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Deputy Sheriffs’ Experience With Inmate Suicide, Tiffany Buco

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Deputy sheriffs working in correctional facilities are responsible for enforcing rules and regulations of the facility, supervising inmates, ensuring security, and preventing inmates from escaping. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of deputy sheriffs experiencing an inmate’s death by suicide. The sample for this study consisted of six deputy sheriffs who had been a deputy sheriff for at least 3 years and experienced an inmate suicide. The theoretical foundation applied to this study is the personal construct theory because it requires constructs that are used to make sense of people’s experiences, in this …

Hospital Location, Socioeconomic Factors, And Obesity Impact On Patient Readmission Rates 30 Days Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, Mazalo Looky

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is associated with a high rate of readmissions within 30 days after discharge. Patient variables such as obesity and socioeconomic status (SES) are modifiable, whereas hospital factors such as location indicate the need for a better regional needs assessment. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of hospital location, SES, and obesity (independent variables) on the 30-day readmission rate post-CABG (dependent variable) among US patients. Secondary data sets available from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Society of Thoracic Surgery websites were analyzed to assess the impact of location, …

Hospital Location, Socioeconomic Factors, And Obesity Impact On Patient Readmission Rates 30 Days Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, Mazalo Looky

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is associated with a high rate of readmissions within 30 days after discharge. Patient variables such as obesity and socioeconomic status (SES) are modifiable, whereas hospital factors such as location indicate the need for a better regional needs assessment. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of hospital location, SES, and obesity (independent variables) on the 30-day readmission rate post-CABG (dependent variable) among US patients. Secondary data sets available from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Society of Thoracic Surgery websites were analyzed to assess the impact of location, …

Integrating Corpus Linguistics In Vietnamese English Education: A Qualitative Inquiry Into Scholarly Perspectives And Practices, Thi Thuy Tran, Trut Thuy Pham, Thanh Thao Le

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: Our qualitative study investigated the integration of corpus linguistics in English education research among Vietnamese scholars, focusing on the experiences and perceptions across different career stages.

Methods: Employing semi-structured interviews, we engaged nine linguistics scholars, including novices as well as those at mid-career and near-end career stages, from two prominent Vietnamese institutions.

Results: Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: (1) challenges in incorporating corpus linguistics into teaching practices, (2) perceived benefits in enhancing language proficiency, and (3) the importance of institutional support for corpus linguistics research. The findings indicated that despite recognizing the pedagogical benefits of corpus linguistics, scholars …

Perceptions Of Clinicians Towards Offenders Who Utilize The Good Lives Model For Sex Offender Treatment, Janel Nicole Harper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Understanding how clinicians perceive offenders who utilize the strength-based good lives model (GLM) in treatment may help facilitate more acceptance among clinicians to incorporate strength-based alternatives as well as provide better therapeutic outcomes in treatment. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to examine the perceptions of clinicians who utilize the GLM for sex offender treatment. Grounded theory was utilized to formulate a theory regarding clinician perceptions towards offenders and its social change implications. The sample comprised of 11 clinical health professionals from mental health agencies who currently work or have worked with sex offenders within the past …

Factors Of Police Decision-Making Of Veterans In Crisis, Paul N. Guzman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 9/11, the need for veteran crisis intervention has increased. Police agencies often respond to veterans in crisis by deploying officers who have completed Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, and many of the officers are prior military. However, little research has focused specifically on the factors influencing police officers’ decision-making when responding to veterans in crisis. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association and predictability between event type, veteran behavior, police officer military experience, police officer CIT, and the disposition of veterans as measured by arrest, referral for mental health services, and the use of force. …

Factors Of Police Decision-Making Of Veterans In Crisis, Paul N. Guzman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 9/11, the need for veteran crisis intervention has increased. Police agencies often respond to veterans in crisis by deploying officers who have completed Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, and many of the officers are prior military. However, little research has focused specifically on the factors influencing police officers’ decision-making when responding to veterans in crisis. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association and predictability between event type, veteran behavior, police officer military experience, police officer CIT, and the disposition of veterans as measured by arrest, referral for mental health services, and the use of force. …

Perceptions Of Clinicians Towards Offenders Who Utilize The Good Lives Model For Sex Offender Treatment, Janel Nicole Harper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Understanding how clinicians perceive offenders who utilize the strength-based good lives model (GLM) in treatment may help facilitate more acceptance among clinicians to incorporate strength-based alternatives as well as provide better therapeutic outcomes in treatment. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to examine the perceptions of clinicians who utilize the GLM for sex offender treatment. Grounded theory was utilized to formulate a theory regarding clinician perceptions towards offenders and its social change implications. The sample comprised of 11 clinical health professionals from mental health agencies who currently work or have worked with sex offenders within the past …

