Digital Commons Network^™

Communication Challenges Experienced By Telephone Triage Registered Nurses Providing Assessment Of Health Symptoms, Stacy Huddleston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Telephone triage nurses routinely assess symptoms and make clinical decisions without visual contact, which introduces complex communication challenges. Language differences, emotional distress, cultural misunderstandings, and the absence of visual cues may influence how symptoms are described, interpreted, and acted upon during telephone encounters. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive description study, guided by Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations, was to explore how RNs experience and manage communication barriers in telephone triage practice. Six RNs with recent experience in telephone triage participated in semistructured interviews, and the data were analyzed using interpretive description and thematic analysis. Findings indicated that participants relied …

Communication Barriers Experienced By Academicians And International Students During The Education Process And Related Solutions, Ferhat Kaçar, Yusuf Taha Okan

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: In this study, we address the communication barriers between academics and international students using a phenomenological approach. The aim of the study is to examine in depth the communication barriers faced by these two groups in the education process and to develop solutions for these barriers.

Method: The qualitative data obtained from semi-structured interviews with 42 academics and 50 international students were analyzed using the MAXQDA 20 package program.

Results: In the study, four themes and sub-codes related to these themes were identified: (1) academics’ communications problems with international students, (2) solution suggestions for academics’ communication problems, (3) international …

Black Women’S Critical And Racial Literacy Practices In Higher Education, Cherita Harrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was the limited understanding of how Black female college students experienced critical and racial literacy practices within college-level reading and writing courses, particularly within dominant literacy frameworks that privileged White, Eurocentric norms of language, knowledge, expression, and representation. Grounded in Luke’s critical literacy and Sealey-Ruiz’s racial literacy frameworks, the purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how Black female college students described their experiences in reading and writing courses, including how dominant literacy frameworks influenced their engagement in ways that limited expression, created barriers to participation, and shaped their academic experiences and personal …

Faculty Readiness And Ethical Perceptions Of Artificial Intelligence Integration In Higher Education Teaching And Assessment, Ayesha Afzal, Shahid Rafiq, Aisha Sami

Higher Learning Research Communications

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies presents both transformative opportunities and complex challenges for higher education, particularly in teaching and assessment. This study examines the readiness of faculty members in Pakistani universities to integrate AI tools into pedagogical and evaluative practices, alongside their ethical perceptions of AI use in academic contexts. Using a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 faculty members across diverse disciplines and institutions. Thematic analysis, guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, and Rest’s Four-Component Model of ethical decision making, revealed four interrelated themes: (1) …

Differences And Changes In Cross-Cultural Sensitivity Of German And Japanese Students Before And After Short-Term Exchange Programs, Kazumasa Nakagawa, Yuko Takahashi, Melanie Zwiorek

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Since 2012, a Japanese and a German university have conducted exchange programs. This study examined the effects of a short-term exchange program in 2023, focusing on intercultural sensitivity. Nine Japanese students and nine German students completed a 24-item Intercultural Sensitivity Scale before and after the program using a 5-point Likert scale. We performed cross-tabulations and analyzed differences between countries and pre- and post-program changes using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. The results suggest that even a short-term exchange enhanced Japanese students’ confidence in intercultural interactions and encouraged German students to reflect on their own culture. However, Japanese students showed lower …

Staff Education To Improve Knowledge Of Nurse-Led Telemonitoring For Suicide Prevention, Finny Ngozi Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a staff education initiative addressing a critical practice gap: clinical staff at a mental health facility lacked the practical knowledge to implement evidence-based telemonitoring protocols for suicide prevention, despite strong supporting research. High rates of suicide attempts and readmissions underscored the urgency for this intervention. The practice-focused question was: “Will a staff education program designed to educate healthcare providers on nurse-led telemonitoring protocols increase staff knowledge?” The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate an educational program for providers to increase their knowledge on how a telemonitoring protocol can reduce …

The Relative Importance Of Cultural Competence And Compassion Fatigue In Predicting Nurse Prescribing Self-Efficacy, Debarah Lane Jowett-Gordon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As a result of the growing diversity among citizens requiring medical care, there has been a substantial increase in immigrants globally and in the United States. In the U.S. healthcare system, nurse practitioners (NPs) have been facing increased cultural challenges. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the relative importance of cultural competence and compassion fatigue in predicting nursing prescribing self-efficacy. Cultural competence served as the theoretical framework, as it focuses on how NPs can effectively communicate with patients from diverse backgrounds by understanding and respecting cultural differences, thereby building trust, improving patient outcomes, and providing quality healthcare. …

