Digital Commons Network^™

Teacher Perspectives Of Their Challenges In Supporting K-3 Students In Mathematics Proficiency, Jasmine Chanel Mills

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem for this study was that mathematics preparation for students in K–3 classrooms often does not lead to mathematics proficiency for third grade students. Guided by Wigfield’s expectancy value theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perspectives of children’s expectations and values related to mathematics and challenges teachers describe in supporting children’s mathematics achievement. Data were collected through 12 semistructured interviews with K–3 teachers in in a public school district in the eastern United States. Thematic analysis using open coding resulted in six themes which indicated that teacher beliefs and expectations are associated with mathematics …

Risk Awareness Of Alcohol Related Car Fatalities In Whatcom County, Tayler Wilson

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement

My goal to address alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Whatcom County is to reduce the prevalence of these fatalities by 20% over two years through preventative community education and targeted enforcement programs to decrease high-risk drinking behaviors in college-age youth.

Significant Findings

There has been a significant rise in alcohol-related traffic fatalities within Whatcom County, upwards of 50% of fatal car accidents in 2024 involving alcohol; 67.8% higher than the national average (CDC, 2024; Starks et al.,2025). The population most impacted by this public health risk is 21-24 year-olds, especially young men, who are four times more likely to …

Staff Education To Streamline Congestive Heart Failure Education, Shannon Hunter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a progressive disease that affects a diverse population. Patient-centered education is key to lowering rehospitalizations and mortality rates. Although nurses are essential providers of patient-centered education, those in acute care settings often have unclear directions for implementing and documenting CHF education. Multiple educational materials within electronic health record (EHR) systems further complicate the process and highlight the practice gap. The aim of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to streamline CHF education by clarifying the role of nurses in education delivery and documentation, potentially enhancing nurse confidence and improving patient health outcomes, with …

Strategies To Improve Team Cohesion Among Hybrid And Remote Teams To Improve Customer Satisfaction, Leslie Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of team cohesion among hybrid and remote teams can negatively affect customer satisfaction. Customer service leaders require effective strategies to improve team cohesion in increasingly flexible work environments; however, limited understanding exists regarding the strategies these leaders use to foster cohesion in hybrid and remote work settings. Grounded in the composite conceptual framework of theories of group development and customer focus, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective strategies that some leaders in the South Central region of the U.S. customer service organizations use to improve team cohesion among hybrid and remote …

Staff Education For The Management Of Chronic Pain In Patients With Mental Health Disorders, Jude Osagie Ukpebor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a practice-focused quality improvement staff education initiative designed to address a gap in nurses’ knowledge related to chronic pain management in patients with mental health disorders. Chronic pain frequently coexists with psychiatric conditions, yet nurses often lack formal education on biopsychosocial, trauma-informed, and non-pharmacologic pain management approaches, contributing to fragmented and inequitable care. Addressing this gap is essential to improving patient outcomes and advancing evidence-based nursing practice. The practice-focused question asked whether implementing a targeted nurse education program would improve nurses’ knowledge related to chronic pain management in patients with mental health disorders. …

Attribution Of Behavior And Misdiagnosis In Mental Health Evaluation Of Primary School Children, E’Mon Ambers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem of misdiagnosis of mental health conditions in primary school aged children because of attributions related to misbehavior is a significant issue. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore a selected sample of educators’ and mental health professionals’experiences and perceptions of the risks of attribution errors in mental health misdiagnosis among primary school-aged children in Richmond, VA. The research questions addressed how stakeholders perceive the role of attribution errors in professional practice contributing to misdiagnosis, as well as what practice-based and systemic changes stakeholders propose to enhance diagnostic accuracy. Narrative data was collected from educators …

Promoting Equitable Early Childhood School Readiness Through Prevention And Advocacy In A Rural Community, Teri Kimberling

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement

The goal of this Social Change Portfolio is to promote healthier developmental outcomes for young children in our rural community by increasing access to early childhood readiness supports that prevent social-emotional and behavioral difficulties in kindergarten.

Significant Findings

Early childhood school readiness is a significant public health and mental health concern in the rural coastal community of Lincoln County, Oregon. A large number of children enter kindergarten without any school readiness, whether it was in a formal preschool or just done at home. This can be due to many factors, including socioeconomic disparities, such as high poverty rates, …

Pharmacy Service Quality Strategies To Mitigate Prescription-Only Medicines Stockouts, Martin Mulomba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some patients in Lusaka, Zambia experience adverse health outcomes when pharmacists are not able to fill life-saving, prescription-only medications (POMs) because of supply-chain shortages. Important to pharmacists are strategies to improve POMs supply and mitigate out-of-stock occurrences. Grounded in the SERVQUAL theory as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the service quality strategies pharmacists employ to mitigate shortages and enhance patient care. The participants were eight pharmacists who successfully mitigated POMs shortages for improved customer service. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and publicly available documents. Data were analyzed thematically and six …

Mental Health Professional Shortages In Washington State, Lanh Tran

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement

The social change portfolio aims to highlight the persistent shortage of mental health professionals in Washington State, the reasons behind this crisis, and to find sustainable solutions to reduce burnout.

