Digital Commons Network^™

Predictors Of Treatment Adherence Among Individuals With Bipolar Disorder And Comorbid Substance Use Disorders, Monique Dawn Romeo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) require lifelong treatment to manage their symptoms, and many also struggle with comorbid substance use disorders (BD-SUD) that complicate treatment adherence. Despite these challenges, there has been limited research on what factors predict successful treatment adherence in this population. This study was thus conducted to identify key predictors of adherence among individuals with BD-SUD. Several factors were examined, including age, gender, type of substance used at admission, opioid medication-assisted therapy, length of stay in inpatient psychiatric care, type of discharge service, and participation in self-help groups before discharge. The study applied a donut model framework …

Modern Factors Associated With Cervical Cancer Screening Among African American, Rosemary O. Fashogbon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cervical cancer affects women of all races; however, African American women are diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer at a higher rate than White women. A number of factors could be related to this disparity, including a lack of education about the disease, lack of insurance, and other barriers to cervical cancer screening. The purpose of this study was to evaluate modern factors associated with cervical cancer screening among African American women in the state of Georgia. Blum’s model of health determinants was the theoretical framework for this study. This cross-sectional quantitative study sought to evaluate if an association exists between …

Awareness Of Sleep Health In A Military Treatment Facility, Cristina Brock De Jesus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sleep disturbances are reported in almost one-third of military personnel deployed in support of Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), resulting in approximately 600,000 military personnel and veterans with clinically relevant sleep conditions (Mysliwiec et al., 2013). This study assesses how implementing staff education will increase awareness and impact patients' sleep health in an overseas treatment facility. The project demonstrated after implementing several staff education courses for the nursing personnel (n=22), knowledge and confidence improved by 33%. The initiative shows an enhanced staff understanding of sleep health, which impacts the recognition of sleep members with sleep-related concerns.

K-3 Teachers Implementing Blended Learning For Personalized Student Learning, Olivia Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Blended learning combines traditional classroom instruction with online learning experiences, creating a flexible and personalized approach to education. This approach allows teachers to address individual student needs and pacing while fostering greater student engagement. In a large public school district in Colorado, blended learning is being inconsistently implemented. Guided by the complex adaptive blended learning system framework, the purpose of this qualitative project study was to learn how the district policy involving one-to-one devices for all students influenced curriculum, instruction, and assessment experiences of K-3 teachers for meeting needs of individuals in their classes. Eleven classroom teachers participated in semistructured …

Physical Health Care Use, Mental Health Care Use, And Resilience Among Formerly Incarcerated Adults In Southern California, Tamara Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults who have experienced incarceration face many challenges reentering society. The lack of physical and mental healthcare use has been shown to contribute to recidivism. This cross-sectional study using a multivariate linear regression examined the relationship between physical healthcare use, mental healthcare use, and resilience among formerly incarcerated adults in Southern California while controlling for age, gender and race. Physical healthcare use was defined as the frequency of appointments, having health insurance coverage, and having a usual place of care. Mental healthcare use was defined as needing and receiving mental health treatment. The study used the Resilience Theory to determine …

Opioid Use Disorder In Region 9 Of Louisiana: Using Labeling Theory To Understand The Layperson's Perception, Sara Elizabeth Dupree-Wolf

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The overall research problem in this research study was that there were no current data related to the layperson's perception of opioid use disorder using labeling theory in Region 9 of Louisiana. This study is essential because opioid use disorder affects people worldwide, and the number of people diagnosed with opioid use disorder rises annually. Annually, thousands of people overdose, with a plethora of these overdoses resulting in death, due to opiate use. These deaths are unnecessary because there are treatment options and resources available. However, stigma and fear keep people from accessing potentially lifesaving resources. The purpose was to …

The Impacts Of Software Development Methodologies On New Model Success Rate In The U.S. Automotive Industry, Marquita Aleatrice Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 2017, the U.S. automotive industry has experienced a decrease in new-model launch success rate. A single 12-month delay in a new vehicle launch may cost a manufacturer up to $200 million. One component of automotive product development is software development. The research problem was a lack of understanding of the challenges with software development methodologies from the perspective of software developers, preventing managers from implementing methodologies, policies, and processes to improve the rates of successful new model launches. The purpose and the research questions were focused on exploring the lived experiences of software developers in the U.S. automotive industry …

U.S. Operation Iraqi Freedom And Operation Enduring Freedom Female Veterans’ Attitudes And Perceived Barriers To Mental Health Treatment, Elizabeth E. Kuntz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this nonexperimental, quantitative survey research study was to investigate the potential barriers to mental health care that female veterans who participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) experience. As the female veteran population continues to grow so does the need for gender-specific literature. Past researchers have indicated that there is limited research on female veterans. Data was collected during the fall of 2024 using an online survey method. This study consisted of one research question, which stated as follows: To what extent does stigma, attitudes, and combat exposure act as barriers for female …

