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Financial Performance Outcomes Following System Replacement In The Insurance Industry, Trevor James Owen Jan 2015

Financial Performance Outcomes Following System Replacement In The Insurance Industry, Trevor James Owen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Enterprise system replacement projects within the property and casualty insurance industry are costly, high-risk undertakings that carry a significant risk of project failure. The decision to replace policy administration systems for companies with over $250 million in direct written premium is a multimillion dollar investment for corporate strategic decision makers. This study examined the financial impact of enterprise policy administration system replacement in the property and casualty insurance industry by comparing financial performance results for companies that performed policy administration system replacements with those that did not. Insurance industry financial results for the years 2009 through 2014 were used for …

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Designing Professional Development For Elementary School Teachers, Simon F. Quattlebaum Jan 2015

Designing Professional Development For Elementary School Teachers, Simon F. Quattlebaum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Within a Northeast urban school, there is little empirical evidence to indicate the effectiveness of the district professional development (PD) program. Elementary teachers at the study site reported that they encountered problems accessing professional development programs applicable to their needs. The purpose of this case study was to examine teacher perceptions of district PD programs and to discover teacher perceptions of PD best practices. Knowles' adult learning theory provided a frame of reference for this study. The research questions assessed teachers' perceptions of the format, content, and process of professional development programs and examined how teachers applied new knowledge, concepts, …

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The Lived Experiences Of Limited English Proficiency, Spanish-Speaking Male Ex-Offenders, Paula Nery Sanchez Jan 2015

The Lived Experiences Of Limited English Proficiency, Spanish-Speaking Male Ex-Offenders, Paula Nery Sanchez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Spanish-speaking men in the United States with limited English proficiency following their release from prison. The study specifically examined the experiences of these men in their efforts to access health care treatment, housing, education, and employment in Central Pennsylvania. An empirical, phenomenological research design was employed that used self-stigma, critical race, and self-determination theories for in-depth interviews with 8 men who spent 5 to 24 years in prison. A tiered coding method was used to generate 6 interconnected themes that tell the story of these men's lives: …

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Observations And Teachers' Perceptions Of The Implementation, Benefits, And Challenges Of Breakfast In The Classroom, Dixie Shaffer Jan 2015

Observations And Teachers' Perceptions Of The Implementation, Benefits, And Challenges Of Breakfast In The Classroom, Dixie Shaffer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The federal government established nutrition assistance programs such as the School Breakfast Program and school districts have implemented Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) to improve participation rates, yet millions of low-income children do not partake in these programs. Thus, many school districts are failing to meet the nutritional needs of the low-income population, which can have negative effects on a child's healthy development. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to observe and explore teachers' perspectives regarding school breakfast implementation in a small school district in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Research questions examined experiences with implementation, …

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Managing Negative Comments Posted On Social Media, Darci Wagner Jan 2015

Managing Negative Comments Posted On Social Media, Darci Wagner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Consumers use social media to share their service experiences, positive and negative. Some organizations lack strategies to respond to the negative comments, which can inhibit service recovery and harm the success of the organization. The purpose of this case study was to explore strategies used by social media managers to manage negative comments posted on social media sites. The study's conceptual framework was social exchange theory. Participants in Central Ohio were recruited through e-mail. Data were gathered by observing 2 social media marketers manage social media and by interviewing social media managers. Secondary data from the organization displayed the engagement …

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The Impact Of The Sra Corrective Reading Program On Standardized Testing, Tony Oyola Jan 2015

The Impact Of The Sra Corrective Reading Program On Standardized Testing, Tony Oyola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The implementation of effective reading programs for special education students is paramount for school success due to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and the reauthorization of Individual with Disabilities Education Act. One local school implemented the Science Research Associates Corrective Reading Program (SRACRP) because their special education students did not meet the required proficient or advanced reading scores on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). The purpose of this quantitative within-group study was to determine if special and regular education students demonstrated growth in reading comprehension after the implementation of the SRACRP. The theoretical foundation …

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Entry-Level Health Care Services Employee Motivation And Performance, Alecia Brooks Jan 2015