Significant Findings

Washington State is experiencing a shortage of mental health professionals in the urban and rural areas. The most significant contributing factor is professionals' feeling burnt out. This happened before the pandemic, but it escalated significantly afterwards. Burnout is physical and emotional exhaustion coupled with self-doubt because of a psychological response for people in roles of caring and supporting others. In Washington State, there is 1 mental …

Strategies Some Small Business Owners Use To Implement New Accounting Technology, Susie Annmarie Stewart-Branch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Small business owners often face challenges when implementing accounting information systems, resulting in inefficiencies and reduced competitiveness. The study was grounded in the technology acceptance model (TAM), which guided examination of how small business owners implemented, evaluated, and sustained accounting software use while addressing implementation challenges and leveraging internal and external support. Data were collected through semi-structured interview questions from six small business owners who used accounting software such as QuickBooks, and thematic analysis identified five themes: (a) change management and organizational culture, (b) importance of external support and strategic partnerships, (c) measuring effectiveness through operational and client metrics, …

Staff Education To Enhance Psychiatric Medication Adherence In Psychiatric Care, Emmanuel Nusta

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication non-adherence affects 49% of psychiatric patients and contributes to poor outcomes and increased hospitalizations. At the project site, 40% of patients demonstrated suboptimal adherence and 12 medication-related incidents occurred. Nursing staff lacked specialized training in motivational interviewing and comprehensive adherence assessment. This project developed and implemented an evidence-based educational program to enhance nursing competencies in psychiatric medication adherence counseling. Seven nursing staff members (5 registered nurses, 2 licensed practical nurses) participated in a 90-minute session incorporating the four-domain assessment framework, motivational interviewing techniques, and psychoeducational strategies. The ADDIE framework guided program development with interactive discussions, case-based learning, and role-play …

Staff Education To Improve Nurses' Knowledge And Confidence In Suicide Risk Assessment, Sherica Mcbride

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice staff education project was to strengthen nurses’ knowledge and confidence in suicide risk assessments. Suicide remains a crucial patient safety issue, and nurses report uncertainty in early recognition and intervention; therefore, brief, practice-proximal training is essential. The practice-focused question that informed this project’s purpose was whether a short education module with pre- and post testing improves nurses’ knowledge and confidence in suicide risk assessment. Three nurses participated in a structured session covering risk factors, warning signs, standardized screening, and safety planning. I then used descriptive analysis to compare their pre- and posttest …

Predicting Perceived Immigrant Threat To National Identity Based On Christian Nationalism, White Racial Centrality, And Social Dominance Orientation, Anna Caroline Kinney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Immigrants remain frequent targets of anti-immigrant hate speech, often amplified by right-wing media. Demographic factors such as Christian nationalism (i.e., the desire to preserve Christian symbols, beliefs, and policies preserved as the established religion of the United States), White racial centrality (i.e., an automatic association between the self and the White ingroup), and social dominance orientation (i.e., support for group-based hierarchies and inequality) significantly shape perceptions of immigrants as a threat to national identity. Although prior research has examined these factors independently, their relative importance in predicting perceived immigrant threat remains limited. Informed by intergroup threat theory, this quantitative study …

Reflective Parenting, Psychological Needs, And Parental Interpretation Of Children’S Negative Emotions, Julia Pappas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parents’ ability to understand and respond effectively to children’s negative emotions plays a critical role in children’s emotional development and regulation. However, it remains unclear whether parents interpret negative emotions as potential signals of underlying psychological needs. Based in the conceptual framework of parental reflective functioning and basic psychological needs theory, and grounded in interpretivist- constructivist paradigm, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine how parents interpret children’s negative emotions and how their meaning-making processes relate to basic psychological needs. Semistructured interviews were conducted with parents of children between ages 3 and 9 years old (N = …

Leadership Strategies Used By Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Resource Providers To Support Entrepreneurial Success, Sarah Niehaus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to collaborate effectively within entrepreneurial ecosystems remains a significant concern for leaders of entrepreneurial ecosystem organizations. Without clear, actionable collaboration strategies, these leaders may struggle to support entrepreneurial success and make informed decisions that enhance financial performance. Grounded in Mockler’s complex adaptive systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective strategies some leaders within entrepreneurial ecosystem organizations use to collaborate in a manner that supports entrepreneurial success. Participants included seven leaders of entrepreneurial ecosystem organizations located in the Midwest United States with successful experiences using such strategies. Data were collected from semistructured …

