Digital Commons Network^™

Improving Staff Knowledge Regarding Culturally Competent Care And Implicit Bias, Angela Woodfaulk-Trent

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health staff in the project site outpatient office lacked knowledge of cultural competence and the risk for implicit biases. This staff education project was implemented to improve their knowledge related to cultural competence and implicit bias in an outpatient mental health setting. Nursing theories and frameworks are imperative for bettering the health outcomes of diverse patient populations, and the nursing theory that informed this project was Leininger’s transcultural nursing framework. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project addressed staff knowledge regarding cultural competence specifically implicit bias towards diverse mental health populations in an outpatient setting. The project was designed …

Teachers' Perspectives Of Mandated Health Education Curriculum Goals In Grades K-3, Ashley Baker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addressed the challenges faced by many Grades K–3 teachers in north central Georgia in consistently implementing mandated health education curriculum goals (Villegas et al., 2021). The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perspectives on the barriers to consistent health education delivery in elementary schools. The study was guided by the concerns-based adoption model, which provided a framework for understanding how teachers navigate changes in curriculum and instruction. The key research questions focused on identifying the specific challenges teachers encounter in implementing health education and their perceived needs for support. Semi structured interviews were conducted …

Navigating The Burnout Crisis: Its Influence On Clinical Relationships And Treatment Efficacy, Jeremiah James Cleland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A nonprofit behavioral health organization (XYZ) has experienced challenges related to staff burnout and high turnover rates. To evaluate and address these challenges, this research study explored the complex relationship between XYZ organizational leadership, workforce engagement, and employee retention. The study focuses on understanding how effective leadership, supportive supervision, and career development strategies can mitigate burnout, thus reducing turnover rates. Using the Baldrige Performance Framework, the study critically evaluated the role of leadership in fostering an environment that promotes staff well-being and operational excellence. Data were collected through interviews with employees and behavioral health leaders, offering insights into real-world challenges …

Structured Staff Education On Incorporating Social Determinants Of Health Into Phq-9 Depression Screening For Improved Patient Outcomes, Gbemisola Elizabeth Mojelope

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing (DNP) project addressed a significant practice gap in an outpatient community healthcare setting, where staff lacked knowledge related to patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression screening. The project’s focus question addressed whether staff education increased knowledge pertaining to the PHQ-9 depression screening. The initiative aimed to equip healthcare providers with the skills needed to incorporate social determinants of health in routine depression screenings, enhancing early identification of depressive symptoms and supporting targeted interventions. Fifteen healthcare workers voluntarily participated in the education. The in-person education initiative highlighted the importance of integrating social determinants of health (SDoH) into PHQ-9 …

Lived Experiences Of South Texas Police Officers After Completing Crisis Intervention Training, Lyna Yvette Campos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study addressed the paucity of research on the experiences of police officers who have both completed crisis intervention team (CIT) training and interacted with people with mental illnesses (PwMI). To address the problem, I investigated police officers’ perceptions of PwMI and the pertinent CIT training information they found advantageous when interacting with a PwMI in crisis. Rogers’s protection motivation theory was the theoretical foundation for addressing the research questions. Interviews were conducted with 13 South Texas police officers who had completed CIT training. Data was collected through transcribed interviews and analyzed with an approach that included theme …

Lived Experiences Of South Texas Police Officers After Completing Crisis Intervention Training, Lyna Yvette Campos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study addressed the paucity of research on the experiences of police officers who have both completed crisis intervention team (CIT) training and interacted with people with mental illnesses (PwMI). To address the problem, I investigated police officers’ perceptions of PwMI and the pertinent CIT training information they found advantageous when interacting with a PwMI in crisis. Rogers’s protection motivation theory was the theoretical foundation for addressing the research questions. Interviews were conducted with 13 South Texas police officers who had completed CIT training. Data was collected through transcribed interviews and analyzed with an approach that included theme …

Information Technology Management And Emotional Intelligence, Tina M. Muheim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology (IT) employees often face high stress, burnout, and turnover, indicating a potential gap in IT leaders’ emotional intelligence (EI), which may hinder their ability to support and retain their teams effectively. Since IT plays a critical role in organizational performance and achieving strategic goals, addressing this gap is crucial for improving team well-being and organizational success. Grounded in EI theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between IT managers’ EI subscales—assertiveness and interpersonal relationships—and their influence on the EI subscale, happiness/well–being indicator. The participants were 38 IT managers from U.S. organizations who …

Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis & Cervical Adenitis, Sonia P. Wheat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The suffering of children with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) is well documented and includes diminished quality of life (QoL), emotional/behavioral problems, fatigue, food avoidance and school absenteeism. As an example of childhood adversity, and because the model of pediatric medical traumatic stress demonstrates traumatic responses do not always subside over time, this study examined the psychosocial health of PFAPA survivors post resolution. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional study design, the psychosocial well-being of PFAPA survivors was compared to children with persistent asthma and children without chronic illness or a history of medical trauma. Two validated parent-completed …

Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis & Cervical Adenitis, Sonia P. Wheat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The suffering of children with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) is well documented and includes diminished quality of life (QoL), emotional/behavioral problems, fatigue, food avoidance and school absenteeism. As an example of childhood adversity, and because the model of pediatric medical traumatic stress demonstrates traumatic responses do not always subside over time, this study examined the psychosocial health of PFAPA survivors post resolution. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional study design, the psychosocial well-being of PFAPA survivors was compared to children with persistent asthma and children without chronic illness or a history of medical trauma. Two validated parent-completed …

Information Technology Management And Emotional Intelligence, Tina M. Muheim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology (IT) employees often face high stress, burnout, and turnover, indicating a potential gap in IT leaders’ emotional intelligence (EI), which may hinder their ability to support and retain their teams effectively. Since IT plays a critical role in organizational performance and achieving strategic goals, addressing this gap is crucial for improving team well-being and organizational success. Grounded in EI theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between IT managers’ EI subscales—assertiveness and interpersonal relationships—and their influence on the EI subscale, happiness/well–being indicator. The participants were 38 IT managers from U.S. organizations who …

Structured Staff Education On Incorporating Social Determinants Of Health Into Phq-9 Depression Screening For Improved Patient Outcomes, Gbemisola Elizabeth Mojelope

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing (DNP) project addressed a significant practice gap in an outpatient community healthcare setting, where staff lacked knowledge related to patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression screening. The project’s focus question addressed whether staff education increased knowledge pertaining to the PHQ-9 depression screening. The initiative aimed to equip healthcare providers with the skills needed to incorporate social determinants of health in routine depression screenings, enhancing early identification of depressive symptoms and supporting targeted interventions. Fifteen healthcare workers voluntarily participated in the education. The in-person education initiative highlighted the importance of integrating social determinants of health (SDoH) into PHQ-9 …

Elementary School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Suspensions As A Disciplinary Approach With Students Of Color, A Whitney Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that students of color were being suspended with great frequency in elementary schools at the study site. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore perceptions of elementary school leaders regarding the use of suspensions as a disciplinary approach and how culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) practices influence their decision-making processes with students of color in one southeastern U.S. school district. The conceptual framework used in this qualitative study included Bell’s critical race theory and Khalifa’s CRSL. For this basic qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine elementary school leaders …

Strategies For Patient-Centered Care Implementation In Independent Medical Practices, Jesse Otto Irvin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Method: Qualitative Design: Pragmatic Inquiry Why the study is being done: Explore strategies some independent medical practice professionals used to implement patient-centered care, ensuring quality patient care and practice profitability. How the data was collected. Semistructured interviews, audio, and examining public records Identify the population from which the researcher will collect data: six professionals from six medical practices in the St. Louis MSA who implemented patient-centered care to improve patient care quality and practice profitability. How data was analyzed. Qualitative with Themes Communication Financial Consciousness Quality Patient Care Time Management How will data contribute to social change: Implementing best practices …

Education Of Nursing Staff On Management Of Aggression And Violence In Mental Health Patients Using Less Restrictive Measures., Irene Ozurumba-Omoregie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health nurses frequently face physical and emotional challenges due to the high prevalence of violence in psychiatric settings. A 2023 survey by the American Nurses Association revealed that 62% of nurses reported abuse from patients, underscoring the need for improved training on managing violent behaviors without excessive reliance on restraint and seclusion. This project addressed a critical knowledge gap in de-escalation techniques among mental health nurses by developing and implementing an educational program for violence prevention. The training included de-escalation strategies and alternative management practices aimed at reducing patient aggression while enhancing nurse safety and confidence. Forty-five of sixty …