Empathy And Academic Achievement Among Black/African American College Students In An Hbcu, Hyung Nam Kim

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Empathy is the ability to understand the thoughts, behaviors, and feelings of others. In addition to fostering strong relationships and overall personal growth, empathy plays a crucial role in college students achieving positive academic outcomes. However, a knowledge gap exists concerning the role and impact of empathy among college students, particularly Black/African American students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This research aims to address this gap by examining those students’ empathy levels and their association with academic achievement. The study found relatively low levels of empathy and a negative association between empathy and academic performance. Further research is …

Strategies For Driver Retention At Small Trucking Companies, Dariell Kendrick Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The trucking industry faces a critical driver shortage, which threatens the stability of supply chains and the economy at large. This issue is particularly challenging for owners of small trucking companies, as they form the backbone of the industry. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry aimed to identify the strategies small trucking company owners used to retain drivers and sustain their operations. The participants included five small trucking company owners from the southeastern United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, public records, and company websites. Thematic analysis was used to …

Impact Of Patient Psychoeducation On Medication Adherence In Bipolar Depression, Mary Nse Wellington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The quality improvement (QI) project targeted patients with bipolar depression, aged 20–50 years, in an outpatient mental health setting who had the problem of nonadherence to medication. Medication nonadherence is a major concern in nursing practice that impacts clinical effectiveness, overall treatment outcomes, and healthcare cost implications. The project evaluated whether the outcome, timely refill rates of prescription medication, was impacted by the psychoeducation that was conducted outside the scope of the project. The project question was, “What is the impact of patient psychoeducation to improve timely refill rates among patients with bipolar depression aged 20–50 years in an outpatient …

Executive Summary: Development And Validation Of A Clinical Practice Guideline For Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening, Katie Nguyen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colorectal cancer is one of the top three killers of adults globally. The age to be screened for colorectal cancer for average-risk individuals has been lowered from 50 to 45 years of age; however, for those with a familial history of colorectal cancer, or a personal medical history of other gastrointestinal diseases, the age to be screened has been lowered from 45 to 40 years of age or younger. A clinical practice guideline (CPG) that supports the screening, identification, and referral of patients at risk has the potential to improving colorectal cancer screening in at-risk patient populations. This was identified …

Occupational Therapy Faculty Mentorship And Degree Type As A Predictive Relationship With Student Satisfaction Scores, Gwen R. Morris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education outlines criteria for occupational therapy graduate programs by degree type but does not require pedagogic knowledge for either degree type. The problem addressed through this study was that the predictive relationship between occupational therapy faculty mentorship in the first 3 years of teaching and degree type with student satisfaction is unknown. The study was grounded by constructivism and occupational adaptation. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to determine if there is a predictive relationship between occupational therapy faculty mentorship and degree type (independent variables) with student satisfaction (dependent variable) among occupational …

Factors Of Police Decision-Making Of Veterans In Crisis, Paul N. Guzman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 9/11, the need for veteran crisis intervention has increased. Police agencies often respond to veterans in crisis by deploying officers who have completed Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, and many of the officers are prior military. However, little research has focused specifically on the factors influencing police officers’ decision-making when responding to veterans in crisis. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association and predictability between event type, veteran behavior, police officer military experience, police officer CIT, and the disposition of veterans as measured by arrest, referral for mental health services, and the use of force. …

Food Insecurity, Psychological Distress, And Discrimination Of Older Black Women In Central Texas, Revonder Ellis-Vanarsdale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Food insecurity is an ongoing public health concern in the United States. There is limited knowledge within social work practice about the experiences of food insecurity specifically among older Black women. Historically, older Black women have faced discrimination which can also negatively impact their psychological well-being and ability to obtain an adequate food supply. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore perceptions of how psychological distress and discrimination affect Black women ages 60 and older who are food insecure in Central Texas. This study used social ecological model and intersectionality theory to identify perceived factors that affect …

Educating Staff To Use The Teach-Back Method Towards Improving Adherence To Antipsychotic Medication, Elizabeth Adebayo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

