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Staff Education Project Staff Education To Integrate Nutrition Into Mental Health Care In An Acute Medical Setting, Yolene Auguste

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a staff education initiative designed to support the implementation of a protocol that integrates nutrition and mental health screening in an acute medical setting. The practice problem addressed inconsistent identification of nutrition-related needs and mental health concerns, along with variable follow-through on referral pathways, limiting holistic care and contributing to unmet needs during and after hospitalization. Nutrition and mental health are bidirectionally related, with dietary quality and lifestyle factors influencing mental health outcomes and overall well-being (Dubois & Giroux, 2025). The practice-focused question guiding this project was: In adult patients receiving care …

Determinants Of Clinical Supervisor Self-Efficacy In Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Victoria A. Nagel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance use disorder counselors face increasing challenges in responding to a growing and more severely affected population, often presenting with co-occurring mental health conditions and complex clinical needs. Clinical supervision plays a critical role in supporting counselor development, yet little is known about the factors that contribute to clinical supervisors’ self-efficacy in providing supervision for alcohol and drug counselors. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine whether years of counseling experience, years of substance use disorder (SUD) counseling experience, years as a clinical supervisor, professional counseling credentials, and supervisory credentials predicted self-efficacy among clinical supervisors. This study …

Association Between Environmental Exposures To Perfluoroalkyl And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances And Military Veterans Cancer Determination, Stephen A. Pereira Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study involved evaluating whether cumulative exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) was associated with kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and adult leukemia among U.S. veterans. Pooled National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005–2015 were analyzed for sample of 2,500 veterans with available serum PFAS measurements and physician-diagnosed cancer histories. This study employed a cross-sectional, correlational design grounded in a post-positivist paradigm. Inclusion required complete data for (a) serum PFAS concentrations, (b) kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and adult leukemia, and (c) covariates age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking status, and body mass index. Cumulative PFAS was modeled as a …

Staff Education To Increase Knowledge Of Referral Completeness, Tamekia T. Lindsay Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project addressed a practice gap in a psychiatric facility where nonclinical staff frequently submitted incomplete referral documentation for patients with co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions. Due to the facility’s inability to provide acute medical stabilization, medical clearance is required before nurse practitioners can determine admission appropriateness. The project question was, Does educating intake staff on a standardized referral checklist improve knowledge of referral criteria, as measured by pre- and post-education surveys? The Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice (JHEBP) model informed evidence translation, and the analysis, design/development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) instructional design model underpinned the development and evaluation …

Food Security Through Church-Sponsored Food Programs, Samantha Scott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A south-suburban Cook County, IL city lacks grocery stores with high-quality food options, which contributes to food insecurity. Residents often rely on highly processed, low-nutrient foods, contributing to nutritional vulnerability. Friendship Church’s food bank sporadically serves this food desert, but sustaining its operations is challenging. Using community-based participatory action research design and the food security theory, data were collected from 25 semistructured interviews with food bank beneficiaries and church staff/volunteers and analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. The four dimensions were examined: availability, access, utilization, and stability. Two questions guided the research: How do parishioners in one south-suburban Cook County community …

Solvability Factors And Psychological Stressors In Cold Case Sexual Homicides: Insights From Investigators And Detectives, Jamie Borba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore solvability factors and psychological stressors experienced by investigators and detectives who work on cold case sexual homicides. The study includes eight participants’ perspectives of conditions that influence case solvability and psychological challenges inherent in investigating unresolved sexual homicide cases. Guided by the resource-based theory, the research involved examining how investigative techniques, organizational support, and available resources contribute to the successful closure and clearance of cold cases. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using coding and thematic analysis. This involved understanding how resource and institutional constraints affect their ability …

Staff Education To Improve Tirzepatide Education And Lifestyle Counseling, Daisy Asemota

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a practice-focused staff education initiative designed to improve clinical staff knowledge, confidence, and readiness to educate adult patients enrolled in a Tirzepatide weight-management program. Tirzepatide has demonstrated superior weight-loss outcomes compared to other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists; however, inconsistent staff education practices related to medication administration, adverse-event management, and lifestyle counseling present a gap in practice. Variability in staff knowledge and teaching approaches may reduce confidence, contribute to inconsistent patient education, and limit the effectiveness of evidence-based care delivery. The purpose of this DNP project was to address this practice gap …

