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Perceived Health/Safety Risks And Critical Thinking Skills In College Students Using Social Media Networking, Denise Mary Makri-Werzen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe 21st century has brought about an increase in the popularity of social media networking usage on a global level, especially among college students. Social connectivity has become a vital part of the daily lives of college students, providing connections with their educational, personal, and social lives. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the actual experiences and self-reported perceptions of health/safety risks in college students using social media networking sites and to assess whether critical thinking skills were employed. The sample size of the targeted population was 23 volunteer college students, recruited from the Walden University Participant …

An Evidenced-Based Nursing Education Discharge Plan For Prescription Opioids, Josephine J. Messelmani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The reported number of prescription opioid overdoses justifies the need for providing patients with opioid discharge information and follow-up care as recommended. To prevent any misuse of prescription opioid drugs, it was critical for patients to receive a thorough review of their medications prior to being discharged. The purpose of the project was designed to educate nurses on the importance of delivering essential information to patients prescribed opioids. Implementation of an opioid discharge plan integrated with the teach back method increased patients’ understanding of how to properly take prescription opioids compared to the patients who did not receive opioid education …

Strategies For Developing Sustainable Supply Chain Links With Local Producers, Edwin Che Ngwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to sustain agriculture supply chain links with local producers may lead to supply chain disruptions affecting the flow of products and materials. Successful strategies are essential for agribusiness supply chain managers to maintain profitability. Grounded in the value-based supply chain model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies agribusiness managers used to develop sustainable supply chain links with local producers to maintain profitability. Semistructured online interviews were conducted with six Cameroon agribusiness managers who developed sustainable supply chain links with local producers for more than 5 years. Data analysis of the interviews and administrative …

Educating Providers About Integrated Treatment For Individuals With Co-Occurring Disorders, Ihuarulam Chidiebere Okoroji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem identified by this staff education project was the providers’ lack of knowledge on integrated treatment for individuals with co-occurring disorders (CODs). Integrated treatment is the gold standard for working with individuals with CODs. Providers knowledge gap and barriers were addressed by educating them on integrated treatments. This project used the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model in planning, implementation, and evaluation. The participants were 20 providers in a residential addiction treatment facility which include one physician, three nurse practitioners, eight counselors, one registered nurse, and seven licensed practical nurses. This project used a pretest to determine …

Strategies For Retaining Nurses In Rural Healthcare Settings, Michelle Lee Pratt Yeater

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rural healthcare leader deficiency in implementing successful strategies to retain nurses can deleteriously impact the quality of patient care and impede the organization's financial performance. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore successful nurse retention strategies used by rural healthcare leaders. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with eight pastoral healthcare leaders in the eastern region of the United States who improved nurse retention and a review of relevant supporting documentation from company websites. Coding was used for data analysis and theme determination. Three themes emerged: effective nurse retention incentives, meaningful relationships …

How Community-Based Solutions Affect Households Headed By Single Mothers In An Urban Food Desert, Christie Will Ross

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited access to affordable and nutritious foods is a growing problem in the United States, leading to a rise in obesity, diabetes, and heart disease as well as poor academic performance. With this has come the rise of urban food deserts, specific geographic areas with limited access to affordable, healthy, and nutritious foods within a 1-mile radius, which impacts low-income and minority communities at a greater rate than the rest of US society. Single mothers represent the largest demographic impacted by urban food deserts yet are the least represented in research. The purpose of this narrative study, using the human …

Perceived Diabetes Susceptibility Among African American Female College Students, Khaliah India Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of death among African American women ages 20-44 years, and African American female college students are at high risk. Research shows that college students tend to underestimate their susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes, despite their existing risk factors. There is a gap in knowledge concerning African American female college students and their perception of diabetes susceptibility, despite their increased risk. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental, correlational study was to identify the factors associated with perceived personal susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes-related health behavior among African American female college …

Staff Education In Caring For Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Freda Ansah-Larbi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractType1 diabetes affects over 1.6 million people living in the United States of which about 200,000 are children under the age of 20, with an increase of 1.9% per year between 2002–2015. The large number of children with type 1 diabetes was observed in the project’s practice setting. In addition to the physical health impact on children, this disease also has major personal, economic, and social impacts on children and their families. Therefore, effective management is essential in reducing the risk of complications and achieving an overall improvement in the quality of life of patients. The purpose of the project …