Entry-Level Health Care Services Employee Motivation And Performance, Alecia Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare administrators have regarded employee motivation and performance as significant factors because of the challenges with employee disengagement, which may decrease patient satisfaction and profitability for healthcare organizations. The number of available jobs within healthcare continues to increase at a high rate, while the total hires within the healthcare industry decreased from 2.9% in December 2014 to 2.7% in January 2015. Motivation in the workplace is a continuous concern for organizational leaders, more specifically for the health care industry. Based on Vroom's expectancy theory, the purpose of this single-case study was to explore the motivational strategies healthcare organizations' leaders could …

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The Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Leaders Practicing Mindfulness Meditation: A Phenomenological Investigation, Denise A. Frizzell Jan 2015

The Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Leaders Practicing Mindfulness Meditation: A Phenomenological Investigation, Denise A. Frizzell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the gap between the demands of the global work environment and the maturity of its leaders, minimal research exists on the trend of the practice of mindfulness meditation and the developmental experiences of leaders, thereby resulting in a growing divide between theory and practice. Consequently, leadership scholars have little understanding of how an increasing number of leaders experience mindfulness meditation. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the perceived impact mindfulness meditation had on leader development for 20 manager-leaders who had a regular (at least 3 days a week) mindfulness-meditation practice. The primary recruitment strategy included outreach …

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Elementary School Teacher Perceptions Of Factors Influencing Teacher Morale, Dyna M Chambers Jan 2015

Elementary School Teacher Perceptions Of Factors Influencing Teacher Morale, Dyna M Chambers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 28th annual MetLife survey of 1,001 American teachers in the United States indicated that low teacher morale is a common problem faced by many public schools. In one public elementary school located in a Southern state, the teacher attrition rate increased from 30% to 40% within 2 years. The purpose of this mixed method study was to investigate teachers' perceptions of morale and their perceived factors that influence low morale at the school. Maslow's theory of motivation was used to understand the impact of teacher satisfaction on teachers' morale and self-motivation for leading change. The research questions were focused …

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Army Medics With College Degrees Who Transitioned To Civilian Life, Alex Giberson Jan 2015

Army Medics With College Degrees Who Transitioned To Civilian Life, Alex Giberson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Few colleges and universities have adopted the practice to provide credits for the majority of undergraduate coursework for military career training. Easing the transition from military to civilian life has become a priority for the Department of Defense, yet there is a significant gap in empirical knowledge regarding the potential benefits of a college degree on soldiers exiting the military. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of Army Medics who have transitioned back into civilian life after graduating from a college degree program that grants significant credit for military training. This phenomenological study used a …

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A Client-Vendor Relationship Perspective Of Cultural Differences On Cross-Border Information Technology Outsourcing, John Kennedy Bosire Jan 2015

A Client-Vendor Relationship Perspective Of Cultural Differences On Cross-Border Information Technology Outsourcing, John Kennedy Bosire

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cross-border information technology (IT) outsourcing continues to rise due to the demand for business process outsourcing. Issues such as miscommunication and management problems have emerged because of cross-cultural disparities between clients and vendors across national borders. The theoretical framework of this study was based on the organizational culture model studies of Meek, Spradley, Smith, and Draft for examining and understanding complex organizational practices. The purpose of this mixed-methods explanatory sequential case study was to qualitatively identify and quantitatively determine the management approaches that are effective in managing cross-cultural differences and the constitution of the elements of global adjustment, motivation, mindset, …

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Towards More Effective Teacher Professional Development Initiatives, Laura Sebastian Hooks Jan 2015

Towards More Effective Teacher Professional Development Initiatives, Laura Sebastian Hooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The No Child Left Behind Act (2002) and Race to the Top (2009) legislation have forged new school accountability measures and led to a sharp increase in demand for teacher professional development (TPD). However, data revealed that there is a disconnection between the training that teachers receive and its implementation, limiting its impact on student achievement. This qualitative case study's purpose was to reveal major barriers to TPD implementation and provide suggestions for crafting more impactful TPD. Based on the social constructivist foundation, this study sought to address the factors that increase teachers' receptiveness to more effective teaching techniques. It …

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Factors Impacting Body Mass Index Of Hispanic Youth In A Weight Loss Program, Elizabeth Maria Hartman Jan 2015

