Digital Commons Network^™

Neighborhood-Level Predictors Of Obesity Among African American Children In California, Uche Onyeka

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The increased prevalence of childhood obesity is a major public health concern nationally and globally. Childhood obesity is primarily caused by the imbalance between caloric intake and caloric expenditure; however, its increase over the past decades may be due to environmental and behavioral factors. The purpose of the current study was to examine if any relationships existed between childhood obesity, level of physical activity, and neighborhood-level risk factors. This study used the California Health Interview Survey 2009–2014 data sets for African American children aged 5–11 years (n = 1,049). The dependent variable was body mass index (BMI) while the …

Social Ecological Predictors Of Risky Sexual Behavior Among Young Adults, Maureen Muchimba

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Most studies on sexual behavior outcomes are restricted to adolescents. However, rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are highest among young adults. This study examined social–ecological predictors in adolescence that predict risky sexual behavior in young adulthood. Using longitudinal data, logistic regression was used to determine social–ecological factors that predict early sexual debut and a high number of lifetime sexual partners among 3,109 young adults. Risk-taking was associated with early sexual debut and a high number of lifetime sexual partners. Father–child connectedness decreased the odds of early sexual debut and a high number of lifetime sexual. School connectedness also decreased …

Association Of Dietary Intake With Suicidal Ideation Or Suicide Attempts In Adolescents, Zenobia J. Bryant

2019 Program & Posters

Suicide is among the leading causes of adolescent deaths worldwide and thus a significant public health concern. This cross-sectional study examined the interaction between fruit and vegetable intake and suicidal ideation or suicide attempts. Suicidal ideation and suicide attempt were significantly, positively correlated with fruit and vegetable intake even after controlling for age, sex, race, and depression. Legislators, educators, parents, and other stakeholders can use the knowledge from this study for guidance and direction in creating policies that can positively influence the mental health of adolescents.

The Effect Of Depression On Obesity Versus All-Cause Mortality, Srikanta Banerjee

2019 Program & Posters

Obesity is known to be associated with poor health in the general population. Mental illness is also known to cause disability and mortality. In this prospective analysis, we found a higher level of obesity-related mortality among individuals with depression. Social policy should be aimed at treating the mental–physical illness connection.

Sri K. Banerjee, MD, PhD, ORCID: 0000000268724983

2019 Walden University Research Symposium, Daniel W. Salter

2019 Program & Posters

Welcome to the 2019 Walden University Research Symposium. We are glad you can join us for our first symposium in conjunction with Winter Graduation in seven years. The Research Symposium is an annual event that showcases research projects from our academic community, especially work by our recent graduates. The poster presentations provide an opportunity for researchers to engage with all individuals attending the symposium and potentially to network with other interested researchers. If there is a theme this year, beyond the shared focus on social change, it would be research aimed at understanding how to respond to the challenges that …

Hazardous Waste Site Proximity And Type 2 Diabetes: From Youths To Adults, Theresa Ann Johnson

2019 Program & Posters

Human exposure to environmental toxins has been correlated with diabetes. To examine the relationship between remote exposure to hazardous waste sites (HWS) and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Priorities List of Superfund sites were analyzed. The results support obesity and advanced age as risk factors for T2DM and suggest that non- Hispanic Whites residing farther from a HWS had a reduced risk for T2DM. The social change contribution is in supporting environmental health assessments in clinical practice and influencing dialogue about social justice and the distribution of HWS.

Wellness-Focused Supervision For Counselors Working With Military Service Members And Veterans, Seth Hayden, Cynthia Briggs

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Providing counseling to military service members and veterans presents a unique constellation of considerations for providers. The context of the military, exposure to traumatic events, and other service-related experiences can impact counselors working with this population. To ensure the wellness of providers, utilizing Wellness-focused supervision as a mechanism of support can prevent and remediate deleterious outcomes associated with clinical contact with this population. Utilizing Wellness principles informed by an understanding of the unique experiences of counselors assisting military service members and veterans creates a responsive supervisory environment fostering positive counselor growth and development. This article discusses the mental health landscape …