Strategies For Technology Adoption In Small- And Medium-Sized Enterprises To Improve Competitiveness, Anthony Marcus Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food and beverage industry play a vital role in local economies but face significant challenges in adopting technology to remain competitive. Without effective growth and sustainability strategies, SME leaders may face business closures that will lead to job losses, economic instability, and lost innovation opportunities. Grounded in the technology acceptance and diffusion of innovations models, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective strategies used by food and beverage SME owners in California to integrate new technologies. Participants included six SME owners who had operated their businesses for over five …

Comparing The Efficacy Of Artificial Intelligence Immersion And Human-Led Workshops For Enhancing Researchers' English Language Skills: A Randomized Control Trial, Ndubuisi Friday Ugwu Phd, Raphael Ezamenyi Ochiaka Phd, Ugochukwu Simeon Asogwa M.Sc, Adewumi Segun Igbinlade Phd, Kamorudeen Taiwo Sanni Phd, Toyin Segun Onayinka Phd, Obinna Iroegbu Phd, Michael Olayinka Irewole Phd, Jacob Kehinde Opele Phd, Abiodun Oyetunde Oloyede Phd, Ndidi Christiana Ibenyenwa Msc, Oladipo Adeyeye Olubodun Phd

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: Our study aimed to compare the efficacy of artificial intelligence (AI)-based immersive training with human-led workshops to improve the English language skills of non-English early career researchers (NEECRs) in a Nigerian public university.

Methods: Our study employed a randomized pretest/posttest control group design. A total of 124 NEECRs in Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria, who met the eligibility criteria participated in the study. NEECR participants were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of self-directed AI immersion (n = 62) or human-led workshops (n = 62). A 56-item questionnaire collected data pretreatment, posttreatment, and at a 3-month follow-up. Repeated-measures …

Exploring The Impact Of Sufficient Childcare On Recruitment And Retention Of African American Women In Law Enforcement, Jo Anne Wallace

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although African American women have made progress in multiple fields and careers, they remain underrepresented in the field of law enforcement. There has been a lot of research about women in law enforcement, but there has been little research to show the impact of lack of sufficient childcare on the recruitment and retention of African American women in law enforcement. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American female police applicants, recruits, and veteran officers and their perception of challenges and barriers in recruitment and retention when it comes to the lack …

Aviation Maintenance Technicians’ Perceptions Of Safety Management System Implementation At Maintenance, Repair, And Overhaul Facilities, Stanley Matthew Losiewicz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A safety management system (SMS) is challenging for an aviation maintenance facility and even more significant for the aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) entrusted to perform the work due to organizational, methodological, and consistency issues. The incorporation of an SMS is new in the United States for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities that operate under the Code of Federal Regulations Part 145. AMTs constitute the bulk of the workers in an MRO. By default, a safety culture and safety consciousness existed in MROs prior to an SMS, and this study was conducted to understand the perceptions of the AMTs in …

Nurse Educators’ Experiences With Medical Cannabis Education, Rachel Ann Parmelee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medical cannabis is legal in more than half of the United States, and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing has provided guidelines indicating that nurses need to know about medical cannabis. However, most nurses report a lack of knowledge and education but believe that cannabis has therapeutic potential. The problem addressed in this study was the limited research on nurse educators’ experiences with medical cannabis education and its meaning for nursing education. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study, supported by an emergent framework, patterns of knowing, was to explore nurse educators’ experiences with medical cannabis education …

Perspectives Of Childcare Directors, Teachers, And Parents Regarding The Risks And Challenges Of Nature Preschools, Mary Lavere Traub

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nature preschools are becoming more widespread but most nature preschools in the United States are not licensed. The problem addressed in this study was that unlicensed nature preschools may present risks and challenges for children because they are unlicensed. Guided by the work of Ernst and colleagues about the safety risks inherent in nature preschools, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of directors and teachers who work in nature preschools and parents who enroll their children in nature preschools regarding the risks and challenges for children that these preschools may present. Interviews were conducted …

Perspectives Of Juvenile Violence Prevention Programs, Tamlar D. Walton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increase in violent behavior among individuals aged 12 to 19 prompted a nonprofit organization to consider adopting a more proactive approach to reduce such violence in the community while also expanding the range of services offered to address this concern. The organization leaders recognized the necessity of improving their knowledge in this area, prompting them to enlist the services of a research consultant who utilized a generic qualitative research method to explore juvenile violence prevention programs. This professional administrative study examined the experiences and perspectives of public servants who engaged with juvenile offenders, focusing on the influence of their …