Factors Impacting Body Mass Index Of Hispanic Youth In A Weight Loss Program, Elizabeth Maria Hartman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth obesity prevalence rates in the United States are trending down; however, for Hispanic youth, rates are increasing despite efforts toward a reduction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a culturally focused intervention program on weight reduction of Hispanic youth age 2 to 19 through examination of body mass index (BMI) percentile outcomes comparing age, gender, distance to program, time in program, and season of enrollment. Review of literature supports ecological and cultural approaches requiring behavior modification tailored to family and community as successful in decreasing youth obesity. However, researchers have yet to establish how …

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Graduate Nurse Pediatric Emergency Nursing Orientation Program, Mindi Lynne Johnson Jan 2015

Graduate Nurse Pediatric Emergency Nursing Orientation Program, Mindi Lynne Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has found that the turnover rate of graduate nurses within their first year is significantly high. Specialties such as pediatric and emergency nursing have even a higher turnover rate. It has been suggested that significant amounts of stress and lack of skills are responsible for the turnovers. This quality improvement project, which is theoretically based on Benner's novice to expert theory, will examine if a lack of a specialized pediatric emergency graduate nurse orientation program is a contributing factor. The purpose of the project is to improve retention of graduate nurses by implementing a specialized orientation program that focuses …

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Physician Participation In Crowdsourcing: Effect Of Intrinsic And Extrinsic Motivation, Rod Gene Brace Jan 2015

Physician Participation In Crowdsourcing: Effect Of Intrinsic And Extrinsic Motivation, Rod Gene Brace

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physicians must participate in developing medical protocols to ensure that medical best practices are adopted for patients' social benefit. Healthcare leaders have struggled to gain sufficient physician participation in developing medical protocols. Using technology-based crowdsourcing to assimilate knowledge from physicians may help healthcare managers improve medical protocol development. Using self-determination theory, this quantitative causal-comparative design aimed to determine whether differences in intrinsic and extrinsic motivation existed among the 132 participating physicians who did or did not participate in developing medical protocols in a crowdsourcing environment. Participants were recruited by e-mail through an independent physician association. Motivation levels were measured by …

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The Impact Of Monetary Policy On The Stock Market, Simin Hojat Jan 2015

The Impact Of Monetary Policy On The Stock Market, Simin Hojat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prior studies examining the impact of monetary policy instruments on the equity market have produced mixed results. This problem is important to address because of the substantial impact of monetary policy on the economy and economic resource allocation via the equity market. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of change in money supply (M2), change in Federal Funds Rate (FFR), and change in Federal Funds Futures (FFF) on the expected rate of returns of publicly traded companies while controlling for the rate of return of the whole equity market and size of the sampled companies. The …

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Implementing Bedside Shift Report: An Evaluation Of Change In Practice, Jessica Palumbo Jan 2015

Implementing Bedside Shift Report: An Evaluation Of Change In Practice, Jessica Palumbo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and System (HCAHPS) survey results from 2013 revealed a need for improvement in nurse-patient communication at the unit level. In response, nursing administrators at an acute-care hospital asked bedside nurses to develop a protocol for bedside shift report according to best practices. The protocol was implemented in May 2014. Three months later, a postimplementation survey was distributed. Work from Lewin and Kotter theoretical concepts were used to evaluate this organizational change. The purpose of this study was to determine whether re-educating staff nurses on the bedside shift report protocol increased compliance with evidence-based practice …

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The Use Of Mock Code Training In Improving Resuscitation Response, Maureen Anne O'Brien Jan 2015

The Use Of Mock Code Training In Improving Resuscitation Response, Maureen Anne O'Brien

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The American Heart Association's Get With the Guidelines (GWTG) has established measures for how quickly a resuscitation team is to respond in a cardiac arrest with performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation. Two of the core measures for GWTG require initiation of CPR within 1 minute of cardiac arrest and defibrillation within 2 minutes in at least 85% of cases. The problem of interest in this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was that the facility had not been able to reach 85% on these 2 measures. The purpose of this project was to achieve nursing response times for …

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Sales Performance And Emotional Intelligence Of Technology Sales Professionals, Michael Reid Jan 2015

