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Structured Staff Education On Incorporating Social Determinants Of Health Into Phq-9 Depression Screening For Improved Patient Outcomes, Gbemisola Elizabeth Mojelope

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing (DNP) project addressed a significant practice gap in an outpatient community healthcare setting, where staff lacked knowledge related to patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression screening. The project’s focus question addressed whether staff education increased knowledge pertaining to the PHQ-9 depression screening. The initiative aimed to equip healthcare providers with the skills needed to incorporate social determinants of health in routine depression screenings, enhancing early identification of depressive symptoms and supporting targeted interventions. Fifteen healthcare workers voluntarily participated in the education. The in-person education initiative highlighted the importance of integrating social determinants of health (SDoH) into PHQ-9 …

Structured Staff Education On Incorporating Social Determinants Of Health Into Phq-9 Depression Screening For Improved Patient Outcomes, Gbemisola Elizabeth Mojelope

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing (DNP) project addressed a significant practice gap in an outpatient community healthcare setting, where staff lacked knowledge related to patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression screening. The project’s focus question addressed whether staff education increased knowledge pertaining to the PHQ-9 depression screening. The initiative aimed to equip healthcare providers with the skills needed to incorporate social determinants of health in routine depression screenings, enhancing early identification of depressive symptoms and supporting targeted interventions. Fifteen healthcare workers voluntarily participated in the education. The in-person education initiative highlighted the importance of integrating social determinants of health (SDoH) into PHQ-9 …

Lived Experiences Of South Texas Police Officers After Completing Crisis Intervention Training, Lyna Yvette Campos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study addressed the paucity of research on the experiences of police officers who have both completed crisis intervention team (CIT) training and interacted with people with mental illnesses (PwMI). To address the problem, I investigated police officers’ perceptions of PwMI and the pertinent CIT training information they found advantageous when interacting with a PwMI in crisis. Rogers’s protection motivation theory was the theoretical foundation for addressing the research questions. Interviews were conducted with 13 South Texas police officers who had completed CIT training. Data was collected through transcribed interviews and analyzed with an approach that included theme …

Information Technology Management And Emotional Intelligence, Tina M. Muheim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology (IT) employees often face high stress, burnout, and turnover, indicating a potential gap in IT leaders’ emotional intelligence (EI), which may hinder their ability to support and retain their teams effectively. Since IT plays a critical role in organizational performance and achieving strategic goals, addressing this gap is crucial for improving team well-being and organizational success. Grounded in EI theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between IT managers’ EI subscales—assertiveness and interpersonal relationships—and their influence on the EI subscale, happiness/well–being indicator. The participants were 38 IT managers from U.S. organizations who …

Lived Experiences Of South Texas Police Officers After Completing Crisis Intervention Training, Lyna Yvette Campos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study addressed the paucity of research on the experiences of police officers who have both completed crisis intervention team (CIT) training and interacted with people with mental illnesses (PwMI). To address the problem, I investigated police officers’ perceptions of PwMI and the pertinent CIT training information they found advantageous when interacting with a PwMI in crisis. Rogers’s protection motivation theory was the theoretical foundation for addressing the research questions. Interviews were conducted with 13 South Texas police officers who had completed CIT training. Data was collected through transcribed interviews and analyzed with an approach that included theme …

Education Of Nursing Staff On Management Of Aggression And Violence In Mental Health Patients Using Less Restrictive Measures., Irene Ozurumba-Omoregie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health nurses frequently face physical and emotional challenges due to the high prevalence of violence in psychiatric settings. A 2023 survey by the American Nurses Association revealed that 62% of nurses reported abuse from patients, underscoring the need for improved training on managing violent behaviors without excessive reliance on restraint and seclusion. This project addressed a critical knowledge gap in de-escalation techniques among mental health nurses by developing and implementing an educational program for violence prevention. The training included de-escalation strategies and alternative management practices aimed at reducing patient aggression while enhancing nurse safety and confidence. Forty-five of sixty …

Education Of Nursing Staff On Management Of Aggression And Violence In Mental Health Patients Using Less Restrictive Measures., Irene Ozurumba-Omoregie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health nurses frequently face physical and emotional challenges due to the high prevalence of violence in psychiatric settings. A 2023 survey by the American Nurses Association revealed that 62% of nurses reported abuse from patients, underscoring the need for improved training on managing violent behaviors without excessive reliance on restraint and seclusion. This project addressed a critical knowledge gap in de-escalation techniques among mental health nurses by developing and implementing an educational program for violence prevention. The training included de-escalation strategies and alternative management practices aimed at reducing patient aggression while enhancing nurse safety and confidence. Forty-five of sixty …

