Digital Commons Network^™

Improving Staff Knowledge Of Insulin Protocols, Farzana Dalal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A midwestern inpatient hospital experienced a rise in insulin-induced hypoglycemic events on an acute medical-surgical floor as evidenced by 6-23 incidences per month between September 2024 to February 2025. A gap in practice revealed deficiencies in knowledge on the use of insulin protocols, which led to the project question addressing if nursing education on the use of insulin protocols would improve nursing staff knowledge as measured by pre- and post-educational surveys, thus resulting in decreased hypoglycemic events. This educational project utilized the ADDIE pedagogy, the John Hopkins evidence-based practice (JHEBP) model, and the Walden University's DNP Project Process Guide. This …

Type Of Intimate Partner Violence And Association With Perpetrator Demographics, Katrisha Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health concern because of its long-term impact on health and well-being with 1 in 4 American women experiencing some form of IPV. To help understand how age, gender, and race of both, the perpetrator and victim, impact the type of IPV, multiple regression analysis was performed with secondary data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey (N=541). This study used Raewyn Connell’s Theory of Masculinity as a conceptual framework. This theory states that males have a need to show dominance, strength, and suppress emotion, which can inform patterns of violence in …

Teachers' Perspectives On Teacher Retention In Early Childhood Programs, Christopher Lavon Curry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a Midwestern state, teacher shortages have intensified the retention challenges of prekindergarten and kindergarten (PreK–K) teachers in early childhood (EC) programs. The problem addressed in this study was the retention of PreK–K teachers in EC programs and schools at the local level. Grounded in dual-factor and coping-competence- context theories, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perspectives of the factors affecting the retention of PreK–K teachers in EC programs at the local level. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 12 PreK–K teachers in a Midwestern state, who had a minimum of 3 years of …

Parole/Probation Officers’ Perspective On Understanding Crime Among Liberian Immigrant Youths In Southwest Philadelphia, Jamil J. Morris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research explored challenges of crime and delinquency among Liberian immigrant youth in Southwest Philadelphia, focusing on the social and structural factors that influence their lived experiences. Utilizing qualitative in-depth interviews with 17 juvenile parole/probation officers of Liberian immigrant youths, the purpose of this study was to uncover the underlying reasons that lead Liberian immigrant youth to engage in crime and delinquency, and how they cope with the obstacles they encounter. Employing social disorganization theory, differential association theory, and subcultural theory, the study underscored the impact of neighborhood instability, peer influences, and differing value systems on understanding the youths’ criminal …

Perspectives And Experiences Of Clinicians Who Treat Incarcerated Youth In Florida, Rose-Lissa Meline Regnier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the experiences and perceptions of social workers, human services professionals, and mental health counselors, psychologists, or psychiatrists who treat youth with mental health issues within the criminal justice system in Florida. Using a qualitative research method, this study was framed by relational theory. Ten participants were interviewed regarding the perspectives, challenges, successes of clinicians and how they incorporate the needs and perceptions of youth into their treatment approaches. After coding and thematic analysis, five key themes emerged from the data. First, systemic challenges and inefficiencies in service delivery were evident, highlighting gaps in execution, resource shortages, and …

Modifying Tier 1 Strategies To Promote Positive Behaviors Of Autistic Preschoolers, Courteney Johnson, Maiko Yomogida, Michela Arlia, Angie Sjoquist, Maylin Herrera

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Our study assessed the outcomes of implementing a researcher-developed, teacher-led preventive program in special education preschool classrooms. We evaluated outcomes that were specific to student behaviors, classroom climate, and teacher self-efficacy. As iterative components of the Pyramid Model, an early-childhood-focused iteration of the Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports framework, the intervention focused on teaching, modeling, and reinforcing behavior expectations using research-based strategies deemed effective at supporting the autistic population. Participants in our study included seven special education preschool classrooms, each composed of approximately five students, one teacher, and two teacher assistants. While the student population included those with various disabilities, …

Exploring Reciprocal Determinism, Behavior Capability, Observational Learning, And Self-Efficacy On Protective Behaviors For African American Millennial Women With Cardiovascular Disease And Depression, Ja’Sent Angelic Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cardiovascular disease plays a significant role in the number of death and disabilities around the world. While there have been marginal gains in positive health outcomes for women who suffer from cardiovascular disease, African American women continue to fall behind compared to their White counterparts. There is a comorbidity of cardiovascular disease and depression in older African American women. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how the comorbidity of cardiovascular disease and depression uniquely present in young African American women, how these two diseases influence cardiovascular health protective factors, and how components of …