My goal for this staff education doctoral project was to improve adherence to antipsychotic medication among patients in a mental health facility through an education initiative for psychiatric intensive care unit staff focused on the teach-back method. The facility had reported a 20% increase in medication noncompliance among post-discharge patients within the past year, primarily attributed to nurses’ lack of adequate patient teaching strategies. I addressed the issue of effective patient education using the teach-back method in improving medication adherence in an inpatient mental health setting. Teaching objectives, content, and test questions were developed based on a substantial body of …

Perceptions Of Clinicians Towards Offenders Who Utilize The Good Lives Model For Sex Offender Treatment, Janel Nicole Harper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Understanding how clinicians perceive offenders who utilize the strength-based good lives model (GLM) in treatment may help facilitate more acceptance among clinicians to incorporate strength-based alternatives as well as provide better therapeutic outcomes in treatment. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to examine the perceptions of clinicians who utilize the GLM for sex offender treatment. Grounded theory was utilized to formulate a theory regarding clinician perceptions towards offenders and its social change implications. The sample comprised of 11 clinical health professionals from mental health agencies who currently work or have worked with sex offenders within the past …

Lived Experiences Of Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color (Bipoc) Helping Professionals, Shairee Lackey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was focused on the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) professionals in helping professions. The goal of the research was to understand the challenges BIPOC helping professionals face due to systemic racism, burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress. These factors significantly impact the well-being and effectiveness of BIPOC professionals and are often overlooked in existing literature. Grounded in critical race theory, the study used a phenomenological research design, gathering data through semistructured interviews with 13 participants. The findings revealed challenges such as microaggressions, stereotypes, discrimination, lack of representation, and cultural invalidation. Participants showed resilience …

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Treatment Protocol For Telehealth, Lisa Bozzoli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addressed the research problem of limited access to eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) treatment due to factors restricting face to face (F2F) options, resulting in clients not receiving necessary help. The purpose for this quantitative, quasi-experimental, ex post facto study was to explore the effectiveness of EMDR provided through two delivery modalities (e.g., via telehealth versus F2F) compared as evidenced by a reduction in the SUD and an increase in the VOC between the two groups when controlling for the number of targets as the covariate. Shapiro’s adaptive information processing (AIP) model provided the theoretical framework and the …

Simulation Education To Improve Confidence Levels In Using Alternative Methods Of Restraint With Children On An Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, Roshni Patel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary Seclusion and restraints, while sometimes necessary for patient and staff safety, can result in negative outcomes, including physical and psychological harm to patients. This doctoral project addressed the critical issue of improving inpatient nurses’ confidence in applying alternative methods to seclusion and restraints. These alternatives are essential in psychiatric and acute care settings to promote patient safety, reduce the use of coercive interventions, and support a more humane approach to patient care. The practice problem identified was a notable lack of confidence and knowledge among inpatient nurses regarding using these alternative methods, which led to overreliance on seclusion and …

Early Childhood Faculty Perspectives On Inclusion Of Antibias Curriculum Or Components In Preprimary Teacher Training Curriculum In The United States, Carlotta Conley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that there was the likelihood of a mismatch between preprimary teachers’ racial, ethnic, and cultural make-up and the children and families they educate and care for in the preprimary classroom from birth to 5 years. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine early childhood education (ECE) community college faculty perspectives on the importance of and challenges with implementing antibias curriculum or components into preprimary education training. The conceptual framework was Smyth’s model of reflection and the Learning for Justice organization’s antibias framework. For this basic qualitative design, data were collected …

The Relative Strength Of Social Dominance Orientation, Belief In A Just World, And Colorblind Racial Attitudes In Predicting Support For Race-Based College-Admission Affirmative Action Policies, Allison Nicole Gaines

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students accepted into college programs are granted an opportunity to develop marketable skills they can use to their advantage in a competitive job market. However, students are not always afforded equal access to these opportunities. While some colleges and universities implemented race-based affirmative action policies to mitigate discrimination in the admissions process, resistance to these policies has impeded efforts to ensure that applicants receive an equal educational opportunity. Previous studies examined various legitimizing myths, such as the myth of meritocracy and just world beliefs. Yet, no studies have determined the relative strength of social dominance orientation, belief in a just …

Solutions To Mitigate Information Security Breaches And Protect Personally Identifiable Information In A Public-Sector Cloud Computing Environment, Valerie Johneeda Rountree