Strategies For Reducing Voluntary Employee Turnover In Small Business, Sherale Bell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners who lack strategies to reduce high rates of voluntary employee turnover experience decreased organizational performance. Grounded in the two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that small business owners use to reduce high voluntary employee turnover to increase organizational performance. Participants were four small business owners from Midwestern Illinois who successfully used strategies to reduce high voluntary employee turnover. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and internal documents and analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: (a) employee turnover, (b) job satisfaction, (c) employee engagement, and (d) monetary incentives. A …

Generational Differences In Nursing Turnover, Adam Bennett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing is currently the largest job category in U.S. health care requiring proper recruitment and retention of nurses. As the current generation of nurses ages out of the workforce due to retirement, new nurses will need to cover the gaps in the workforce. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between voluntary turnover, involuntary turnover, and career change among nurses who were born between 1980 and 1995 (Millennials) and those born between 1965 and 1979 (Generation X). The theoretical framework was Mannheim’s theory of generations. Secondary data were collected from exit interviews with 811 respondents …

Experiences With Addiction Transfer Among Weight Loss Surgery Recipients, Latoya Smalls

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity remains a significant problem linked to psychological, behavioral, metabolic, and environmental factors. Some individuals who struggle with obesity turn to weight loss surgery. Studies exploring the long-term effects of weight loss surgery and its connection with transfer addiction have reached conflicting findings. This phenomenological study was conducted according to procedures developed by Husserl and Giorgi. Data were collected for this qualitative study through semistructured interviews with 10 bariatric weight loss surgery recipients. Data were analyzed using the five stages of Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method process of data analysis. Analysis of the data led to five themes and eight subthemes. …

Juvenile Recidivism Risk Factors From The Juvenile Justice Professional Perspective, Fotini Stamidis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juvenile crime and recidivism have devastated Baltimore City, Maryland, especially in the quality of life and social bond, producing fear in the city’s communities. The current situation is increasing the need to promote a better understanding of juvenile recidivism and delinquency of the risk factors causing juveniles to re-offend. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to add to the knowledge base on juvenile recidivism risk factors from the perspectives of juvenile justice professionals. Hirschi’s social bond theory was used to explore juvenile justice professionals’ experiences and perspectives on recidivism risk factors. Research questions focused on the perceptions of …

The Efficacy Of Barcoded Medication Administration In The Emergency Department, Aleksandr Vasserman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The practice problem addressed in this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was safe medication administration in the emergency department (ED). Paper-based delivery of medication administration is prone to errors and multiple points of failure affecting patients’ safety. The gap in nursing practice was the lack of analysis regarding the efficacy of the barcoded medication administration (BCMA) process in the ED. The practice-focused question for this project addressed whether the implementation of BCMA in the ED effectively reduced medication administration errors as compared to the previously used paper-based, non-BCMA process. The aim of this doctoral project was to review the efficacy …

Kindergarten Teachers' Perspectives On School Readiness In Children Who Attended Military Installation Childcare Centers, Juliana Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited literature exists on the effectiveness of prekindergarten programs located on military installations in the United States. The children who attend these programs may not receive school readiness preparation equivalent to that received by their peers who attend community-based prekindergarten programs, which follow different guidelines. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the kindergarten readiness of children who attended preschool on military installations as described by teachers in community-based kindergarten classrooms. Pianta's work on school readiness formed the conceptual framework of this basic qualitative study. The research question addressed how kindergarten teachers describe school readiness in children …

Life Experiences Of Head Start Teachers In A Midwestern Region Pursuing Higher Education, Jeanette O. Keyes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe 2007 Head Start Reauthorization Act mandated that all Head Start teachers have at least an associate degree and 50% of teachers within each Head Start program should have a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education. The problem addressed in this study was that Head Start teachers from a Midwestern region encountered barriers as they pursued higher education to meet mandated requirements to continue employment. The purpose of this study was to explore the life experiences, barriers, coping strategies and views of support needed by Head Start teachers who were completing their degrees. Tinto’s academic and social integration model and …

Lived Experience Of Albanian Migrants Who Became Obese After Moving To The United States, Briseida Xhelaj

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem of obesity is significant in the United States, and more information is needed about the factors that increase the risk for obesity among migrant populations like Albanian Americans. The purpose of this study was to discover the lived experience of Albanian migrants who became obese after moving to the United States. This study was guided by the social ecological model. The research questions were used to examine how individual, relationship, community, and societal level factors impacted lifestyle changes and obesity for Albanian American migrants after moving to the United States. This qualitative study involved the use of a …

Reducing Violent Crime In Dallas, Texas, Mike Sullivan

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: This project targets adolescent males aged 10-18 years who have been exposed to violence using Multisystemic Therapy-Prevention to reduce violent crime in Dallas County, Texas, by 10% in five years.