Strategies For Patient-Centered Care Implementation In Independent Medical Practices, Jesse Otto Irvin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Method: Qualitative Design: Pragmatic Inquiry Why the study is being done: Explore strategies some independent medical practice professionals used to implement patient-centered care, ensuring quality patient care and practice profitability. How the data was collected. Semistructured interviews, audio, and examining public records Identify the population from which the researcher will collect data: six professionals from six medical practices in the St. Louis MSA who implemented patient-centered care to improve patient care quality and practice profitability. How data was analyzed. Qualitative with Themes Communication Financial Consciousness Quality Patient Care Time Management How will data contribute to social change: Implementing best practices …

Strategies For Patient-Centered Care Implementation In Independent Medical Practices, Jesse Otto Irvin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Method: Qualitative Design: Pragmatic Inquiry Why the study is being done: Explore strategies some independent medical practice professionals used to implement patient-centered care, ensuring quality patient care and practice profitability. How the data was collected. Semistructured interviews, audio, and examining public records Identify the population from which the researcher will collect data: six professionals from six medical practices in the St. Louis MSA who implemented patient-centered care to improve patient care quality and practice profitability. How data was analyzed. Qualitative with Themes Communication Financial Consciousness Quality Patient Care Time Management How will data contribute to social change: Implementing best practices …

Washington, Dc Public School Educators’ Perspectives On The Implementation Of Educational Technology In Music Education, Steven Garrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a gap in practice in the consistent use of educational technology to engage students, provide instruction differentiation, and improve the overall music learning experience in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). The inconsistent use of technology in DCPS music programs limits students’ potential to fully experience and benefit from music education advancements. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of K–12 DCPS music teachers on the use of educational technology to engage students, provide differentiated instruction, and improve overall learning outcomes. The conceptual framework was Davis’s technology acceptance model, which has been …

Washington, Dc Public School Educators’ Perspectives On The Implementation Of Educational Technology In Music Education, Steven Garrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a gap in practice in the consistent use of educational technology to engage students, provide instruction differentiation, and improve the overall music learning experience in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). The inconsistent use of technology in DCPS music programs limits students’ potential to fully experience and benefit from music education advancements. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of K–12 DCPS music teachers on the use of educational technology to engage students, provide differentiated instruction, and improve overall learning outcomes. The conceptual framework was Davis’s technology acceptance model, which has been …

Protecting The Mental Health Of Children Exposed To Domestic Violence In Dallas, Texas, Lakitta Brewton

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: This project Aims to explore the impacts of domestic violence and provide a prevention focused response that prioritizes early intervention over crisis management. Shifting the focus from reactive to proactive care will strengthen the community's well-being and ensure that families receive the support they need and deserve.

Significant Findings: Children who are exposed to domestic violence are at a much higher risk of developing mental health challenges, like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (NCTSN, 2022). In Dallas, the numbers are alarming, with over 13,800 family violence incidents reported in 2023, many of which involved children, either …

Substance Use Prevention For Lgbtq+ Youth And Young Adults, Dustin Braley

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: Improve mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth by reducing the prevalence of substance use through strategic prevention measures.

Significant Findings: LGBTQ+ youth experience significantly higher rates of substance use compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, often as a way to cope with systemic discrimination, family rejection, and a lack of culturally competent support (Marshal et al., 2008; Madireddy & Madireddy, 2022; Mallory, Brown, & Sears, 2019; The Trevor Project, 2022). This paper examines how family-centered models like FCU and FAP can improve prevention by addressing parent-child dynamics and supporting LGBTQ+ youth. It explores barriers created by discriminatory …

Adolescent Substance Abuse In Central New Jersey, Kaitlyn Santucci

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this portfolio is to explore methods of reducing substance abuse among New Jersey teenagers through increased substance use education for students and families. Specifically, through programs developed for use in the public school system, ensuring that children have equal access to the materials.

Significant Findings:

In the state of New Jersey, adolescent substance abuse continues to be an ongoing problem. Rates of abuse of specific substances, such as marijuana vapes, have increased over recent years (NCHS Data Query System, 2024). Significant risk factors include a lack of proper substance abuse education, social normalization of substance …

Post-Incarceration Drug Relapse Prevention In Penobscot County, Maine, Carolina Villalobos

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

No abstract provided.

