well-structured preceptor programs contribute to consistent and safe nursing practices, enhance job satisfaction and competency among new nurses, and improve preceptor effectiveness while minimizing turnover. This quality improvement Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated a structured nurse preceptor program's structure, process, and outcomes, focusing on its impact on clinical and critical thinking skills development through enhanced training and support. A key gap in understanding the program’s effectiveness was the lack of outcome data. This study explored participants’ perceptions of the preceptor …


Impact Of Medication Adherence On Patients With Bipolar Disorder, Vero Lum Fon Feb 2025

Impact Of Medication Adherence On Patients With Bipolar Disorder, Vero Lum Fon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project was aimed at improving registered nurses’ (RNs) knowledge on the impact of medication adherence in patients with bipolar disorder. Up to 60% of patients fail to take their prescriptions as recommended, which increases the risk of recurrence and hospitalization and lowers quality of life. The practice-focused question is: Does comprehensive and targeted staff education improve knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding how to optimize medication adherence among patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder? I sought to provide RNs with evidence-based medication adherence and patient care measures to close the knowledge gap. Pre and post-tests were used to assess …


Physical And Mental Health Experiences Of Obese Men Living In The United States During The Covid-19 Pandemic, James Cunningham Feb 2025

Physical And Mental Health Experiences Of Obese Men Living In The United States During The Covid-19 Pandemic, James Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to public health worldwide, significantly impacting vulnerable populations like obese men in the United States. This qualitative descriptive study involved exploring how these men perceived the pandemic’s impact on their physical and mental health, addressing a critical gap in existing literature. The research question that guided this study was: How did obese men living in the United States perceive the stressor that was the COVID-19 pandemic on their physical and mental health? Guided by the biopsychosocial model, the study involved using semi-structured interviews with 15 participants who were recruited online through social media. Thematic …


Relationship Between Adjunct Faculty Workplace Inclusion And Burnout In Online Universities, Allisson Kinkade Feb 2025

Relationship Between Adjunct Faculty Workplace Inclusion And Burnout In Online Universities, Allisson Kinkade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Online universities rely on adjunct faculty even though including them in institutional processes is challenging and might be related to burnout. The relationship between the level of workplace inclusion and burnout of adjunct faculty has not been investigated. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between the level of workplace inclusion and burnout of adjunct faculty at online universities, moderated by instructor age, gender, and the number of years teaching as an adjunct. The conservation of resource theory by Hobfoll was used as the theoretical framework. For this quantitative nonexperimental correlational research design, data from 104 …


Experiences Of Former Foster Youths With Learning Disabilities Who Transitioned Into Adulthood, Phyllis J. Phillips Feb 2025

Experiences Of Former Foster Youths With Learning Disabilities Who Transitioned Into Adulthood, Phyllis J. Phillips

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Foster youths with learning disabilities face numerous challenges as they transition out of care, including housing instability, unemployment, and mental health issues. Despite these barriers, research focusing on this specific population is limited. Guided by Taormina’s adult personal resilience theory, this qualitative case study explored the experiences and perceptions of former foster youths with learning disabilities to inform interventions and improve service delivery and policy improvements. The research questions addressed the experiences of former foster youths with learning disabilities transitioning out of care, the unique challenges associated with transitioning out of foster care as experienced by former foster youths with …


The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (Gad-7) Tool For Anxiety Screening, Nicholas Tindong Feb 2025

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (Gad-7) Tool For Anxiety Screening, Nicholas Tindong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The staff education project aimed to address the gap in practice regarding the use of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) screening tool at a psychiatric clinic. Approximately 40% of the clinic’s patients exhibited symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), yet the nurses did not consistently use validated tools to assess anxiety severity, relying instead on unstructured clinical interviews. This inconsistency has resulted in delayed diagnoses and suboptimal patient care. The project sought to improve nursing staff's knowledge and confidence in using the GAD-7 tool through a structured education program guided by the following practice-focused question: Among nurses at a …


Reducing Disparities In Breastfeeding Among African American Women Through Professional Support, Latonia Feagin Feb 2025

Reducing Disparities In Breastfeeding Among African American Women Through Professional Support, Latonia Feagin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project involved developing a toolkit and implementing a staff education program to increase provider self-efficacy and knowledge concerning breastfeeding, increase provider understanding of the importance of a toolkit for addressing the gap in breastfeeding among African American women, and increase the intention of providers to use the toolkit by a minimum of 20%. The clinic reported breastfeeding in only 21% of African American patients, attributing this mainly to provider lack of breastfeeding self-efficacy and knowledge. It is essential for providers to deliver evidence-based, culturally sensitive breastfeeding information. This project involved evaluating provider self-efficacy, knowledge, understanding the importance of a …


The Role Of Leadership In Improving Discharge Planning For Complex Cases In A Healthcare System, Philmaris Miranda Rodriguez Feb 2025

The Role Of Leadership In Improving Discharge Planning For Complex Cases In A Healthcare System, Philmaris Miranda Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavioral health organizations face significant challenges in managing psychiatric hospital readmissions, often influenced by social determinants of health (SDOH) such as poverty, education, social support, housing, and food security. This study examines the perspectives of behavioral health leadership on discharge planning in psychiatric hospitals in the southeastern United States, exploring how leadership strategies impact patient readiness for discharge and reduce the risk of readmission. Using the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework, key performance categories, including leadership, strategy, measurement, and operations, were evaluated to inform actionable improvements in discharge planning and transitional care. Evidence was collected through interviews with healthcare leaders and …


Training Needs Of Pre-Kindergarten To Second Grade General And Special Education Teachers To Include Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rosana Camargo Feb 2025