Significant Findings: According to recent statistics published for Dallas County, Texas, violent crime presents the most prominent health challenge. It reveals an almost 30% increase in violent crimes per person above the national average (Dallas (DAS) County, Texas, n.d.). Given that the problem of violent crime is typically young and male and that 99% of perpetrators report having been victims of violence themselves, the target population …

Preventing Opioid Addiction In Benton And Franklin County, Washington, Tracie Hicks

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: Prevention of opioid addiction in Benton and Franklin County, WA through the implementation of effective strategies, resources, and prevention programs.

Significant Findings: Opioid addiction is a significant public health crisis in the United States costing approximately $78.5 billion a year (NIDA, 2021). Both Benton and Franklin County, Washington have been impacted by the national opioid epidemic. Statistics show that in Benton County between 2018-2020 there was a 169.8% increase in opioid deaths and Franklin County experienced a staggering 289.2% increase in opioids deaths in 2018-2020 (Addictions, Drug, and Alcohol Institute, 2021). Research indicates that prevention and advocacy programs …

Chronic Pain-Related Opioid Use In Atlanta, Georgia, Alexis Ware

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Significant Findings:

Chronic pain is recognized as one of the most common reasons for medical visits (Bertin et al., 2021). These visits frequently lead to opioid prescriptions for treatment. Since 2013, the opioid-related overdose epidemic has placed an undue burden on the healthcare system (Dahlby & Kerr, 2020). The increase in opioid prescriptions over the past two decades has increased rates of misuse and addiction in patients suffering from chronic pain (Bertin et al., 2021). From a public health perspective, these rates indicate a need for greater collaboration and coordination of care among healthcare providers (Dahlby & Kerr, 2020).

Objectives/Strategies/Interventions/Next …

The Homelessness Crisis In Los Angeles, California, Kaitlin Butulan

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of my social change portfolio is to implement intervention and prevention strategies that lead us one step closer toward eradicating the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles.

Significant Findings: Los Angeles is the home of one of the largest unhoused populations in the United States. The leading causes to becoming homeless include lack of affordable housing, unemployment, pathological illnesses, and necessary resource impediments (National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, 2015). This social change portfolio discusses the risk and protective factors of the unhoused on a range of levels viewed in the lens of a social-ecological model. …

Prevent Recidivism In Charles County, Maryland, Erin L. Gormley

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal: The goal of this social change portfolio is to prevent recidivism by offering a six-month life skills group at the local Health Department in Charles County, Maryland. The long-term goal of this prevention program is to reduce recidivism in Charles County by 5% in one year.

Significant Findings: Charles County, is a populous county in the State of Maryland with limited resources for adults with arrest records related to substance abuse. There are currently no long-term structural or prevention programs to assist with reintegration. The recidivism rate in the State of Maryland is near fifty percent (Maryland.gov, 2020). The …

Post-Partum Depression In Low-Income Hispanic Women In Bexar County, Texas, Emily Johnson

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this prevention program is to prevent post-partum depression (PPD) among Hispanic women in Bexar County, Texas. To aid in achieving this goal, I will offer low-cost psychoeducation counseling groups that run for 16 weeks per session to educate pregnant, low-income mothers about the signs and symptoms of PPD. These groups will also teach coping skills to help combat the symptoms of PPD. I will also offer a free workshop at a local community center that teaches mothers how to recognize the signs of PPD and introduce the group counseling classes. This project will track public …

Pornography A Public Health Crisis In Utah, Candace A. Green

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal is to reduce Utah’s teenage pornography consumption by 25% through the implementation of an in-home program where parents and guardians can learn communication skills, teach their children about the risk factors and dangers of pornography addiction, and apply prevention strategies and protective measures in their own home.