"Evaluation Of Medication Adherence Through The Use Of Home Assisted Telemanagement", Kingsley Ezihe Ngameduru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication nonadherence can have serious consequences for patient outcomes. Home-automated telemanagement systems have supported increased levels of adherence among patients. This project explored whether the use of a home telemanagement program (HTM) would improve medication adherence in clinic patients diagnosed with hypertension (HTN). The health belief model, social learning theory, the self-regulation model and the theory of reasoned action guided this project. Providers in a primary care clinic completed the 4-question Morisky, Green, and Levine adherence scale with 50 HTN patients previously enrolled in a HTM. Survey results revealed that after 2 years in the program, patients were still forgetting …

Cybersecurity Strategies For Universities With Bring Your Own Device Programs, Hai Vu Nguyen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The bring your own device (BYOD) phenomenon has proliferated, making its way into different business and educational sectors and enabling multiple vectors of attack and vulnerability to protected data. The purpose of this multiple-case study was to explore the strategies information technology (IT) security professionals working in a university setting use to secure an environment to support BYOD in a university system. The study population was comprised of IT security professionals from the University of California campuses currently managing a network environment for at least 2 years where BYOD has been implemented. Protection motivation theory was the study's conceptual framework. …

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Knowledge And Breast Cancer In Texas, Ejike Roland Egwuekwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is a world health problem and is a leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. However, breast cancer risks were reported to be reduced through exposure to Vitamin D through its Receptors identified as the p53 target gene. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between VDR gene polymorphisms knowledge/awareness and decisions to reduce breast cancer risks and likelihood of mammogram screening among women in Texas. Data from survey were used. Roy adaptation model was the theoretical framework that guided this quasi- experimental, quantitative research. The dependent variables were decisions to …

Adhesive Transparent Chlorohexidine Gluconate Tegaderm™ Gel Dressing For Central Venous Catheter, Peter Kimiti Mwangi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) occur during the insertion or change of the dressing of the central venous catheter (CVC) and are reportable healthcare-associated infections at the state and the national level. The purpose of this systematic review of the literature was to evaluate and synthesize available evidence to establish the effectiveness of using an adhesive transparent chlorohexidine gluconate (CHG) Tegaderm™ gel dressing for CVC in the prevention of CLABSIs. The logic model was used as a framework to guide the review of the literature to establish how an intervention that is not currently practiced can contribute to CVC prevention of …

The Effect Of Maternity Care Practices On The Duration Of Breastfeeding, Lisette Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The natural practice of breastfeeding has been strongly noted as one of the most cost-effective, health promoting, disease-prevention strategies of the 21st century. Although primary health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life with added complementary foods and continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or longer, many mothers do not breastfeed their infants for the recommendation length of time. Applied policies and health practices, such as those described under the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and The International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, have been noted as contributing factors that can considerably …

Increasing Uninsured Patients' Compliance With Return Primary Care Visits, Dorothy Clare Carleton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients who are unable to comply with their health care regimen are almost 3 times more likely to have an adverse health outcome and are more likely to suffer irreversible progression of a chronic disease process. Increasing patient return clinic visits is essential, not only to curtail rapidly rising costs of health care but also to improve patient outcomes. This project focused on an uninsured patient population of a clinic in a rural community in the southeastern United States. The purpose of the project was to conduct a systematic review of the literature and identify the barriers and motivating factors …

Effect Of The Breakthrough Student Assistance Program On Grades, Behavior, And Attendance, Regina Shoppe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is estimated that 9-14% of children from birth to age 5 experience social and emotional problems that may significantly affect their ability to learn later in life and students of any age may experience an array of problems resulting in difficulty learning. Although interventions are available to address these issues within the school context, government funding for programs is often limited to those that are evidence based. Student Assistance Programs (SAPs) address a variety of barriers to learning but many are not supported by empirical evidence. The purpose of the study was to determine if Breakthrough, a specific SAP, …

Leptin Level Variance In Adults With And Without Cancer, Vilisa Chatman-Terry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

In 2018, health statistics revealed that, despite the many preventive measures established,

cancer was the second leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause

of death in 22 states, exceeded only by heart disease. With obesity/leptin levels reaching

pandemic levels worldwide, and cancer having a well-known association with obesity,

both chronic diseases represent a large proportion of public health challenges. Guided by

the social ecological model, the purpose of this cross-sectional, quantitative study was to

examine if a significant difference exists in leptin levels among adults with different

types of obesity-associated and common cancers and …

Poverty, Demographics, And Hepatitis C Infection In The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, Wilson J. Washington Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hepatitis (HCV) is a communicable disease that impacts many Americans. The scholarly literature lacked the knowledge pertaining to the relationships between poverty and HCV diagnosis and prescription for HCV medication. The purpose of the study was to measure the magnitude and statistical significance of these relationships, as modeled by the health belief model and public health surveillance and action framework. Specifically, the study was designed to determine whether there is a statistically significant relationship between living below the poverty line and being diagnosed with HCV, as well as living being below the poverty line and being prescribed HCV medication. A …