Domestic Violence In Florence, Alabama, Isabella Sinde

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal would be to contribute to the prevention and reduction of domestic violence in Lauderdale County, Alabama, by raising awareness, supporting and empowering survivors, and advocating for system-wide changes promoting education, the allocation of necessary aid, and community well-being.

Significant Findings: Domestic violence (DV) is a serious public health issue negatively affecting people worldwide, including in the city of Florence, Alabama. DV can cause a host of mental and physical consequences, such as poor self-esteem, internalized anger or resentment, severe injury, and even death (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2023). This issue can happen to individuals from all …

Accessible Mental Health Chicago, Guadalupe Cuevas

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My prevention-focused goal statement for Accessible Mental Health Chicago is to create a program that focuses on providing mental health resources for all in all areas of Chicago. This is by having community based low-cost or no-cost mental health services throughout the city, in the local languages that are of that community.

Significant Findings: While there are some limited resources in the areas with the highest calls for mental health crisis, they are not accessible for most of the city. While there are mental health centers throughout the city there aren’t many low or no cost resources. This …

Smoking Cessation And Prevention In Spartanburg County, South Carolina, Shezada Holland

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal for this prevention portfolio is to reduce the percentage of adults in Spartanburg County, South Carolina who smoke tobacco. Significant

Findings: In this social change portfolio, I highlight the profound impact of adult smoking in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where in 2021, 18% of adults smoked; higher than both the state (16%) and national (15%) averages. Also, that year, 17.1 million pounds of tobacco were harvested in South Carolina, contributing to the crisis. In this paper, I examine the risk and protective factors that influence whether an individual smokes. Smoking rates are disproportionately high among American …

African American College Students’ Perceived Motivation And Engagement In Online Learning Environments, Juanita Sharpe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The current study delved into the problematic achievement gap between African-American graduates students and other groups, specifically in the online learning environment. African-American graduate students’ lower achievement is problematic due to its lost opportunity costs and social subjugation of an entire group of Americans. The study’s purpose was to improve our understanding of this problem in order to better inform the content and packaging of future academic delivery to this population. A qualitative methodology with a phenomenological design was used to cull the 1st hand experiences of African-American graduate students as to their online learning experiences. Self-determination and constructivism theories …

A Mother's Understanding Of Her Adolescent: A Social Anxiety Study, Cheronda Pinkard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) affects 1% to 13% of adolescents, often placing significant demands on their caregivers. Mothers frequently adapt their behaviors to accommodate their child’s anxiety, which may impact their well-being and the parent-child relationship. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of mothers accommodating adolescents with SAD to understand better the emotional and relational toll of this caregiving role. The problem addressed is the limited understanding of how maternal accommodation affects mothers. Mental health practitioners, educators, and policymakers may benefit from this research by gaining insight into these families' challenges and informing family-centered interventions and support services. Guided …

African American College Students’ Perceived Motivation And Engagement In Online Learning Environments, Juanita Sharpe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The current study delved into the problematic achievement gap between African-American graduates students and other groups, specifically in the online learning environment. African-American graduate students’ lower achievement is problematic due to its lost opportunity costs and social subjugation of an entire group of Americans. The study’s purpose was to improve our understanding of this problem in order to better inform the content and packaging of future academic delivery to this population. A qualitative methodology with a phenomenological design was used to cull the 1st hand experiences of African-American graduate students as to their online learning experiences. Self-determination and constructivism theories …

A Mother's Understanding Of Her Adolescent: A Social Anxiety Study, Cheronda Pinkard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) affects 1% to 13% of adolescents, often placing significant demands on their caregivers. Mothers frequently adapt their behaviors to accommodate their child’s anxiety, which may impact their well-being and the parent-child relationship. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of mothers accommodating adolescents with SAD to understand better the emotional and relational toll of this caregiving role. The problem addressed is the limited understanding of how maternal accommodation affects mothers. Mental health practitioners, educators, and policymakers may benefit from this research by gaining insight into these families' challenges and informing family-centered interventions and support services. Guided …

Rural Volunteer Emergency Personnel’S Perceptions Of Stressors During The Covid-19, Janette Lynn Nichols, Phd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emergency personnel are expected to handle all situations without affecting their psyche. Distinct differences exist between urban and rural EMS personnel, with rural personnel frequently needing more organizational resources or support to manage stress. With the onset of COVID-19 in December 2019, rural emergency personnel were placed in exhaustive specific situations not experienced previously within the United States. This study was conducted to focus on how they internalize their stressors. This generic qualitative study aimed to determine the perceptions of stressors experienced by rural volunteer emergency personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative survey was completed by 11 participants who …