Perinatal Mental Health Providers’ Perceptions Of Medicaid Expansion, Chelsea Desiree Walls

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many women will experience a mood disorder at some point during the perinatal period, which begins at conception and extends to at least the 1st birthday of their child. With the expansion of Medicaid in the U.S. state of North Carolina in 2023, many new women of childbearing age have coverage that includes mental health services. However, despite this huge surge in newly insured women there is no notable increase in the number of mental health providers (social workers, clinical mental health counselors, etc.) in the state who accept Medicaid. The purpose of this study was to determine what service …

Barriers And Success Factors Of Reentry Programs For Women After Incarceration, Jenice Kaye Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore the experiences of women ex-offenders participating in reentry programs that led to successful transitioning into society. The overall research problem being addressed are the barriers and success factors in identifying mental health care, housing, parental concerns, and any other stress-related factors associated with the reentry process for women during this exploration. The theoretical framework of labeling was interwoven throughout this study, highlighting its importance in understanding the barriers and successes women encounter. Previous research mainly focused on exploring barriers and successes for men. There is limited research regarding formerly incarcerated …

Staff Education To Increase Health Care Practitioners’ Knowledge On The Symptomology Of Burnout, Carli Turngren

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The aim of this staff education project was to educate health care practitioners about the early recognition of symptoms of burnout. Burnout is a syndrome resulting from chronic stress that has not been successfully managed. Symptoms of burnout appear as energy depletion, increased mental distance from one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy (World Health Organization 2019). Through a review of existing literature and analysis of qualitative data I gathered from practitioners, I identified key indicators of burnout and its implications for practitioner efficacy and patient outcomes. The findings underscore the urgent need for a proactive approach to address burnout in …

Exploring The Components Of Mental Health Programming Within Jails In Virginia, Kayla Deann Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of individuals who experience a mental health diagnosis and are incarcerated is growing within the United States. Data also shows that the types of mental health treatment currently being offered within jails are not enough to help those with a mental health diagnosis. The purpose of this qualitative study was to highlight different strategies to assist professionals and administrators of jails in Virginia with providing adequate mental health treatment to those incarcerated. The well-being development model framework was used as a lens through which to explore different strategies that human services professionals can use in correctional facilities to …

How Health Literacy Influences Rural West Virginians Knowledge Of Chronic Disease Prevention And Management, Summer Mitchell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health literacy can be described as the understanding of own’s own health and understanding of health-related information (Shadid, 2022). In rural communities, health literacy is typically at a lower level than in urban communities. West Virginia is a mostly rural state and in addition to lower health literacy, chronic diseases are high in West Virginia. The target area for this study was rural Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The purpose of the study was to examine perceived barriers to health literacy in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, and how this affects understanding of chronic disease. Research questions focused on participants’ knowledge of …

Factors Related To Employment Of Previously Incarcerated Individuals, Toni Victoria Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employment amongst previously incarcerated individuals is a concern of the criminal justice system because being employed is considered a mitigator of reincarceration. While there is research about the stigma of incarceration in gaining employment, little is known about the factors associated with individuals being able to find employment. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to identify whether there is a direct correlation between individual demographic features and employment status of individuals after 1 year or more of previously being incarcerated in North Carolina. General strain theory was the theoretical framework. The key research question focused on how release …

Predictors Of Older Adults' Confidence In Avoiding Drug Interactions, Ginalynn Cabanas Garces

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adverse drug interactions due to polypharmacy pose a significant global health concern, particularly for older adults. Age-related physiological changes increase vulnerability to medication-related issues, with adverse drug reactions often mistaken for normal aging. These misdiagnoses can lead to prescribing cascades and preventable harm. Despite evidence supporting comprehensive medication reviews and clinical guidelines, their application remains inconsistent across healthcare settings. This quantitative archival analysis aimed to identify critical risk factors—such as age, sex, race, education level, medication complexity, drug interaction discussions, number of prescriptions, and overall physical and mental health—that influence older adults’ confidence in avoiding drug interactions. Grounded in the …

Sustaining Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Through Transformational Leadership In Behavioral Health Management, Ndubuisi Christopher Egunetugo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This case study examines the challenges of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within an organization, emphasizing systemic biases, workforce diversity, and the necessity of culturally competent care. The Behavioral Health Organization in the southern United States faces significant DEI challenges due to its diverse clientele, workforce, and various stakeholders. Transformational leadership, marked by visionary thinking and actionable initiatives, is crucial for sustaining DEI efforts and addressing disparities in service access, care quality, management practices, and treatment outcomes. The Baldrige Framework of Excellence is employed as a systematic method to embed DEI principles across organizational operations, facilitated by transformational leadership to …