Staff Education On Implementing Exercise For The Management Of Depression In Adults In A Comprehensive Mental Health Facility, Afolasade Jarrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a comprehensive mental health facility, patients diagnosed with major depression continue to experience depressive symptoms despite treatment. Despite using standard treatment with antidepressants and psychotherapy, facility data showed that 40% of these patients are still experiencing depression symptoms that negatively impact their overall functioning and quality of life. There is evidence supporting exercise as an effective strategy for depression treatment. Therefore, a staff education project was proposed to educate staff about exercise for depression management in adults. A thorough literature search in four databases yielded 12 articles with high quality evidence supporting educating staff to use exercise for depression …

Fathers, Futures, And Fragile Contexts: Men’S Intergenerational Perspectives On Pregnancy In A Low-Income South African Setting, Urlridge A. Thompson, Johanni Beukes, Michelle Leal, Stephanie Alcock, Stephen Lye, Shane A. Norris, Catherine Draper

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Men’s involvement in their partner’s pregnancy in low-income South African settings is influenced by a complex interplay of contextual factors that influence the nature and extent of their participation. The confluence of these factors contributes to limiting men’s adoption of an intergenerational perspective of their partner’s pregnancy. The adoption of an intergenerational perspective by men may enhance outcomes for maternal and child health, but it remains understudied. This qualitative study explored intergenerational perspectives of men in Soweto, South Africa, regarding their partners’ pregnancies. An exploratory descriptive qualitative approach was employed. We conducted in-depth individual interviews with 19 male partners (fathers …

Optimizing Patient Intake Efficiency: Integrating Data Accuracy And Workflow Improvement Strategies, Breanna Virginia Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For a professional therapist, social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist, improving the quality and effectiveness of patient care is a central responsibility. This qualitative single-case study examined how WGGX, a nonprofit behavioral health organization in South Philadelphia, addressed challenges within its patient intake process to improve workflow efficiency, data accuracy, and the client onboarding experience. Guided by the Baldrige Health Care Criteria for Performance Excellence, the study explored how leadership practices, workforce engagement, and process management influenced organizational effectiveness related to intake operations. Data were collected through semistructured, in-person interviews with six organizational stakeholders and a review of organizational documents and …

Atherogenic Index Of Plasma’S Association With Coronary Heart Disease Risks Among Postmenopausal Pakistani Women, Amad Khan, Syed Kashif Raza

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading global cause of mortality, notably affecting postmenopausal women. Hormonal fluctuations during menopause contribute to dyslipidemia, fostering cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study explored lipid profiles among postmenopausal Pakistani women, focusing on the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and its association with CHD.

The data consisted of surveys from 265 women aged between 40–70 years. A STEP-wise approach, using a questionnaire from the World Health Organization, was employed for data collection. This quantitative cross-sectional study, guided by the socioecological model, examined links between AIP, age, lipid profiles, and hypertension. The AIP’s association with CHD was …

Community And Individual Risk Factors Associated With Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes: Ca, Md, And Oh, [2017-2021]., Kadiatu Banjoko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are unsuccessful treatment outcomes with Tuberculosis (TB) disease, although effective therapies exist. This study aimed to identify predictors of unsuccessful treatment using the socioecological model. A quantitative cross-sectional study and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to measure the associations between long-term care (LTC), homelessness, correctional facility, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), diabetes, excess alcohol, illicit drug use, and TB treatment outcomes of death, lost to follow-up, and treatment refusal. The sample consisted of 7,589 individuals aged 15 and older with pulmonary TB between 2017 and 2021, residing in California, Ohio, and Maryland. Findings indicated a correlation between community factors …

Teaching Staff About Pressure Ulcers, Ann Maria Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pressure ulcers are local injuries to the skin and underlying tissue primarily caused by prolonged pressure, friction, or shear forces. These preventable complications are prevalent among immobile patients and can lead to poor patient outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Despite the availability of evidence-based prevention strategies, significant gaps in practice continue due to limited staff knowledge, ineffective communication systems, and inconsistent implementation of established guidelines. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focused on enhancing nursing staff knowledge through an evidence-based educational strategy designed to educate staff on strategies for preventing pressure ulcers. The education program included a PowerPoint presentation …

Early Atopic Dermatitis And Risk Of Later Autism Spectrum Disorders, Annissa Courtney Heslope-Mathieu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early-onset atopic dermatitis (AD) affects approximately 10-20% of children in the United States, and emerging evidence suggests potential links between early immune dysregulation and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Limited research has examined whether early AD serves as a specific risk factor for later ASD diagnosis. Guided by life course theory, the purpose of this study was to examine whether AD diagnosed within the first two years of life predicts later diagnosis of ASD among U.S. children younger than five years. A secondary analysis of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study was conducted using a retrospective cohort design. The sample included 2,949 …