Adolescent Obesity Intervention In An Outpatient Primary Care Setting, Chinyere Susanna Awamba-Agu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of education in the outpatient setting related to causes, complications, and prevention of obesity is associated with high rates of obesity in adolescents 12 to 19 years of age. The gap in the adolescents' and family members' knowledge of obesity contributes to the adolescents' high calorie consumption and the development of obesity. The purpose of this project was to develop a staff education guideline for use by clinicians to educate adolescents and their families on how to develop nutritious food plans and decrease obesity. The project practice question asked whether educating the primary care providers in the primary care …

Increasing Daily Exercise Adherence In Women By Examining Motivational Factors, Victoria Wozniak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women ages 20–39 years old have seen the most dramatic increase in obesity levels in the United States over the last 2 decades. Researchers have indicated the need for studies to increase motivation in women to promote daily exercise. There is a gap in the literature about what motivational factors are most effective with increasing exercise in daily life. Using the transtheoretical model of change (TM) as the grounding theory, this study measured daily exercise adherence. A selective sampling of women ages 20–39 years old in the United States were recruited to complete an online survey. The online survey included …

African American, Postrelease, Opioid, Female Offenders' Experiences In Job Interviews, Wanda Dunmore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing recidivism rate for African American female offenders is exacerbated by postrelease job candidates' difficulties with interviewing for employment. The purpose of this hermeneutical, phenomenological study was to examine experiences from postrelease, African American, female, opioid offenders when interviewing with potential employers. Critical race Black feminist theory was used as the ontological lens for this research. Criterion sampling was used to recruit 12 female African American opioid female research participants. Data collection occurred via 12 semistructured, face-to-face interviewees. Thematic analysis was used to develop common emergent themes from the lived experiences of postrelease, African American, female, opioid offenders. Results …

Leadership Practices Principals Believe Reduce Reading Achievement Gaps For Economically Disadvantaged Students, Andrew Richard Buchheit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evidence suggests that principals' practices influence student achievement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the beliefs elementary school principals in the mid-Atlantic United States had about which leadership practices have been instrumental in reducing the achievement gap between economically-disadvantaged students and all other students at their schools. The leadership model that Kouzes and Posner developed, which identified 5 practices of exemplary leaders, served as the conceptual framework for this study. Eleven principals who were leaders at schools where the achievement gap in reading had been reduced compared with the state average were interviewed. A combination of a …

Positive Deviance Behaviors And Definition In Nursing, Stacy L. January

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The concept of positive deviance (PD) has not been studied in the context of nursing. Grounded in narrative inquiry and combined with vocabularies of motive and symbolic interactionism, the purpose of this study was to explore whether PD behaviors existed in nursing, and if so, to develop an operational definition of PD for nursing. The research question addressed what PD behaviors, if any, were present in nurses’ workplace stories. Using posted flyers, eight participants either self-selected or were selected by snowball method to participate. Interviews were conducted in locations decided on by each participant. Interview data were obtained, transcribed, then …

A Lifestyle Modification Toolkit To Increase Physical Activity Among Young Adults, Anthonia Ninikanwa Nwanna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substantial decreases in physical activity have been observed between early to late adolescence in males and females, with decreases in levels of activity into adulthood. Physical inactivity among young adults leads to medical conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, stroke, ischemic heart disease, falls resulting in hip fractures, and depression later in life. Advanced Nurse Practitioners have a significant impact on the problem of physical inactivity among young adults through education to improve knowledge regarding physical activity participation. The focus of this project was to develop a toolkit on lifestyle modification as a resource for physical education teachers and nurses …

Staff Education: Hypertension Management For Adults In Primary Care Settings, Doris Adediwura Obaze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Management of hypertension and its complications requires health care providers to

understand the reason for developing the disease. Complications of hypertension (HTN)

are more prevalent when patient interventions are not consistently performed by staff. A

gap in staff knowledge regarding the management of patients with HTN was noted at an

outpatient clinic in the southwestern United States. A staff education project based on

the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC-8) guidelines for HTN management was

developed to address the gap in knowledge. This DNP project sought to understand the

impact of an evidence-based staff education program in improving the knowledge of …