Elementary School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Suspensions As A Disciplinary Approach With Students Of Color, A Whitney Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that students of color were being suspended with great frequency in elementary schools at the study site. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore perceptions of elementary school leaders regarding the use of suspensions as a disciplinary approach and how culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) practices influence their decision-making processes with students of color in one southeastern U.S. school district. The conceptual framework used in this qualitative study included Bell’s critical race theory and Khalifa’s CRSL. For this basic qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine elementary school leaders …

Education Of Nursing Staff On Management Of Aggression And Violence In Mental Health Patients Using Less Restrictive Measures., Irene Ozurumba-Omoregie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health nurses frequently face physical and emotional challenges due to the high prevalence of violence in psychiatric settings. A 2023 survey by the American Nurses Association revealed that 62% of nurses reported abuse from patients, underscoring the need for improved training on managing violent behaviors without excessive reliance on restraint and seclusion. This project addressed a critical knowledge gap in de-escalation techniques among mental health nurses by developing and implementing an educational program for violence prevention. The training included de-escalation strategies and alternative management practices aimed at reducing patient aggression while enhancing nurse safety and confidence. Forty-five of sixty …

Strategies For Patient-Centered Care Implementation In Independent Medical Practices, Jesse Otto Irvin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Method: Qualitative Design: Pragmatic Inquiry Why the study is being done: Explore strategies some independent medical practice professionals used to implement patient-centered care, ensuring quality patient care and practice profitability. How the data was collected. Semistructured interviews, audio, and examining public records Identify the population from which the researcher will collect data: six professionals from six medical practices in the St. Louis MSA who implemented patient-centered care to improve patient care quality and practice profitability. How data was analyzed. Qualitative with Themes Communication Financial Consciousness Quality Patient Care Time Management How will data contribute to social change: Implementing best practices …

Safe Haven: Preventing Housing Instability For Queer Youth In Minneapolis, Tessa Loeffler

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this Social Change Portfolio is to prevent unaccompanied housing instability among LGBTQ+ youth in Minneapolis through trauma-informed, culturally responsive strategies that strengthen family and community supports, improve mental health outcomes, enhance educational engagement, and promote long-term stability.

Significant Findings: Nationally, LGBTQ+ youth represent 40% of the homeless youth population, despite comprising less than 10% of the general youth demographic (Morton et al., 2018). In Minneapolis, TGNC youth of color face especially high risks due to intersecting barriers like racial discrimination, family rejection, and lack of affirming services (Houghtaling et al., 2024). Housing instability leads to …

Protecting The Mental Health Of Children Exposed To Domestic Violence In Dallas, Texas, Lakitta Brewton

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: This project Aims to explore the impacts of domestic violence and provide a prevention focused response that prioritizes early intervention over crisis management. Shifting the focus from reactive to proactive care will strengthen the community's well-being and ensure that families receive the support they need and deserve.

Significant Findings: Children who are exposed to domestic violence are at a much higher risk of developing mental health challenges, like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (NCTSN, 2022). In Dallas, the numbers are alarming, with over 13,800 family violence incidents reported in 2023, many of which involved children, either …

Substance Use Prevention For Lgbtq+ Youth And Young Adults, Dustin Braley

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: Improve mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth by reducing the prevalence of substance use through strategic prevention measures.

Significant Findings: LGBTQ+ youth experience significantly higher rates of substance use compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, often as a way to cope with systemic discrimination, family rejection, and a lack of culturally competent support (Marshal et al., 2008; Madireddy & Madireddy, 2022; Mallory, Brown, & Sears, 2019; The Trevor Project, 2022). This paper examines how family-centered models like FCU and FAP can improve prevention by addressing parent-child dynamics and supporting LGBTQ+ youth. It explores barriers created by discriminatory …

Prevention Of Homelessness For Formely Incarcerated Individuals In Alamance County, North Carolina, Tiffanie Robinson

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this project is to reduce homelessness and marginalized housing for formerly incarcerated individuals in Alamance County, North Carolina, by implementing strategic re-entry programming.

Significant Findings: Thousands of offenders are released back into Alamance County, North Carolina each year from both county detention centers and state prison facilities (Lyons, 2024). One in six of these individuals are released into homelessness, with many more finding themselves without secure housing within the first two years of release (Lyons, 2024). While the statistics are alarming, there is hope for reduction in homelessness by implementing holistic re-entry programming and increasing …

Adolescent Substance Abuse In Central New Jersey, Kaitlyn Santucci

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this portfolio is to explore methods of reducing substance abuse among New Jersey teenagers through increased substance use education for students and families. Specifically, through programs developed for use in the public school system, ensuring that children have equal access to the materials.