Staff Education To Improve Diabetes Management Knowledge For Primary Healthcare Providers, Helen Njoku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

I developed this Doctor of Nursing Practice staff education project to improve primary healthcare providers’ knowledge of diabetes management. Given the vital role nurses, advanced practice providers, and physicians play in patient education, chronic illness management, and care coordination, this issue must be addressed within nursing practice. The practice-focused question guiding this project was: Among primary healthcare providers, does implementing a structured diabetes education training program, compared to the current standard practice, improve provider knowledge in diabetes management? The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a targeted education intervention session. As analytical strategies, I employed expert …

Need For A Psychiatric Facility To Develop A Clinical Practice Guideline On Self-Care To Give To Patients Upon Discharge, Judith Agwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The project is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) clinical practice guideline (CPG) on the need for a psychiatric facility to develop a CPG on self-care to give to patients upon discharge. The practice problem was a healthcare facility did not have guidelines to educate patients on self-care upon discharge. Addressing the problem within nursing practice can promote self-care practices and improve overall health outcomes for patients with mental illnesses. The practice-focused question that guided this project was: will a CPG potentially increase self-care among discharged patients? The purpose of the study was to develop a CPG on self-care for …

Postdischarge Pediatric Mortality In Nigeria For Children Under 5 Years Of Age, Philomina Nwaugo Chukwudike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child mortality has remained a public health issue that is prevalent among families living in Nigeria and low- and middle-income countries. Factors associated with post-discharge pediatric mortality among children under 5 have not been explored. The study involved examining associations between timely individual follow-up visits, availability of healthcare facilities for follow-up care, and likelihood of post-discharge mortality among children under 5 while adjusting for household income, geographical location, mothers’ age, and mothers’ education. The theoretical framework was the social ecological model. Data were generated from the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey. A sample size of N=21,671 was used to determine …

Best Practices To Reduce Patient Falls In Skilled Nursing Facilities In Virginia, Kianna J. Tinsley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient falls in skilled nursing homes highlight the need for effective, evidence-based strategies to reduce falls and improve residents' quality of life. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify administrative strategies for reducing patient falls within skilled nursing facilities. The review question centered on the most effective strategies and best practices that healthcare administrators can use to reduce patient falls and injuries and increase patient satisfaction. The Donabedian model served as the theoretical framework, providing a strong foundation for evaluating health services and quality of care to reduce patient falls. A comprehensive literature review identified 50 relevant articles, …

Respiratory Health And Environmental Risks Among California Children: The Role Of Socioeconomic Status, Wen Chieh Chia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Air pollution has been cited as a factor in the development of respiratory illness in children. Socioeconomic differences can intensify the effects of air pollution exposure on low-income children compared to higher-income children. This correlational study examined the relationship between air pollution exposure and respiratory health outcomes among California children, as well as the moderating role of socioeconomic status. The study was guided by the environmental health disparities framework and used secondary data from the California Environmental Health Tracking Program, analyzing data from 49 California counties (n = 49). Independent variables were PM2.5 concentrations and the number of ozone …

Development Of An Educational Intervention To Enhance Nurses’ Knowledge And Intent To Implement Evidence-Based Diabetes Self-Management In Clinical Practice, Anne Marie Sieyou Ngouane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was purposed with closing critical gaps in staff knowledge and adherence to diabetes self-management protocols in a busy primary care clinic. Rising readmission rates and uneven use of American Diabetes Association (ADA) standards signaled an urgent need for a structured approach to staff education. To address this, a one-hour interactive training session was created that blended teaching, evidence-based handouts, and a practical diabetes care checklist. Staff learning was measured through pretest and posttest, confidence and adherence used a 5-point Likert-scale survey, and 21day readmission data tracked patient outcomes. The project question asked if …

Evaluation Of Unmet Needs Of Vulnerable Populations And At-Risk Communities Through Disaster Management Planning, Ryan Austin Crowe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This community-based non-profit organization aimed to aid those most in need by providing critical social services. The client organization has been selected numerous times as a recipient of federal disaster case management programs, often not until a year after the disaster, resulting in distrust of the federal government and organizations contracted to perform recovery services. Providing services to areas impacted has been difficult due to contract delays. The practice research question addressed in this study was: How can a client organization address the one-year service gap frequently associated with federal contracts through a disaster management planning system? The purpose of …

National Survey Of Physical Therapists’ Participation As Health Educators In Physical Activity Promotion Among Older Adults, Casey Nicole Mokres