An Explanation Of African American Males' Experiences And Decisions In The Pursuit Of Doctoral Degrees, Vincent L. Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a limited understanding of the lived experiences of African American males who had completed their doctoral degrees, which could provide solutions to the barriers faced by those did not complete the doctoral program. Elements of critical race theory, Vroom’s expectancy theory, and Herzberg’s theory of motivation were combined into a single conceptual framework to understand the barriers experienced by African American men that prevented them from pursuing and completing doctoral programs. The data analysis process included a pre-coding exercise conducted after data collection to identify patterns or commonalities between the two sets of data. The results from this …

Parents’ Experiences With Their Child’S Psychotherapy And Mental Illness, Valerie Marsman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low parental engagement—especially among fathers and ethnic minority groups like Latinx parents—in child psychotherapy increases the risk of treatment dropout, behavioral issues, and poorer outcomes, contributing to persistent disparities. More research was needed on perceptual barriers and facilitators to parental engagement such as attitudes, beliefs, and expectations. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of parents’ experiences with their child’s psychotherapy and mental illness to facilitate parental engagement in services that support the child. An interpretative phenomenological approach and multiperspectival focus group design were used to illuminate each participant’s voice and explore overarching themes. Hill’s theory …

Expatriate Educators' Perspectives Of Transformational Leadership Practices In International Schools In Kuwait, Stacey Howe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective leadership is crucial for educational success, yet its definition varies across cultures, which may cause communication issues, especially in culturally diverse environments like international schools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore differing perceptions of transformational leadership (TL) between 68 expatriate teachers and 27 administrators, representing response rates of 22% and 47%, respectively, in three Kuwait international schools. Grounded in Bass's TL theory, the Global Transformational Leadership survey, an anonymous online survey with each of seven leadership domains represented by one item, was used in the study. Data collected on a 5-point frequency scale were analyzed using …

Kenyan Perspectives Of Trauma: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experiences Of Helping Professionals, Megan Flinn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research addresses the critical gap in counseling literature regarding multicultural and trauma-informed training, particularly relevant given Kenya’s documented trauma and limited mental health resources, highlighting the need for incorporating lived experiences into research to equip counselors for increasingly globalized practice. The present hermeneutic phenomenological study aims to fill a gap in the literature by exploring the lived experiences of Kenyan helping professionals as they care for survivors of trauma in their country of origin. A previous data set was used, consisting of interviews from four Kenyan helping professionals in 2019, all whom worked actively with survivors of trauma at …

School Counselors’ Perceptions On Providing Mental Health Services In Schools, Kimberly Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing prevalence of mental health concerns among students in the United States has amplified the demand for comprehensive school-based mental health services. School counselors are often positioned as frontline providers of this support, yet research suggests they face numerous systemic and role-related challenges. This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to explore school counselors’ perceptions of their roles in providing mental health services, the barriers they encounter, and the ways in which self-efficacy is shaped by these experiences. Ten school counselors from diverse school settings participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed five central themes: (a) roles and responsibilities, (b) …

Psychotropic Medication Nonadherence Among Psychiatric Patients Using Motivational Interviewing, Kate Ananga Pabai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This educational intervention involved enhancing knowledge and competency of nursing staff in terms of application of motivational interviewing (MI) techniques to improve adherence to prescribed psychotropic medications among patients with mental health conditions. The project met criteria for a staff education initiative, directly addressing the ongoing issue of psychotropic medication nonadherence, a prevalent and pressing challenge at the project site. Clinicians observed frequent missed doses and treatment discontinuation, leading to symptom relapse, emergency room visits, and avoidable hospital admissions. These outcomes emphasized the need for a targeted intervention to support frontline nursing staff. The practice-focused question guiding the project was: …

Improving Multilingual Competence In Higher Education: An Integrated Framework For Parallel Learning Of Two Foreign Languages, Aiym Kontek, Albina Dossanova, Galiya Kulzhanbekova

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The study aims to create a comprehensive framework for the effective organization of parallel teaching of two foreign languages in higher education in Kazakhstan, accounting for linguistic, psychological, didactic, and technological aspects.