The Impact Of Cultural Competence On Patient Outcomes In The Bahamas, Erinique Denise E. Ingraham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In The Bahamas, the quality of care received by culturally diverse patients remains generally poor, highlighting an inability to adapt to the changing climate and adopt culturally responsive practices. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the relationship between perceived cultural competence of healthcare providers in The Bahamas and its impact on patient outcomes for the non-Bahamian patients they treat. The tripartite model of cultural competence grounded this study. The participants comprised 49 non-Bahamian patients from the public and private sectors. They completed the patient-reported physician cultural competency measure, self-efficacy for managing medications and treatments, and the …

Upper Elementary Teachers' Experiences In Teaching Narrative Writing In Title I Classrooms, Courteney O. Manning

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed in this study is that third through fifth grade students continue to score below district expectations on the Georgia Milestones Assessment System in narrative writing. Guided by the Ofsted inspection framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the experiences of upper elementary teachers teaching writing in Title I classrooms. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 participants who taught upper elementary grades. Through thematic coding, four themes emerged outlining (a) the instructional success teachers experienced teaching narrative writing, (b) the instructional challenges of teaching narrative writing, (c) teachers’ beliefs about …

Impact Of Suicide Literacy In Hispanic/Latinx Communities, Denisse Centeno Lamas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Early Childhood Teachers’ Experiences Establishing Positive School-Home Relationships, Jayme Michelle Doyle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem in this study was that at Windland Elementary School (WES; pseudonym) early childhood teachers experienced a 16% decrease in parent satisfaction with the school's ability to eliminate or reduce barriers to parent engagement. Framed by six types of activities that encompass family engagement from Epstein et al., the purpose of this study was to explore early childhood teachers' experiences in establishing and maintaining school-home relationships at WES. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 Kindergarten through Grade 3 teachers who had at least 3 years’ teaching experience at WES. Thematic analysis using open coding yielded four key …

Perspectives Of Efl Teachers Toward The Influence Of Ai Writing Tools On Students' Writing Content And Organization, Nguyen Huu Hoang

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: This study investigated Vietnamese English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers’ perspectives on the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools on students’ writing content and organization, examining tool selection patterns and effectiveness relationships through a mixed-methods approach.

Methods: An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was employed, combining semi-structured interviews and classroom observations with six EFL teachers, followed by a survey of 52 teachers from various Vietnamese universities. Data analysis integrated thematic analysis of qualitative data with correlation and regression analyses of survey responses to examine relationships between usage patterns, institutional factors, and effectiveness ratings.

Results: Teachers strategically combined multiple …

Improving Early Detection Of Lung Cancer In Underserved Primary Care Settings, Trent Arden Goode, Ii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States, with underserved populations experiencing higher rates of late-stage diagnosis and preventable death. Despite established screening guidelines, adherence within primary care remains inconsistent, particularly in safety-net settings, reflecting a healthcare administration problem driven by organizational structures and care processes. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify administrative interventions that improve primary care provider adherence to lung cancer screening referral guidelines in safety-net healthcare settings. Guided by the Donabedian Quality Framework, a systematic integrative review was conducted to examine how healthcare structures and processes influence screening implementation. …

Students’ Motivation For Online Learning Of English As A Second Language Through The Lens Of The Self-Determination Theory, Wajeeh Daher, Ahlam Anabousy, Ahmad Amer, Nael Issa

Higher Learning Research Communications

Learning English as a second language (ESL) can be challenging for students, so it is essential to keep them motivated. One way to motivate students is through electronic programs (e-programs) that can enhance their motivation to learn. This research examined student learning motivation through the lens of the self-determination theory (SDT), with 39 preparatory-year students participating and learning in a blended context. Nine students were interviewed regarding their motivation to learn English using the electronic program, and both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to examine participants’ motivation to learn English in that context. The quantitative results indicated that …

An Assessment Of New Employee Training In A U.S. Government Agency, Kisaana Fernanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study evaluated the utility of a newly developed employee training initiative within a U.S. government disaster recovery agency. The purpose of the professional administrative study was to examine the existing training architecture and recommend improvements aligned with the agency’s mission. A general qualitative approach was employed, using interviews and surveys with government personnel to elicit their perceptions of the training’s effectiveness. The research aimed to identify key elements to incorporate into a revised employee training program, with the goal of enhancing disaster response readiness and policy implementation. It also sought to recommend strategies for continuous improvement. The study was …