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information is a significant asset to organizations because more organizations are moving data and applications to the cloud, so it is critical to ensure the protection of personally identifiable information (PII) stored in the cloud. The specific research problem was that information technology project managers (ITPM) lack a unified approach to protecting PII stored on the cloud. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to understand how ITPMs may implement viable solutions to mitigate the frequent occurrences of information security breaches in a public cloud environment. The National Institute of Standards and Technology provided the conceptual framework for the …

An Educational Intervention To Increase Nurse Practitioners’ Knowledge And Awareness Of Polypharmacy, Kiana Piedrahita

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The presence of multiple health problems can contribute to the simultaneous use of multiple medications by an individual, also known as polypharmacy. While polypharmacy can be necessary, it has the potential risk of adverse drug reactions and possible hospitalization. In the local organization, leadership noted that 47% of patients seen are elderly individuals who have multiple comorbidities, indicating the probable use of multiple medications. Thus, purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to determine if an educational intervention focused on polypharmacy and the use of the electronic medical record to manage polypharmacy increased knowledge and awareness among nurse …

Neuroprotective Care And Painful Procedures, Jelda Frank

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An inconsistent application of neuroprotective care provided by clinical staff, based on my observations, to minimize the negative effects of painful procedures that can negatively impact the neurodevelopment of neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), was the identified practice problem for my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project. Implementation of evidence-based neuroprotective and neuropromotive strategies aim to optimize outcomes for premature infants and minimize risk of potential negative effects to the neonate’s short and long term neurodevelopment. The DNP project practice-focused question addressed whether a presentation of an evidence-based educational program for NICU clinical staff would …

Attracting And Retaining Employees For A Mid-Atlantic Nonprofit Organization, Owolabi Kehinde

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of employees at a Mid-Atlantic nonprofit regarding their satisfaction and to develop a strategic plan to address the organization's challenges. This study utilized a qualitative case study design with data collected through semistructured interviews. The research questions focused on understanding employee satisfaction, perceptions of improving quality of life, and strategies for attracting new talent. Data for this study was from 12 participants who provided in-depth insights through one-on-one interviews which were analyzed using thematic analysis. Resulting key themes were (a) employee satisfaction was high, (b) quality of life for …

Breaking The Yoke: A Systematic Unmasking Of Challenges To Sustainable Rural Development In South Sudan, Gai Chol Paul

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

South Sudan, a young nation grappling with the legacy of protracted conflict, faces significant challenges in fostering sustainable rural development. While the immense potential of its vast agricultural lands remains largely untapped, the persistent triple threat of insecurity, deficient infrastructure, and the absence of robust government policy actively hinders progress. The ongoing armed conflict, characterized by inter-communal violence and sporadic attacks, casts a long shadow over rural areas in South Sudan. Thus, I developed this mixed-method multiple-case study, grounded in the sustainable livelihoods framework, to explore challenges that hinder sustainable rural development in South Sudan. I collected data through document …

Clinical Practice Guideline: Shared Decision Making For Patients With Mental Health Disorders, Karen Rose Grant-Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This project was a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for practitioners who deliver healthcare services to patients living with mental health disorders. The practice problem addressed by this CPG was lack of mental health patient inclusion in terms of determining treatment plans of care. In back-to-back patient satisfaction surveys, patients indicated they would like to have more say in their treatment plans. The practice problem was important to increase patient input in clinical decision-making practices of practitioners. The project question was: Does evidence support development of a CPG for mental health patient-centered input regarding treatment plans of care that was …

Strategies Large Multinational Organizational Leaders Use To Retain And Motivate Employees To Increase Work Output, Dayten Adams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee retention and motivation are critical to improving business outcomes. Business owners are concerned with retention because high turnover can negatively impact work output, productivity, and overall company performance, making it a key focus for improving long-term success. Grounded in the leader-member exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to identify and explore effective strategies that some large multinational organizational leaders in San Antonio, Texas use to retain and motivate employees to increase work output. Participants were four senior executives from large multinational corporations. Data were collected via semistructured interviews and a review of publicly available …

Predictors Of Mortality In African Americans With Alzheimer’S Disease-Related Dementias, Latrice Camille Noonan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia (ADRD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. There is a need to identify the link between modifiable risk factors and the association with ADRD mortality. This study addresses the disproportionately high burden of ADRD among African Americans, aiming to inform targeted prevention strategies and promote health equity. In this study, the longitudinal relationship between ADRD mortality and the presences of diabetes, smoking, and obesity among older African Americans residing in the United States was examined, while controlling for age, gender, education, and socioeconomic status. The biopsychosocial model served as the theoretical framework for this study. The …