Methods: We used theoretical (modeling, analysis, and generalization) and empirical methods (pedagogical experiment, testing, questionnaires, and methods of mathematical statistics) in the research. An original structural and content model of parallel learning was developed, including interrelated blocks for the integrated formation of speech activity skills and a lexico–grammatical base in each of the languages. The effectiveness of the proposed model was confirmed during the pedagogical experiment, which …

Perspectives Of Childcare Center Directors Regarding Barriers To Naeyc Accreditation, Jessica Baffoe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

NAEYC accreditation is a hallmark of quality in early learning and lack of accreditation suggested a gap in practice. The problem that was the focus of this research is that only 12% of early childhood center-based programs in the United States are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose of the study was to explore perspectives of childcare center directors regarding NAEYC accreditation. Knowles’s adult learning provided the conceptual framework for this study and guided 3 research questions about directors’ perspectives of barriers, benefits, and the necessary support they associated with NAEYC accreditation. …

Lgbt Young Adults’ Experience Of Exiting Foster Care, Shaylon Joseph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The scholarly community understands little about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) young adults as they transition out of the foster care system. This study explored the lived experiences and difficulties encountered by LGBT young adults after exiting foster care. Grounded in Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, this qualitative dissertation employed a phenomenological design to interpret how participants made sense of their transitions. Recruitment was conducted through a flyer posted on Facebook and the Department of Children and Family Services; 10 LGBT young adults participated in 60-minute interviews. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study revealed six overarching …

The Physical Characteristics Linked To The Perception Of Criminality Of Female Offenders, Jennifer Anne Chapman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gender disparities can be seen throughout the criminal justice system, where females are seen as weak and incapable of causing harm. This quantitative study sought to add to the existing research regarding physical characteristics linked to criminality. The labeling theory explains how physical characteristics labeled as deviant can alter a person’s perception when deciding whether an individual is violent. The research questions explored the physical characteristics linked to the perception of violent female offenders as well as the relationship between the gender of the participant and their ability to successfully identify a violent female offender. A mixture of statistical designs …

Tailoring Hiv/Aids Communication To The Cultural Contexts Of The Borana Pastoral Community In Ethiopia, Dano Olana, Sabihah Moola

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The HIV/AIDS health communication approach in sub-Saharan Africa has often overlooked sociocultural specificities. The current approach follows a generalist notion that does not consider the specific contextual domains accordingly. Similarly, the cultural appropriateness of HIV/AIDS health communication among the Borana pastoral community in Ethiopia is not clear. In this study, we aimed to explore whether HIV/AIDS communication among the Borana pastoral community was tailored to the cultural contexts of the community. A qualitative case study was used to unpack the cultural communication contexts for HIV/AIDS. We collected data using three methods, namely, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis …

Effective Communication Strategies For Behavioral Health Leaders In A Telework Setting, Belinda Preston-Cash

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Positive Social Emotional Influences Experienced By College-Educated Black Men During Their K–12 Education In U.S. Public Schools, Lyzanethia Howard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although negative experiences and unfair factors in the K–12 educational experiences of Black males are well-researched, very little research is found on the positive contributions toward their educational success. As some Black males successfully complete K–12 schooling and advance to the college level, it is imperative to understand the factors that positively contributed to their educational advancement. Guided by Yosso’s theory of community cultural wealth, this basic qualitative study explored six aspects of cultural capital—the aspirational, familial, linguistic, resistant, navigational, and social capital—that contributed to the educational success and advancement of Black males during their journeys through the U.S. K–12 …

Impactful Programs And Initiatives For Employee Resource Groups That Promote And Sustain Positive Social Determinants Of Health, Lisa Kangas, Maureen Hall, Julie James, Gladys Peters

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leaders’ lack of interest in employee resource groups (ERGs) and related programs can negatively impact an organization’s culture, operational excellence, and employee retention and have detrimental implications for social determinants of health (SDOH). Prioritizing ERG programs and initiatives is essential for organizational success and can positively affect SDOH. This qualitative pragmatic inquiry study identified and explored ERG programs and initiatives that support organizational culture, operational excellence, and employee retention.The research question for this study was: What ERG programs and initiatives support organizational culture, operational excellence, and employee retention? The study included eight DEI leaders …

A Chat Room In A City Of Missouri's Public Safety Answering Point, Rochele Wynee' Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite new and emerging communications technologies to improve access to 911 emergency services for people with speech, hearing, and cognitive disabilities, there continue to be access barriers for those who may require silent communications due to the nature of the emergency. Chat rooms in 911 communications present a promising solution to this challenge. However, the current literature has inadequately examined the use of chat rooms in 911 communications, mainly due to the nascent nature of this technology. This study aimed to fill that gap by providing valuable insights to enhance access to 911 emergency services for individuals who may require …