Sales Performance And Emotional Intelligence Of Technology Sales Professionals, Michael Reid

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

United States business leaders spend $15 billion per year on sales training, but approximately 50% of salespeople still fail to reach their annual sales targets. Business leaders have limited understanding of the relationship between emotional intelligence and its central constructs (self-perception, self-expression, interpersonal, decision making, and stress management) and sales performance of sales professionals based in the United States. The purpose of this correlational research study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and sales performance via an online pre-existing emotional intelligence assessment. The theoretical framework incorporated emotional intelligence theory and job performance theory. The sample included 86 technology …

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Cultural Beliefs And Experiences Of Formal Caregivers Providing Dementia Care To American Indians, Damon Grew Syphers Jan 2015

Cultural Beliefs And Experiences Of Formal Caregivers Providing Dementia Care To American Indians, Damon Grew Syphers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a significant public health concern for all elders in the United States. It is a particular concern for the American Indian (AI) population, which is one of the fastest-aging populations in the United States and the smallest, most underrecognized, and most culturally-diverse group in the country. A formal caregiver understanding of AD in the AI population is scarce. This phenomenological study was designed to discern what is known about AD in the AI population by exploring the cultural beliefs and experiences of formal caregivers who provide care for AI dementia patients. Specifically, this study sought to …

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Effects Of Telemedicine In The Intensive Care Unit On Quality Of Care, Amanda Wallace Jan 2015

Effects Of Telemedicine In The Intensive Care Unit On Quality Of Care, Amanda Wallace

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The growing concern over the nursing shortage has affected the intensive care unit (ICU) and how these units provide quality care, adhere to best practices, and maintain high satisfaction scores. Implementing telemedicine technology allows the ICU to have additional staff available, via cameras at an offsite location, to assist with patient care. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the potential benefits of telemedicine application used within an ICU on quality of care, adherence to best practices, and satisfaction, as evidenced by data from the hospital's telemedicine dashboard. The goals of this project were to reduce length of stay, …

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Identifying Risk Factors For High Incidence Of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters Complications: Reducing Infiltration Rate Within The Hospital, Janise Marrisette Banks Jan 2015

Identifying Risk Factors For High Incidence Of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters Complications: Reducing Infiltration Rate Within The Hospital, Janise Marrisette Banks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addressed an increasing number of peripheral intravenous catheter infiltrations within hospitals, leading to problems such as phlebitis and cellulitis, which may result in a longer length of hospital stay. The purpose of this project was to determine how to reduce infiltrations in order to increase the longevity of the catheter. A quantitative, description design was used, guided by Abdellah's classification framework for identifying nursing problems. The target population was 50 patients experiencing incidents of peripheral intravenous catheter infiltration, identified in a patient safety event log used across a 252-bed hospital. Each incident was assessed for several risk factors, …

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Hiv Testing Among Young African American Men Who Have Sex With Men, Tayo B. Awopeju Jan 2015

Hiv Testing Among Young African American Men Who Have Sex With Men, Tayo B. Awopeju

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Young African American men who have sex with men (AAMSM) are at greater risk of being infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and less likely to seek HIV testing than are members of other demographic groups. This behavior results in a significant public health threat because young AAMSM with an unrecognized HIV infection are less likely to practice safer sex and, therefore, more likely to pass the infection on to their partners. This study is an examination of the social and personality factors that influence HIV testing rates among young AAMSM, using Aday's model of the social determinants of …

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A Case Study Of Mastery Learning Activities In Kindergarten Literacy Centers, Crystal Bateman Cowen Jan 2015

A Case Study Of Mastery Learning Activities In Kindergarten Literacy Centers, Crystal Bateman Cowen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This case study examined the problem of below-grade-level reading scores among kindergarten students despite the use of literacy centers in a large Title 1 public elementary school in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether application of the literacy center model might be connected to student performance. Specifically, the research question concerned whether implementation of literacy centers was consistent with principles of mastery learning based on differentiation by ability. This study was guided by Bloom's theory of mastery learning, which suggests that higher levels of learning may be achieved if each child is …