Educational Design Models In Transition: A Comparative Review, Tofan Stofiana, Yeti Mulyati, Andoyo Sastromihardjo, Dadang Sunendar

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

A persistent gap between educational theory and classroom practice underscores the need for methodological approaches that are reflective, participatory, and context responsive. This study provides a comparative review of four major educational design models, including research and development (R&D); Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE); design-based research (DBR); and educational design research (EDR), to examine their theoretical orientations and contemporary applications. A systematic literature synthesis and bibliometric mapping were conducted on 80 peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus between 2020 and 2025. The findings reveal that ADDIE remains the most frequently applied framework due to its procedural clarity and …

Narratives Of First-Generation Mexican American Bilingual Licensed Counselors, Marleny Soriano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the growing demand for mental health services in Spanish, bilingual counselors are often ill-equipped to provide services in Spanish and frequently enter state-required supervised licensure without adequate training or opportunities for clinical supervision to support their growth as bilingual counseling professionals. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to answer the research question: What are the narratives of first-generation Mexican American bilingual counselors during supervised licensure? Guided by Anzaldua’s Borderlands Theory as a conceptual framework, data were collected from eight participants through semi-structured virtual interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed four themes mirroring the stages of …

Overseas Military Transition And Post-Military Job Retention, Chea Hale-Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adjustment from military life to the corporate or civilian world can be challenging for some individuals who have served in the armed forces. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of U.S. military veterans transitioning from overseas service to civilian employment and to identify the factors contributing to long-term job retention. The military transition theory and turnover contagion theory grounded this study. The participants consisted of 20 male veterans representing the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Army National Guard in Dayton, Ohio. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and public documents. Two themes …

Automating Academia: Implications Of Genai Use In Doctoral Research And Online Mentoring, Cheryl Burleigh, Andrea M. Wilson

Journal of Online Mentoring

This study critically examines the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), specifically ChatGPT, in the development of doctoral dissertation proposals, highlighting both its potential and its ethical implications. Through a content analysis of a dissertation proposal created using ChatGPT, the study investigates how GenAI supports structural organization, academic writing, and citation formatting while exposing significant concerns related to fabricated references, methodological misalignment, and diminished scholarly rigor. Although GenAI accelerates the proposal-writing process, its outputs often lack the depth, coherence, and originality expected at the doctoral level, thereby threatening the integrity of academic research. Findings reveal that GenAI-generated content may deceive …

Kindergarten Teachers’ Experiences And Training With Critical Reflection To Support Adaptive Teaching, Tessa Cushman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed in this study is that kindergarten teachers often lack training in critical reflection as part of their adaptive teaching practice. Despite much research on critical reflection, there was a lack of knowledge regarding training kindergarten teachers receive on critical reflection and how they use it to adapt their teaching. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of kindergarten teachers regarding the training they received on critical reflection and the support they felt they needed to implement critical reflection for an adaptive teaching practice. Schön’s reflective practice theory was the conceptual framework for …

Cultural Influences Experienced By Self-Identified Hmong College Students, Nkaujntsa Lovy Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore how self-identified Hmong college students aged 18–24 perceived their culture’s influence on their academic experiences. The study examined the relationships shaping individual identity and their effects on academic pursuits. A basic qualitative inquiry approach was used to interview ten Hmong undergraduate students enrolled in colleges across the United States. Semi-structured interviews facilitated data collection guided by the ecological systems theory, while thematic analysis and inductive coding were employed to identify patterns and develop themes from the data. The themes identified in the study were family as the central influence, negotiating conflicting …

Social Workers' Perspectives Of Using Teletherapy To Foster Resilience Among Middle-Class Single Black Mothers, Yvonne Judge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inadequate mental health support, particularly from social workers, disproportionately affects middle-class single Black mothers. Prior studies have examined low-income single mothers’ access to mental health care and the potential of teletherapy as a tool for improving access; however, few have explored how middle-class single Black mothers navigate mental health challenges. Further, there is a lack of research on social workers’ perspectives of using teletherapy to foster resilience among middle-class single Black mothers. This is a critical gap, as social workers play a key role in tailoring mental health interventions. The purpose of this study was to explore social workers’ perspectives …

Novice Middle Grades Science Teacher Perspectives On Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices, Erica Danielle Benjamin Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) bridges students’ cultural experiences with academic learning; however, novice science teachers often lack the preparation to apply it. This study addressed the problem that teachers without sufficient preparation to support culturally diverse learners are teaching middle grades science. Grounded in Freire’s critical consciousness and informed by Gay’s CRT principles, the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of middle grades science teachers in their first 5 years of teaching regarding their use of CRT to plan and implement science lessons. Data from 12 semistructured interviews with novice middle grades science teachers were …