Training Needs Of Pre-Kindergarten To Second Grade General And Special Education Teachers To Include Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rosana Camargo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that general and special education teachers are not trained to include pre-kindergarten (Pre-k) through second grade students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in general education classrooms. The purpose of this study was to explore the training the teachers requested when including Pre-k through second grade students with ASD. The study was grounded by Vygotsky’s theory of the zone of proximal development. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with five general education and five special education teachers who teach in an inclusion setting. Both the general education and special …


Allostatic Load And Incident Dementia Among Older Adults In The United States, Mohammed Usman Kabeto Feb 2025

Allostatic Load And Incident Dementia Among Older Adults In The United States, Mohammed Usman Kabeto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Allostatic load (AL), the cumulative physiological burden of chronic stress, is a significant health problem, and it has been associated with adverse health outcomes, including cognitive functioning. There is a paucity of literature examining associations between AL and incident dementia in the United States. This quantitative study used data from the United States Health and Retirement Study cohort (2016-2020) to examine the association between AL quartile and incident dementia among participants who were aged 56 and older at baseline. Dementia status was determined measuring immediate and delayed recall, serial seven subtraction, and backward count, as well as self-report conditions for …


Staff Education On Medication Nonadherence For Patients With Bipolar Disorder, Julius Chick Abam Feb 2025

Staff Education On Medication Nonadherence For Patients With Bipolar Disorder, Julius Chick Abam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary From both the literature and the staff observation in this private practice, bipolar disorder (BD) patients who do not comply with medication are at a higher risk of hospitalization and poor quality of life. The purpose of the project was to implement staff training focused on adherence strategies, including motivational interviewing and psychoeducation to improve medication adherence rates among BD patients. The project question was: Does providing an interactive education program using case studies improve staff knowledge and self-confidence? Different studies support the effectiveness of both psychoeducation and motivational interviewing in improving adherence and functionality in BD. An interprofessional …


Therapists’ Experiences In Cases Of High-Conflict Divorce Among Individuals With Personality Issues, Tamara Soal Feb 2025

Therapists’ Experiences In Cases Of High-Conflict Divorce Among Individuals With Personality Issues, Tamara Soal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High-conflict divorce (HCD) involves prolonged conflict exceeding 2 years, persistent hostility, and extensive court involvement. Mental health professionals often participate as court-appointed expert witnesses or provide therapy at parental request. Therapists' roles become more complex when parents exhibit challenging personality traits. This descriptive qualitative study explored therapists’ experiences in treating children and families in HCD cases where one or both parents displayed complex personality issues or disorders. Greenberg and Gould’s model on mental health professionals in court cases and Freud’s countertransference theory provided the study’s conceptual framework. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with nine therapists, and thematic analysis was …


The Roles And Motivation Of Volunteers In State Correctional Facilities, Sherlyn Kimberly Harris Feb 2025

The Roles And Motivation Of Volunteers In State Correctional Facilities, Sherlyn Kimberly Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have demonstrated that volunteers play a vital role in supporting the needs of those incarcerated in state correctional facilities, but the researchers fell short of elaborating on what stimulates the volunteers’ motivation, chosen roles, and selected areas for their contributions. Understanding the motivation of this group is valuable to ensure ongoing commitment for this important community role. The purpose of this study was to explore lived experiences of community state prison volunteers to better understand what motivates them. Dutta-Bergman’s theory of unified responsibility formed the framework for this generic qualitative study. Narrative data from interviews with six participants were …


African American Women’S Experience Of Wearing Natural Textured Hair, Tammy White-Jolivette Feb 2025

African American Women’S Experience Of Wearing Natural Textured Hair, Tammy White-Jolivette

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women’s (AAW’s) experiences of wearing natural textured hair are underrepresented in the literature. This issue, and hair discrimination more broadly, is a form of social injustice that underscores the cultural and social significance of natural hair as a symbol of heritage, identity, and resilience in African American communities. Guided by social comparison and self-concept theories, the purpose of this study was to examine how wearing natural hair influences AAW’s self-perception. The research question was: How do AAW describe their experiences of wearing natural textured hair? The qualitative method featured interpretative phenomenological analysis. Data were collected by conducting in-depth …


Strategies Hospital Leaders Use To Reduce Cost While Improving The Quality Of Care, April Taylor Feb 2025

Strategies Hospital Leaders Use To Reduce Cost While Improving The Quality Of Care, April Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospitals in the United States spend more on healthcare than other modernized countries, yet the nation has a lower life expectancy. Some U.S. healthcare leaders lack effective strategies to balance cost reduction and quality care, leading to financial strain, declining net patient revenue, and compromised patient outcomes. As a result, hospitals face increased risks of closure, which negatively impacts access to care and overall healthcare system sustainability. Grounded in the complex adaptive system and Lean Six Sigma, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective strategies healthcare leaders in the United States use to improve …


Residence, Education, Wealth, And Hiv/Aids Prevention Knowledge Among Nigerian Adults, Chinedu Nwaobia Nwaru Feb 2025

Residence, Education, Wealth, And Hiv/Aids Prevention Knowledge Among Nigerian Adults, Chinedu Nwaobia Nwaru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV has remained the most prevalent and deadliest epidemic affecting humanity. It is pertinent to note that, despite the number of years since the first case was reported in the early 1980s in the United States, and concerted efforts by local, national, and international governmental and nongovernmental agencies at curbing it, the level of knowledge of HIV transmission and the disease prevention, especially among Nigerians, is still not encouraging. Nigeria, the most populous country in Sub-Saharan Africa ranks second globally as the country with the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS, which is currently estimated at 3 million. In …