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Instruction Of Students With Disabilities Cognitively Functioning Below Age 2, Tana Eileen Donaghy Jan 2015

Instruction Of Students With Disabilities Cognitively Functioning Below Age 2, Tana Eileen Donaghy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act requires students with disabilities to show progress on the same standards as their nondisabled peers without indicating how teachers should accomplish this goal. Many teachers lack the skills needed to address the unique learning challenges of students who are cognitively functioning below 2 years of age. This study used a qualitative exploratory case study design. The purpose of this study was to explore what was hindering teachers from providing grade level standards-based instruction for their students with multiple disabilities. Piaget's constructivist theory guided this study. Research questions were used to elicit how teachers …

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Exploring The Efficacy Of School-Based Professional Development, Michele Theresa Glynne Jan 2015

Exploring The Efficacy Of School-Based Professional Development, Michele Theresa Glynne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No method exists for evaluating the effectiveness of professional development (PD) for teachers in Boston Public Schools. Often PD does not contribute to teacher quality, which can hinder student outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of PD among K-8 teachers and to examine the alignment of PD in the schools with the 4 prerequisites of professional learning outlined by Learning Forward. These 4 prerequisites served as the conceptual framework. Of the research questions, 4 reflected the topics of the 4 prerequisites: commitment to students, readiness to learn, collaboration, and learning styles. The …

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Improving Nurses' Knowledge To Reduce Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection In Hemodialysis Unit, Mohammed Jawad Kadium Jan 2015

Improving Nurses' Knowledge To Reduce Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection In Hemodialysis Unit, Mohammed Jawad Kadium

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are commonly used as vascular access for patients who require hemodialysis. Infectious complications are a serious clinical problem, and they are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stay, and increased medical treatment costs. The purpose of theproject was to evaluate the effectiveness of educating registered dialysis nurses regarding CVC maintenance care to reduce catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) in a hemodialysis unit. The project question focused on the educational program derived from the evidence-based guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve registered dialysis nurses' knowledge regarding CVC …

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Transforming Vulnerable Interactions To Effective Communication: An Application Of Evidence For The Tele-Intensive Care Unit Nurse, Bethann Mendez Jan 2015

Transforming Vulnerable Interactions To Effective Communication: An Application Of Evidence For The Tele-Intensive Care Unit Nurse, Bethann Mendez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tele-intensive care collaboration in care of critically ill patients improves both the safety and quality of nursing care. However, the full benefits of the telemedicine service may not be realized unless tele-critical care nurses have the ability to communicate clearly with their remote nursing peers. The purpose of this DNP project was to create and validate an acronym style communication tool to assist the tele-critical care nurses with their communication. The relational coordination theory was the primary communication theory utilized for tool development. The tool creation phase of the project included informal observations and discussion with a convenience sample of …

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High School Graduates' Perspectives On The Creation Of Online Identities, Lisa Koh-Herlong Jan 2015

High School Graduates' Perspectives On The Creation Of Online Identities, Lisa Koh-Herlong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Technological advancements continue to increase online accessibility and the virtual population. As students engage with these advancements, their lives and identities will be on a worldwide platform. The realities of online identities present a challenge for educators to teach students how to manage those online identities. Researchers have studied the after-effects of online identities, but there is a gap in understanding the individual's thought process during the creation of online identities. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis was to understand the perspectives of working high school graduates regarding the creation of online identities. The research questions were designed to …

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A Comparative Study Of Compliance Among Patients Attending An Opiate Outpatient Treatment Center In Rural Appalachia, Jerry Russell Morris Jan 2015

A Comparative Study Of Compliance Among Patients Attending An Opiate Outpatient Treatment Center In Rural Appalachia, Jerry Russell Morris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults with an opiate addiction have a higher rate of noncompliance with treatment, which limits its effectiveness and increases the burden of care for society. Effective treatment decreases emergency room visits, and overdoses. The tristate area of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio has experienced increased opiate-related arrests and deaths. This study sought to measure the extent to which treatment type (medical treatment (MS) or faith-based component of service (FBS)) predicts compliance when measured by number of clean urine drug screens (UDSs) and number of kept pill count, over and above dual diagnosis, college education, and income. The on-site records of …

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