Self-Stigma Of Seeking Help, Psychological Safety, And Employee Assistance Program Use In Nurses, Latisha Lenee Marshall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee assistance programs (EAPs) remain underutilized across various U.S. work sectors, including nursing. There are several barriers that impede nurses from using EAP services, including self-stigma of seeking help (SSOSH) and psychological safety (PS). The purposes of this study, which used the health promotion model as its theoretical framework, were to determine (a) if there was a difference in the level of SSOSH in nurses who have used EAPs and those who have not used EAPs, (b) if there was a difference in the level of PS in nurses who have used EAPs and nurses who have not used EAPs, …

Digital Trust Recovery: Effective Data Breach Management Approaches, Milbert Flores Dacayana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the digital economy, organizations face an increasing number of data breaches that compromise sensitive information and erode consumer trust. Some organizational leaders are concerned about the lack of effective strategies to manage data breaches and restore stakeholder confidence, which threatens organizations’ reputation and financial stability, and long-term trust in digital systems. Grounded in cybersecurity risk management theory (CRMT) and situational crisis communication theory (SCCT), the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies employed by data managers in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC, to manage data breaches and rebuild consumer trust. Participants were 10 experienced data …

Educational Design Models In Transition: A Comparative Review, Tofan Stofiana, Yeti Mulyati, Andoyo Sastromihardjo, Dadang Sunendar

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

A persistent gap between educational theory and classroom practice underscores the need for methodological approaches that are reflective, participatory, and context responsive. This study provides a comparative review of four major educational design models, including research and development (R&D); Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE); design-based research (DBR); and educational design research (EDR), to examine their theoretical orientations and contemporary applications. A systematic literature synthesis and bibliometric mapping were conducted on 80 peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus between 2020 and 2025. The findings reveal that ADDIE remains the most frequently applied framework due to its procedural clarity and …

Atherogenic Index Of Plasma’S Association With Coronary Heart Disease Risks Among Postmenopausal Pakistani Women, Amad Khan, Syed Kashif Raza

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading global cause of mortality, notably affecting postmenopausal women. Hormonal fluctuations during menopause contribute to dyslipidemia, fostering cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study explored lipid profiles among postmenopausal Pakistani women, focusing on the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and its association with CHD.

The data consisted of surveys from 265 women aged between 40–70 years. A STEP-wise approach, using a questionnaire from the World Health Organization, was employed for data collection. This quantitative cross-sectional study, guided by the socioecological model, examined links between AIP, age, lipid profiles, and hypertension. The AIP’s association with CHD was …

Prevention And Resilience: Addressing Thc Use In Little Elm, Denton County, Texas, Luci Papanastassiou

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement

The goal of this Social Change Portfolio is to design a collaborative, community-level primary prevention program for adolescents in the Little Elm, Denton County, Texas area to mitigate the mental health and cognitive risks associated with THC use while strengthening protective factors across the entire community (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2018; Smith, 2024; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2025).

Significant Findings

The Little Elm, Denton County, Texas area is an area of growth and development that also faces the need for mental health professionals, especially with the current situation of THC use with adolescents (Substance …

Community And Individual Risk Factors Associated With Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes: Ca, Md, And Oh, [2017-2021]., Kadiatu Banjoko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are unsuccessful treatment outcomes with Tuberculosis (TB) disease, although effective therapies exist. This study aimed to identify predictors of unsuccessful treatment using the socioecological model. A quantitative cross-sectional study and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to measure the associations between long-term care (LTC), homelessness, correctional facility, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), diabetes, excess alcohol, illicit drug use, and TB treatment outcomes of death, lost to follow-up, and treatment refusal. The sample consisted of 7,589 individuals aged 15 and older with pulmonary TB between 2017 and 2021, residing in California, Ohio, and Maryland. Findings indicated a correlation between community factors …

Strategies To Reduce The Physician Documentation Burden In Adult Primary Care, Glenda Cascalla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Primary care physicians face high rates of burnout, with electronic health record (EHR) documentation identified ass a significant contributing factor. EHR systems consume substantial physician time, diverting attention from meaningful patient interactions toward administrative tasks and increasing documentation burden. The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate best practices for minimizing the documentation burden on primary care providers. The review question centered on how best practices can be implemented by healthcare administrators to reduce the physician documentation burden in primary care. This integrative review used the sociotechnical systems theory framework to identify and evaluate effective strategies to alleviate …