Significant Findings: Pornography use is more prevalent now than at any other time in history. Much of this can be attributed to our cell phones and the 24-hour internet access we have at our fingertips which makes viewing sexually explicit material a few seconds away at all times. Utah …

Increasing Awareness Of Sexually Transmitted Infections In Adolescents And Sexual Minorities, Carrington Kaiser

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal is to reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections in adolescents and sexual minorities by increasing access to contraceptives, STI testing, and comprehensive sexual health education.

Significant Findings: The population addressed in this paper is adolescents and LGBTQ+ youth. Indiana is not required by law to teach sexual health education, let alone comprehensive and medically accurate information (Siecus, 2021). Sexual orientation and gender identities are not required in sex education even though men who have sex with men have the highest risk for STIs (Siecus, 2021; Blackwell, 2018). According to the Center for Disease Control and …

Excessive Drinking In Perry County, Missouri., Jamie Brown

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: This prevention program aims to reduce the percentage of self-reported excessive alcohol consumption among adults aged 18 and older in Perry County, Missouri using prevention-focused programs, education, and community awareness.

Significant Findings: Perry County, MO, is a rural community within Southeast Missouri. Missouri is within the top 10 % of states with the highest reported adult excessive drinking. Perry County is one of the top counties for excessive adult drinking within Missouri (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2018). Excessive drinking is a community health concern due to its multitude of adverse effects on mental and physical health. Educating …

Increase Awareness Of Adolescent Depression And Suicidal Ideations In Orleans County, Vermont, Nicole Corbett

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: Collaborate with Vermont SPC and NAMI chapter of Vermont as well as school behavior team and school-based clinicians to implement a mental health /suicide prevention program for the local middle school and high school to be implemented during the 2022-2023 school year with a minimum of four contacts/events.

Significant Findings: This social change portfolio was developed to increase awareness of the mental health needs of adolescents in Orleans County, Vermont, and to investigate the next steps in building a prevention program to support this population. Adolescent depression and suicidal ideation affect the lives of over a quarter of …

The Problem Of Vaping In Berkeley County Youth, Germaine Gauthier-Schwarz

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of my Social Change Portfolio is to establish a prevention program that can be initiated in middle schools and other community sources here in Berkeley County, to help educate our youth on the negative effects and consequences of vape use. I would also like to reduce the use of vapes in middle school through high school-age students by 2% every year for the next six years. I will help accomplish this goal by providing educational classes to both parents and students at least two times a year during special events like red ribbon week and spirit …

Hiv/Aids Community Awareness And Prevention In Atlanta, Georgia, Marytherese Agwara

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: To discuss HIV/AIDS awareness and preventive measures that may aid in mitigating the disease, and suggest ways for advocacy. Significant Findings: The prevalence of HIV/AIDS continues to be on the rise in Metro Atlanta areas with the black men who have sex with men (MSM) being disproportionately affected. Findings indicated that the black MSM were mostly affected due to great number of them praticicng same sex act (Hicks, 2017). Subsequent finding showed that the high prevalence was due to unprotected sex, substance and alcohol abuse, and mental health issues (Pérez et al., 2018). Collaborative efforts from governmental and …

Challenges Nonprofit Organization Leaders Encounter With Voluntary Employee Turnover, Terrance Carr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employees within the nonprofit sector who voluntarily depart from an organization can have unfortunate financial implications. Nonprofit leaders are concerned about voluntary turnover, which can be costly due to replacing employees. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies nonprofit leaders use to reduce voluntary employee turnover. The participants were three nonprofit leaders from the Houston area who have experience reducing voluntary employee turnover in the nonprofit sector. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Three themes were identified through thematic analysis: (a) employee retention strategies, (b) employee incentives, and (c) organizational …

Strategies To Mitigate Voluntary Employee Turnover, Mutale Chilangwa Chisela

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractBanking leaders are negatively affected when employees voluntarily leave their employment. Banking leaders who implement strategies can enhance employee satisfaction to mitigate voluntary employee turnover. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies some banking leaders use to mitigate voluntary employee turnover. Participants were five banking leaders from local and international banks, four banks in Lusaka, Zambia, and one bank in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, who successfully implemented strategies to mitigate voluntary employee turnover. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents and analyzed using Yin’s five phases. Three themes …