Teachers' Perspectives On Humane Education Implementation, Rebecca Ann Bartaway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Humane education (HE) encompasses multiple concepts, including animal ethics, ecological environment, and social justice. The problem prompting this study was that individuals who have graduated from a higher education HE program face challenges in successfully integrating HE into their K–12 classrooms. Grounded by Weil's solutionary approach to HE, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the teaching experiences of individuals who graduated from a higher education HE program and successfully integrated HE into their classrooms. Participants were purposefully sampled from a small population of educators who completed a U.S. degree or certificate program in HE and successfully …

Leadership Strategies For Capturing And Transferring The Knowledge Of Experienced Workers In Canadian Higher Education Organizations, Dean Allan Bulloch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Higher education institutions face a risk of knowledge loss when they fail to implement strategies for transferring knowledge from experienced to less experienced employees. Canadian higher education managers are particularly concerned about the adverse impact of losing explicit and valuable tacit knowledge. Grounded in the socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization model, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study identified and explored successful strategies employed by eight Canadian higher education managers to capture and transfer knowledge from experienced employees, thereby sustaining performance. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of public documents, including strategic plans, annual reports, and accountability statements. Through …

Assessing The Gender Differences In Mental Health Access And The Intersectionality Of Depression, Anxiety, Stress Between Black Men And Black Women During Covid-19, Turquoise Ef'e Pipes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in the past five years, has had a particularly severe impact on well-being, mental health, and access to care for Black communities. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative study, grounded in intersectionality theory was to assess gender differences between Black women and Black men confronted with depression, anxiety, stress symptoms and mental health access during the crisis of COVID-19, which has been under researched within this demographic. The study sample included participants from various cities across the United States who lived through the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to March 2023 (n= 104). A MANOVA …

Lived Oral Health Experiences Of Syrian Refugees In The United States, Taniya Michael Henry-Sangar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The oral health status of Syrian refugees has been impacted by war and displacement since the 2011 civil war. To date, limited in-depth knowledge is available on oral health experiences of resettled Syrian refugees in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore lived oral health experiences of resettled Syrian refugees before, during, and after the 2011 Syrian civil war. The health belief model (HBM) and theory of planned behavior (TPB) were theoretical frameworks for this phenomenological inquiry. The study was guided by semi-structured phone interviews with a purposeful sample of 11 Syrian refugees over the …

Integration Of Afghan Refugee Professionals Into American Society, Khatera Bahrami

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the social and psychological challenges Afghan refugee professionals experienced when they entered the U.S. workforce after being forcibly displaced. Trauma, job loss, and cultural adjustment significantly impacted their mental health and reintegration. The study examined how social and psychological obstacles impacted their cultural adjustment, well-being, and capacity to deal with credentialing and professional demands. This research employed a qualitative phenomenological design, grounded in Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory and the Stress Appraisal Model, using 60-minute audio-only, semi-structured interviews with 10 Afghan refugee professionals. Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA), according to the findings, participants faced challenges relating to …

Staff Education For Effective Patient Handoff, Kaylonn Amundson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project was initiated to address the lack of standardized handoff procedures which was found to have contributed to an adverse outcome for a hospitalized patient. The purpose of this project was to address the question: Will an interactive education program on a standardized handoff tool increase nursing staffs’ knowledge and self-confidence regarding its use? The project involved educating 20 inpatient nurses and care staff about the structure of the SIGNOUT? handoff tool using a PowerPoint presentation with a follow-up practice simulation. Handoff sheets and visuals were distributed to aid in the learning process. Pre- and post-education surveys …

Telehealth, Access To Care, And Perceived Lived Experiences Of Seniors Living In Sumter, South Carolina, Taquisha Anquinette Howard-Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Telehealth has emerged as a transformative approach to healthcare delivery, particularly for populations facing geographic, financial, and mobility-related barriers. In rural communities such as Sumter, South Carolina, seniors 50 and older continue to experience challenges in accessing timely care, including limited transportation, provider shortages, digital illiteracy, and financial constraints. Conducted by Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use (ABMHSU), this qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of seven seniors in Sumter to understand how telehealth influences engagement in healthcare. This study was guided by three research questions (RQ) that examined seniors’ experiences using ABMHSU, focusing on predisposing factors, enabling …