Unpacking Domestic Violence Intervention Programs, Lauren Pagan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Domestic violence is a public health concern and most existing literature has focused on service delivery for victims, opposed to interventions for perpetrators. The Duluth model is the most common model guiding groups for perpetrators, yet results on its effectiveness have been inconsistent and unclear. Counselors and counselor educators lack the empirical support needed to effectively apply the Duluth model while working with the people who abuse. The purpose of this qualitative, existential–phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of participants in Duluth Model-based, domestic violence intervention programs (DVIPs). Guided by existential–phenomenological theory, this study addressed the research question: …

Strategies Financial Institutions Use To Mitigate Security Breaches For Mobile Customers, Steven F. Knese

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mobile fraud attack rates are increasing rapidly. Financial institutions, cybersecurity managers, and regulators need effective strategies to reduce consumer financial harm and operational risk. Grounded in the cybernetics model, this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry identified the cybersecurity strategies that cybersecurity professionals use at financial institutions to mitigate data breaches for mobile customers accessing financial data. Data were collected from five cybersecurity professionals through semistructured interviews and from publicly available documents and guidance issued by financial institutions and standards bodies. Six significant themes emerged from thematic analysis: implementing multifactor authentication, deploying virtual private networks (VPNs), delivering user education, promoting regular account monitoring, …

Paternal Filicide In The Context Of Divorce And Child Custody, Andrea Chase

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study examined the troubling intersection of parental separation, domestic violence and paternal filicide, issues that profoundly challenge societal and legal frameworks. Although domestic violence and marital dissolution are recognized risk factors for child maltreatment, their role in paternal filicide, specifically when motivated by parental separation, has been understudied. Using a purposeful and criterion-based sampling strategy, cases were drawn from the Center for Judicial Excellence database of children murdered during divorce, parental separation, and child custody disputes. After applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final sample consisted of 113 biological fathers responsible for the deaths of 263 children …

Staff Education To Improve Diabetes Management Knowledge For Primary Healthcare Providers, Helen Njoku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

I developed this Doctor of Nursing Practice staff education project to improve primary healthcare providers’ knowledge of diabetes management. Given the vital role nurses, advanced practice providers, and physicians play in patient education, chronic illness management, and care coordination, this issue must be addressed within nursing practice. The practice-focused question guiding this project was: Among primary healthcare providers, does implementing a structured diabetes education training program, compared to the current standard practice, improve provider knowledge in diabetes management? The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a targeted education intervention session. As analytical strategies, I employed expert …

Staff Education To Address Workplace Violence Against Staff, Julie Ann Childers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project, the primary focus was on addressing knowledge of workplace bullying within the hospital setting. The project involved developing and implementing an educational program to raise awareness, prevent workplace bullying, and effectively respond to it among healthcare staff. Workplace bullying harms physical and emotional well-being, reduces productivity, increases absenteeism, and increases turnover. The practice-focused question was as follows: In a hospital setting, does implementing a workplace violence (WPV) prevention education program for healthcare workers lead to increased knowledge of WPV incidents, awareness, and management among staff? Using evidence-based strategies and resources, the DNP …

Black Educated Women's Experience With Relationship Formation After Intimate Partner Violence, Jeannette Aris Thompson-Beckford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at disproportionately high rates, yet most research has focused on those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, overlooking how educated Black women navigate relationships after IPV. While extensive studies have examined the health consequences of IPV among Black women, less attention has been given to their experiences with intimacy, trust, and partner selection post-IPV. Additionally, existing research on relationship formation after IPV has largely centered on other racial groups, leaving the unique challenges faced by Black educated women underexplored. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how Black, educated women describe their experiences …

Mental Health Provider Perceptions Of Self-Efficacy Following Prison Budget Reductions, Angela Frankland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout rates for mental health workers are impacted due to budget restrictions in treatment programs. Fiscal challenges and their impact on the experiences of mental health providers have yet to be explored within correctional settings. There is a lack of research concerning mental health professional’s self-efficacy beliefs when providing treatment services to inmates. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore mental health professional’s self-efficacy beliefs in correctional systems with context towards diminishing fiscal resources. Self-efficacy theory and prison rehabilitation management theory are the theoretical frameworks used as the foundation for this study. The research question was designed …

Staff Education On The Use Of Screening, Brief Intervention, And Referral To Treatment (Sbirt) For The Identification And Management Of Excessive Alcohol Use, Vivienne Tsopndou Nkengafac

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary The project was a practice-focused quality improvement project endeavor aimed at augmenting staff utilization of an evidence-based screening instrument for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The problem under study in an outpatient behavioral health setting stemmed from insufficient staff understanding and poor implementation of established screening and intervention protocols, heightening the risk of under identification and ineffective management of AUD. Resolving this issue is crucial in nursing practice because nurses play a pivotal role in early identification, brief intervention, referral to treatment, and fair care provision for patients with substance problems. The project was centered on the following practice-focused question: …