Significant Findings:

In the state of New Jersey, adolescent substance abuse continues to be an ongoing problem. Rates of abuse of specific substances, such as marijuana vapes, have increased over recent years (NCHS Data Query System, 2024). Significant risk factors include a lack of proper substance abuse education, social normalization of substance …

Post-Incarceration Drug Relapse Prevention In Penobscot County, Maine, Carolina Villalobos

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

No abstract provided.

Domestic Violence In Florence, Alabama, Isabella Sinde

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal would be to contribute to the prevention and reduction of domestic violence in Lauderdale County, Alabama, by raising awareness, supporting and empowering survivors, and advocating for system-wide changes promoting education, the allocation of necessary aid, and community well-being.

Significant Findings: Domestic violence (DV) is a serious public health issue negatively affecting people worldwide, including in the city of Florence, Alabama. DV can cause a host of mental and physical consequences, such as poor self-esteem, internalized anger or resentment, severe injury, and even death (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2023). This issue can happen to individuals from all …

Accessible Mental Health Chicago, Guadalupe Cuevas

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My prevention-focused goal statement for Accessible Mental Health Chicago is to create a program that focuses on providing mental health resources for all in all areas of Chicago. This is by having community based low-cost or no-cost mental health services throughout the city, in the local languages that are of that community.

Significant Findings: While there are some limited resources in the areas with the highest calls for mental health crisis, they are not accessible for most of the city. While there are mental health centers throughout the city there aren’t many low or no cost resources. This …

Smoking Cessation And Prevention In Spartanburg County, South Carolina, Shezada Holland

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal for this prevention portfolio is to reduce the percentage of adults in Spartanburg County, South Carolina who smoke tobacco. Significant

Findings: In this social change portfolio, I highlight the profound impact of adult smoking in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where in 2021, 18% of adults smoked; higher than both the state (16%) and national (15%) averages. Also, that year, 17.1 million pounds of tobacco were harvested in South Carolina, contributing to the crisis. In this paper, I examine the risk and protective factors that influence whether an individual smokes. Smoking rates are disproportionately high among American …

African American College Students’ Perceived Motivation And Engagement In Online Learning Environments, Juanita Sharpe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The current study delved into the problematic achievement gap between African-American graduates students and other groups, specifically in the online learning environment. African-American graduate students’ lower achievement is problematic due to its lost opportunity costs and social subjugation of an entire group of Americans. The study’s purpose was to improve our understanding of this problem in order to better inform the content and packaging of future academic delivery to this population. A qualitative methodology with a phenomenological design was used to cull the 1st hand experiences of African-American graduate students as to their online learning experiences. Self-determination and constructivism theories …

African American College Students’ Perceived Motivation And Engagement In Online Learning Environments, Juanita Sharpe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The current study delved into the problematic achievement gap between African-American graduates students and other groups, specifically in the online learning environment. African-American graduate students’ lower achievement is problematic due to its lost opportunity costs and social subjugation of an entire group of Americans. The study’s purpose was to improve our understanding of this problem in order to better inform the content and packaging of future academic delivery to this population. A qualitative methodology with a phenomenological design was used to cull the 1st hand experiences of African-American graduate students as to their online learning experiences. Self-determination and constructivism theories …

A Mother's Understanding Of Her Adolescent: A Social Anxiety Study, Cheronda Pinkard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) affects 1% to 13% of adolescents, often placing significant demands on their caregivers. Mothers frequently adapt their behaviors to accommodate their child’s anxiety, which may impact their well-being and the parent-child relationship. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of mothers accommodating adolescents with SAD to understand better the emotional and relational toll of this caregiving role. The problem addressed is the limited understanding of how maternal accommodation affects mothers. Mental health practitioners, educators, and policymakers may benefit from this research by gaining insight into these families' challenges and informing family-centered interventions and support services. Guided …

Educating Mental Healthcare Staff On Using The Phq-9 In Telehealth, Anoopa M. Jacob

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

I developed a quality improvement staff educational program aimed at addressing the inconsistent use of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at the project facility, which could adversely affect the quality and continuity of patient care. The need for the program was prompted by the increasing use of telehealth services and the necessity for consistent mental health evaluation tools. I aimed to educate mental health staff about evidence-based practices using the PHQ-9 in telehealth to enhance the quality of care for patients with depression in remote settings. Analytical methods included administering pre- and postintervention tests to measure changes in staff knowledge …