Turnover Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Health Care Workforce In Rural And Urban Settings In Arizona, Adeleke Moshood Abimbola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic was a health care crisis that caused unprecedented impacts on health care workers and services worldwide. The purpose of this quantitative retrospective study was to determine whether there was a significant difference in health care employee turnover between 2019 (prepandemic) and 2021 (postpandemic) based on the location and type of health care workers. The independent variable was the COVID-19 pandemic, and the dependent variables were rural employee turnover, urban employee turnover, and nursing and nonnursing turnover. The theoretical background was based on the theory of organizational equilibrium and Glasser’s choice theory. The secondary data were collected from …

Police Culture Influence On Mental Health Of Federal Law Enforcement Officers, Ania Amat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Occupational stressors are inherent in police work. Left unmitigated, these stressors may have deleterious effects on officers’ overall health. Police agencies throughout the country offer organizational resilience programs to aid officers navigate stressors. A constraint keeping officers from seeking mental health wellness are the unspoken social norms of police culture. Police culture stigmatizes mental health seeking behaviors, deterring officers from accessing organizational resilience programs. The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions and lived experiences of federal law enforcement officers regarding mental health-seeking behaviors and the influence of the police culture. Study participants included 16 federal law enforcement …

Heteronormative Factors That Affect Black Lesbian Women’S Parenting Desires, Keona Nicole Prude

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stigma, prejudice, and stereotypes, key components of heteronormativity, impact the perceptions, behaviors, health, and psychosocial well-being of lesbian women, potentially undermining self-acceptance, causing internalized homophobia. The generic qualitative study aimed to understand the experiences of Black lesbian women navigating heteronormativity in relation to their parenting desires. Participants included Black lesbians, aged 25-35, who spoke English and had parenting desires within a lesbian relationship. Recruitment occurred via social media and local queer-supporting and parenting organizations. Guided by queer theory and minority stress theory, data were collected through semistructured interviews with 15 African American women in lesbian relationships with desiring parenthood. Thematic …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Awareness And Perceptions Of African Immigrant Men Regarding Hpv Vaccine Uptake In Children To Prevent Cervical Cancer, Netsai Nancy Mariga Andere

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine acceptance remains one of the most crucial disparities in the US by country of origin among children. The study aims to qualitatively explore the HPV and HPV vaccine awareness and perceptions among African immigrant men to help reduce the HPV-related cervical cancer burden among African immigrants living in the US. The health belief model (HBM) was used for this basic qualitative study of self-reported awareness and perception among African immigrant men in the US with responses from 11 individual interviews. Thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the data collected from the interview responses. Six themes …

Patient Satisfaction And Nurse Communication Pre- And Posthospital Mergers And/Or Acquisitions, Shakeeya Sorrells

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Amid continuing mergers and/or acquisitions (M&As) of their institutions, U.S. hospital leaders have found it challenging to maintain favorable patient satisfaction Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to explore the correlation between patient satisfaction (identified as the “likelihood to recommend” metric) and “nurse communication” HCAHPS scores pre- and post-hospital M&As. Donabedian’s theoretical framework and triad model of structure, process, and outcomes within health care quality served as the foundation for the evaluation. HCAHPS and 2019 change of hospital ownership data were obtained from the Centers for Medicaid …

Relationship Between Parental Neglect, Socioeconomic Status, And Aggression In Adolescents, Chemarin Eve Boyd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aggressive behavior among adolescents poses significant challenges for families, educators, and communities, often stemming from complex interactions between parental behavior and environmental factors. This quantitative nonexperimental study examined the relationship between parental neglect, socioeconomic status (SES), and adolescent aggression, guided by the parental acceptance-rejection theory. Data were collected from 250 parents of adolescents age 12-18 divided into two groups: those reporting no to low levels of aggression and those reporting moderate to high levels. Binary logistic regression was employed to predict the likelihood of adolescent aggression based on parental neglect (categorical) and SES (scale). The results demonstrated that parental neglect …

Relationship Between Non-Affirmation Of Gender Identity, Healthcare Stereotype Threat, And Perceived Employment Inequities, Len M. Meyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) population faces barriers when seeking healthcare and perceived employment inequities for simply identifying as their gender identity. This study examined the relationships between non-affirmation of gender identity, healthcare stereotype threat, and perceived employment inequities for TGD people across the United States. The purpose of this quantitative, retrospective, quasi-experimental study was to determine if there was a relationship between non-affirmation of gender identity, healthcare stereotype threat, and perceived employment inequities. This study was guided by the sexual citizenship theory devised by T.H. Marshall, which examines three elements of the model: (a) civil society, (b) political society, …