Utilizing Food Safety Knowledge In Comprehensive Patient Care Among Harlem Hospital Physicians, Sean Alexander Shivers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people throughout the world become sick every year from consuming contaminated foods, which impacts countries’ socioeconomic development, straining their healthcare system, travel and tourism, and foreign trade markets. To help alleviate the impact foodborne illness (FBI) has on society, scholars suggest physicians incorporate food safety in their standard work practice. The purpose of this study was to determine if Harlem Hospital physicians utilized food safety knowledge in comprehensive patient care with a diagnosis of FBI, in addition to how physicians passed this food safety information onto the patient. A qualitative methodology using an …

The Impact Of Campus Health Services On The Attitudes, Perceptions, Beliefs, And Behaviors Of Historically Black College And University Students, Micah Mccray Griffin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans suffer worse health outcomes related to chronic disease than any other racial or ethnic group. The negative effects associated with poor dietary habits and a low propensity to exercise impact young adult African Americans who attend Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs) and can lead to higher mortality rates. It is important for HBCU campus health centers to address the perceptions and beliefs of students to positively impact health behaviors associated with diet and exercise. At the time of this study, there was limited research on-campus health centers and their impact on HBCU student health beliefs and behaviors. Therefore, this …

Factors That Influence Physical Activity Among African American Mothers At Recreation Centers, Nichole Leigh Glover

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical activity is a critical factor in preventing obesity and other chronic illnesses. African American women experience higher rates of physical inactivity than the general population. As a key figure in the family, African American mothers should model healthy behaviors to the family, especially their children. This qualitative study explored the physical activity attitudes of African American mothers who frequently visit a recreation center in the Columbus, Ohio, area. The research questions focused on the possible barriers and motivators for physical activity engagement. The theory of planned behavior, which emphasizes behaviors, intentions, and attitudes when exploring health behaviors, guided the …

Nutritional Education Program Using The Dash Diet For African Americans, Angela B. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension (HTN) is a serious yet common condition that can be prevented or

controlled. Complications of uncontrolled HTN can lead to cardiac failure, renal disease,

and stroke. In the United States, HTN is greater among African Americans than any other

ethnic group and is prevalent in the community in which this project was conducted. To

address the problem of HTN and its effect on members of the African American (AA)

population in the site community, a program of HTN self-management emphasizing

patient education and healthy behaviors for the AA community was developed. The

purpose of this project was to search …

Failure To Launch, Wellness, And Mentorship, Adriano Roberto Marcoccia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As of 2015, over 34% of emerging adults in the United States between 18 and 34-years-old were still living with their parents or guardians, and prior research has suggested this trend was steadily growing. The current study examined contextual factors, such as an individual's state of well-being during this transitional phase, to determine what, if any, variables may also be contributing to this issue. Both Adlerian theory and social exchange theory were used as the theoretical foundation to better understand how to mitigate this phenomenon. Amazon MTURK was used to recruit 336 participants who completed the survey. A series of …

Social-Emotional Support As A Mediator Of Household Structure And Mental Distress In Women, Trisha Jeanine Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental illness affects more women than men in the United States. Poor mental health in reproductive-age women has negative implications on population health. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine the relationship between household structure and frequency of mental distress, with consideration of the mediation social-emotional support provides for reproductive-age women. The social ecological model was the theoretical framework for this research, in which frequency of mental distress related to the individual-level of the human-environment interaction construct. Household structure and social-emotional support were examined at the relationship-level. Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression were used to conduct …

Natural Environment Associations With Mental Health And Obesity Status, Adam Edwin London

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health and obesity were ranked among the health priorities of the 2014 and 2017 Community Health Needs Assessments in Kent County, Michigan. Exposure to nature is correlated to improved health outcomes across a variety of morbidities including poor mental health and obesity. This cross-sectional study set within the frameworks of attention restoration theory, environmental health, and pathways to health benefits from nature assessed county survey data including self-reported nature exposures/interactions separated into 3 domain areas: access to nature, attitudes about nature, and physical activity in nature or in nature-based activities. Binary logistic regression analyses of the 653 respondents found …