Rural Volunteer Emergency Personnel’S Perceptions Of Stressors During The Covid-19, Janette Lynn Nichols, Phd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emergency personnel are expected to handle all situations without affecting their psyche. Distinct differences exist between urban and rural EMS personnel, with rural personnel frequently needing more organizational resources or support to manage stress. With the onset of COVID-19 in December 2019, rural emergency personnel were placed in exhaustive specific situations not experienced previously within the United States. This study was conducted to focus on how they internalize their stressors. This generic qualitative study aimed to determine the perceptions of stressors experienced by rural volunteer emergency personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative survey was completed by 11 participants who …

Effectives Strategies Leaders Use To Engage Nurses In Safe Work Practices, Madeline Ortiz Gonzalez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Work-related injuries remain a significant challenge in the healthcare sector, leading to reduced productivity and financial losses despite improvements in workplace safety. Healthcare leaders are concerned that unsafe work practices negatively affect organizational performance and service quality. Grounded in Burn’s transformational leadership framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore effective strategies used by six nurse leaders in Southern United States use to encourage nurses to adopt safe work practices and foster a culture of safety. Through thematic analysis, three core themes were identified: implementing comprehensive training programs, establishing effective communication channels, and fostering a safety-first …

Administrators’ Perceptions Of Minoritized Students’ Underrepresentation In K-8 Gate, Vernice Verona Sharpe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand SWSD administrators’ perceptions of the practices and identification criteria that exacerbated this underrepresentation, guided by a culturally responsive school leadership framework. For this basic qualitative design, eight SWSD administrators with direct knowledge of the GATE programs participated in semistructured interviews. Data analysis involved initial and axial coding, resulting in three key themes: limited cultural awareness among administrators, the importance of incorporating community perspectives, and the need to reevaluate traditional GATE identification practices. Based on these themes, it is recommended to enhance cultural competency training, to engage community members in decision-making, and …

A Comparative Analysis Of The County-Level Covid-19 Lockdown’S Impact On Child Sexual Abuse Rates, Aunastasia Fantasia Marie Zsidiewicz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

National reported rates of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown were significantly lower than expected. This quantitative study explored rates of CSA before and after the lockdown for 22 Michigan counties by considering socioeconomic status (SES) demographics to isolate the lockdown’s specific impact on reported CSA rates. The SES of the counties was measured using the Kuppuswamy scale, a numerical compilation of the mean occupation, education, and income of households within a given county. The Social Determinants of Health framework provided a blueprint for understanding the impact of exploring the different socioeconomic variables. This framework also helped …

Effectives Strategies Leaders Use To Engage Nurses In Safe Work Practices, Madeline Ortiz Gonzalez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Work-related injuries remain a significant challenge in the healthcare sector, leading to reduced productivity and financial losses despite improvements in workplace safety. Healthcare leaders are concerned that unsafe work practices negatively affect organizational performance and service quality. Grounded in Burn’s transformational leadership framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore effective strategies used by six nurse leaders in Southern United States use to encourage nurses to adopt safe work practices and foster a culture of safety. Through thematic analysis, three core themes were identified: implementing comprehensive training programs, establishing effective communication channels, and fostering a safety-first …

Association Among Student Retention And Program Utilization Within An Independent Community College In Northeastern New Mexico, Geno Castillo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated in this study was the trend of decreasing student retention of first-year, degree-seeking college students at an independent community college located in northeastern New Mexico. The purpose of the study was to examine the association between student retention and program utilization. The research question was to determine if statistically significant differences existed between first-year students at an independent community college in northeastern New Mexico who did and did not utilize government-funded tutoring programs, which is a peer-led program managed by the Center for Academic Excellence. The theoretical foundation for the study was Tinto’s student retention theory model. …

The Lived Experiences Of Black College Students And Counseling Based Upon Social Media Influences, Shamanda Burston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite social media's use as a tool for social influence and increase in mental health disclosures within Black communities, limited literature describes how Black college students, specifically, are utilizing social media related to mental health. This qualitative study includes a description of the influence of social media on the perception of counseling services for Black college students. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) through the lens of Kelman's social influence theory, the influence of social media on Black college students' perception of counseling services was explored. Currently enrolled Black or African American college or university students within the United States, over …