Mental Health Services Utilization And Health Insurance Status Among Firefighters, Yvette Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Firefighting exposes individuals to significant psychological dangers, leading to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. This study investigated the underuse of mental health services among firefighters, focusing on the relationship between health insurance status and service utilization while considering age, gender, race, and ethnicity. Data from the National Health Interview Survey within the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series were analyzed using a quantitative approach. The study employed logistic regression to examine the likelihood of mental health service utilization based on health insurance status, adjusting for demographic factors. The sample included 1,526 firefighters, predominantly male (78.9%) and …

A Qualitative Case Study On Mental Health Stigma Within Rastafarian Culture, Alecia Douglas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cultural and social factors, such as ethnic and racial backgrounds, religion, and supernatural beliefs, influence mental health utilization among African Americans. Past studies show that Rastafarians underutilize mental health services due to the stigma associated with mental health. However, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the incorporation of culturally sensitive and inclusive approaches in mental illness treatment. Per the biopsychosocial (BPS) pathways framework, biological, psychological, and social factors interact to provide a holistic architype of mental illness. The framework can be applied to understand how mental health stigma is influenced by personal beliefs, experiences, values, cultural, and societal …

Emergency Managers Perceived Effectiveness Of Disaster Mitigation Plans And Training Focused On The Special Needs Population, Jessica Windsor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The special needs population faces increased vulnerability during disasters, yet disaster planning often overlooks their unique requirements. This study focuses on the experiences and perceptions of emergency managers in the Southeastern United States. The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which emergency management plans recognize and address the needs of special populations and identify training gaps. The research questions aimed to uncover the factors that influence inclusive planning, training effectiveness, and resource allocation. Grounded in the Disaster Health Framework, the study utilized a qualitative research design involving surveys with 14 emergency managers, followed by thematic analysis …

Experiences Of Supervisees Developing Culturally Responsive Skills Through Clinical Supervision, Jaime Lyn Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Culturally responsive supervision has been shown to be beneficial to supervisees (Adams et al., 2023). A research gap exists in culturally responsive clinical supervision through the lens of supervisees’ experiences; as a result, supervisors are ill-equipped to offer culturally responsive clinical supervision. The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to explore supervisees’ culturally responsive experiences in clinical supervision. Grounded in critical race theory, this study highlights the narratives of marginalized voices as they share their stories of developing culturally responsive skills through clinical supervision. That is, the research question explored the experiences of counseling supervisees as they develop culturally …

Strategies Leaders In Affordable Housing Can Use To Decrease Property Management Turnover And Increase Professional Tenure, Marisa T. Baldwin-Woodhouse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Executive leaders of rental housing in the affordable housing sector have a high turnover rate of property managers, resulting in wasted time, compliance concerns, loss of institutional knowledge, deterioration of operational costs, and lost revenue, negatively impacting employee commitment. Grounded in the job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective strategies that some executive leaders in affordable housing can use to decrease property manager turnover and increase professional tenure. The participants comprised eight executive leaders who oversaw property managers in affordable housing in the United States. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, and thematic …

Navigating The Employability Landscape: Unanswered Questions For International Students In Southeast Asia, Hengzhi Hu

Higher Learning Research Communications

As Southeast Asia becomes an increasingly popular destination for international students, important questions arise concerning the employability of graduates from this region. This comment article advocates for a comprehensive examination of how effectively Southeast Asian universities equip their international students to navigate both global and home country labor markets. Additionally, this article calls for a critical rethinking of the global recognition and value of qualifications obtained from Southeast Asian higher education providers, which often face challenges in being perceived as on par with those from more established educational hubs and underscores the necessity for comparative research to assess how the …

Parents’ Experience Of The Effects Of Racism On The Psychological And Physical Health Of Teenagers With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Akane Nakamura

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many children and adults in the United States experience developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, leading to bias, marginalization, and economic hardship. Racism exacerbates these issues for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), increasing depression, isolation, and health disparities. The purpose of this study was to explore parents' perspectives on the impact of racism on the psychological and physical health of teenagers aged 13–18 years with moderate IDD in the Northwestern United States. Disability critical race theory provided a lens for examining how race and disability intersect to create barriers for these teenagers. The research method was qualitative. Phenomenology …

Reducing Use Of Force In Law Enforcement Through Higher Education, Joseph J. Davern

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative research study examined whether earning a college degree reduced police officers’ use of force in Massachusetts during 2023. Reducing force incidents is a concern for both citizens and law enforcement due to increasing public scrutiny and a need to improve community-police relations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether police officers with college degrees are less likely to use force during citizen encounters compared to those with only a high school diploma. The first research question explored the difference in the amount of force used by municipal police officers with college degrees versus those with high …