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical inactivity among older adults remains a major national and global public health concern linked to preventable morbidity, mortality, and rising healthcare costs. Physical therapists are uniquely positioned to promote physical activity (PA) through health education, yet their engagement in this role is not well defined. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined associations between clinical practice factors—years of experience, board certification status, and practice setting—and three domains of the theoretical domains framework (knowledge, skills, and behavioral regulation) related to PA promotion among older adults. The framework guided identification of behavioral and contextual factors influencing therapists’ delivery of PA promotion interventions. Data …

The Association Between E-Cigarette Use And Community Mattering Among Adolescents In Maine, April Hughes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

E-cigarette use among U.S. high school students is a significant public health issue. Factors such as mattering, sexual orientation, and gender identity (SOGI) influence e-cigarette use among adolescents, yet few studies have explored the relationship between mattering and e-cigarette use when considering SOGI. This quantitative study explored the association between past 30-day e-cigarette use and mattering among Maine high schoolers while controlling for SOGI and grade level. This correlational cross-sectional study used the 2023 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey data, and the socioecological model served as the theoretical foundation. A multivariate binary logistic regression analysis indicated a significant association between …

Strategies To Mitigate Supply Chain Disruptions In Small Restaurant Business, Aminu Hassan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supply chain disruptions can impact the operational capability of small restaurant businesses, thereby affecting their financial health. Some small restaurant supply chain managers lack effective strategies to manage supply chain disruptions. Grounded in Oliver and Webber’s supply chain management theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies small restaurant supply chain managers use to manage supply chain disruptions. The participants were 10 small restaurant supply chain managers located in Baltimore who effectively mitigated the effects of at least one significant supply chain disruption. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and publicly available documents and reports. Through …

Staff Education On Evidence-Based Practice On External Factors That Impact Management Of Chronic Hypertension In African American Patients, Stella Ngozi Paul

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral staff education project was developed to address a significant gap in nursing practice, specifically the limited knowledge of outpatient clinical staff regarding cultural, social, and health literacy factors that influence the management of chronic hypertension in African American (AA) patients. Through this project, I aimed to equip clinical staff with evidence-based, culturally competent strategies to promote equitable, patient-centered care. This project was guided by the following practice-focused question: Can an evidence-based practice educational session on how external factors impact the management of chronic hypertension in the AA population enhance staff knowledge and understanding? Using the analysis, design, development, …

Effect Of Stages Of Prehospital Hypertensive Crisis And Length-Of-Stay On Acute Stroke Readmission, Thomas Bob Ross Phd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stroke is the second leading cause of mortality and the third leading cause of disability, affecting over 800,000 Americans annually. Traditional stroke research has focused on in-hospital settings, but not on prehospital stroke admissions, despite evidence that over 75% of acute stroke cases managed by emergency medical services involve prehospital hypertensive crises (HTN-C). HTN-C is classified into three systolic blood pressure (SBP) stages: Stage 1 (140–159 mm Hg), Stage 2 (160–179 mm Hg), and Stage 3 (≥180 mm Hg), the latter associated with organ damage. Hypertension correlates with longer hospital stays and more intensive interventions in hospitalized patients, but HTN-C …

Perceptions Of Lumbee Tribe Members On Participating In Diabetes Type Ii Prevention Practices, Jeremy Wesley Lowery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type II diabetes (DB2) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, whether directly or as a comorbidity. This is especially alarming for Native Americans, who have the highest DB2 prevalence and death rates when compared to their non-Native American peers. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Lumbee Tribe members in Robeson County regarding DB2. The health belief model was used as a lens through which to understand and interpret findings. In-person semi-structured audio-recorded interviews were conducted with 12 participants recruited through social media. Data were coded and analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. …

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 …

Adapter Changes Of Central Line Patients On Total Parenteral Nutrition, Courtney Erin Schappell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) remain a significant and preventable patient safety issue, especially among hospitalized patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Patients on TPN face a higher risk of infection due to the high glucose content of the solution and the frequent access required for central line therapy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality have recognized CLABSI prevention as a national priority. In addition, there is emphasis on high-risk groups like patients receiving TPN. The Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, an evidence-based guideline, recommends catheter care, including timely adapter (i.e., …

Implementing Sbar-Based Staff Education And A Diabetes-Specific Discharge Checklist To Reduce Patient Identification Errors During Handoffs, Maragarate Nesoa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was an organization change initiative using staff education to reduce patient identification errors during handoffs among older adults with Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). Misidentification during transitions of care contributes to medication errors, unnecessary readmissions, and preventable adverse events