Victims Of Child Sex Trafficking: Are U.S. Pediatricians Ready To Identify, Assess, Treat And Protect Them?, Bidisha Sinha

Dissertations

The trafficking of children for commercial sexual exploitation is a gross violation of human rights and a global, public health issue that is rapidly growing and prevalent. Due to the clandestine nature of this crime and the general lack of public knowledge about it, identifying and protecting victims of child sex trafficking (CST) is fraught with challenges. Therefore, it is imperative that healthcare professionals - often the only professionals with whom CST victims come in contact while in captivity - are properly educated and trained on this topic. A literature review reveals there is little knowledge about pediatricians' education and …

The Impact Of Social And Cultural Factors On Minority Students’ Participation In An International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, Elizabeth Scott-Janda

Dissertations

Although concern about mathematical achievement inequities has become widespread, even in well-funded, high-performing high schools, unequal outcomes for minority and disadvantaged students can seem persistent and difficult to change despite strong efforts. This project reports on an ethnographic study that examined how social environments within schools can affect students’ choices of whether or not to attempt advanced coursework in mathematics, especially among marginalized groups like Hispanic minorities, low socio-economic status (SES) and rural populations. It considered how social and peer environments affect students’ approaches to schooling, and decisions they make that will have long-term implications for their futures. In particular, …

The Impact Of Character Education Programs On Middle School Bullying Behavior, Kelly M. Amshey

Dissertations

Bullying is recognized as a barrier that must be addressed by schools to ensure that all students have access to educational opportunities. Due to high accountability with limited resources, schools must identify strategies to address issues such as bullying in a manner that provides the maximum benefit to students. Character education (CE) programs, which contribute to the bullying deterrent of positive school climate, may also lessen bullying through explicit teaching of character traits and prosocial skills.

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between utilization of character education and prevalence of bullying in middle …

The Wounded Healer: A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Counselors-In-Training With Complex Trauma Histories, Jessica Leigh Manson

Dissertations

Thirty percent of the general population report one or more traumatic experiences (National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, 2019), and samples of mental health professionals report rates of traumatic experience as high as eighty percent (Pearlman & Mac Ian, 1995). Research on the neurobiological effects of trauma highlights the possibility of a trauma history uniquely impacting counselors-in-training (CITs) in their professional development and counseling work. This study focused on understanding the experiences of counselors-in-training (CITs) with complex trauma histories. Complex trauma is defined as a form of trauma that is chronic in nature and/or timing- specifically, an event perceived as …

Academic Achievement In Children With New-Onset Seizures Or Asthma, Angela Marie Mcnelis

Dissertations

It has long been recognized that children with epilepsy have more learning difficulties in school than either children without seizures or children with other chronic disorders, such as asthma. Problems such as repeating a grade, receiving special services, and scoring poorly on standardized achievement tests are over-represented in children with epilepsy. Factors that lead to problems with academic underachievement are not well understood. Primary purposes of the study were to examine change in academic achievement over a 12-month period and to identify factors related to achievement in children with new-onset seizures. A secondary purpose was to examine differences in academic …

Accessibility To Resources For Homeless Documented Immigrant Families: A Case Study, Antaniece P. Carter

Dissertations

This study seeks to explore the experience of a homeless documented immigrant family attempting to access school and community resources. Research has shown that due to disadvantages including but not limited to lack of economic mobility, employment access, lone parent families, and cultural background, some immigrant families may face challenges accessing services (Arnold, 2004). Difficulty accessing services then can inhibit adjustment and may lead to homelessness.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the issue of homelessness as experienced by immigrants within an urban community. A case study will highlight the experience of a homeless immigrant family, as defined …

Impact Of A Web-Based Instructional Module Of Alzheimer’S Disease Within Seven Content Knowledge Domains, Joyce Haynie

Dissertations

Abstract

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has been classified as the most common form of dementia. Primary health care providers are usually the first clinicians to whom individuals present with symptoms of dementia. By 2050, it is expected that as many as 13.8 million Americans will be living with AD, and millions more will be placed in the challenging role of providing care for these individuals. However, studies continue to show that dementia is often underdiagnosed and under detected. The purpose of the study was to systematically inquire about the impact of AD education on level of knowledge about AD among primary …

Developing Moral Education To Combat Human Trafficking, Shima Rostami

Dissertations

Leaders are challenged daily to improve their organization's products and outcomes. “When the character of leaders is low, so are their standards” (Maxwell, 2010, p. 41), and accordingly the products and programs. No field or profession was exempt from this challenge at the leadership level. On this note, human trafficking as a humanitarian crisis was of particular interest for activists, but one that may still suffer from this same weakness at the leadership level. Consequently, having a concern for how to improve the character and standards of the leaders in the anti-human trafficking movement, the Investigator of this study questioned …

Interdisciplinary Collaboration In Exemplary Counseling-Enriched High School Programs: Integrating College & Career Readiness And Mental Health Wellness For Students With Emotional Disturbance, Amira S. Mostafa

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods multiple-case study was to describe how interdisciplinary collaborative teams support the college and career readiness and the mental health wellness of adolescents with emotional disturbance. A secondary purpose was to explore how team members describe and rate the importance of their interdisciplinary collaboration using the four essential elements (reflection, flexibility, newly created roles, and interdependence) based on the model established by Mellin (Mellin et al., 2010). Lastly, this study sought recommendations from team members on improved practices supporting adolescents with emotional disturbance.

Methodology: An explanatory sequential mixed methods multiple-case study design explored the …

Baseline Trauma Symptoms: Residential And Non-Residential Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence, Brooke R. Jacobs

Dissertations

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a preventable public health problem that’s literature has documented the clinical presentations of those who have experienced IPV. These presentations include what is generally consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as a wide range of other symptoms including different medical comorbidities, defensiveness, difficulties in self-regulation, externalizing behavior, difficulties in relationships, withdrawal, and somatic preoccupations. These presentations are typically assumed to be symptoms of IPV but some argue that some of these, such as insecure attachment or trauma exposure, may be precursors to experiencing IPV. This has been discussed with great caution to avoid victim …

Understanding Reflection From The Perspective Of Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Deborah A. Greenawald

Dissertations

Across the nation, nurse educators are seeking to meet the needs of students with diverse learning characteristics within increasingly complex academic and clinical environments. One teaching-learning strategy that has been used is reflection; however, there is a notable lack of consensus among educators and researchers about the specific nature of reflection. The purpose of this study was to describe reflection from the perspective of baccalaureate nursing students. A review of the literature provided the context for the study, and was organized into four sections: Historical Perspectives, Models and Definitions of Reflection; Reflection in Nursing Practice; Reflection in Nursing Education; and …

Parenting A Lone Twin: When One Twin Dies, Kelly L. Grady

Dissertations

Parents who simultaneously grieve the loss of one twin and nurture the surviving twin experience a paradox of grief and joy. The acute grief of losing a twin coincides with a critical time in the development of the parental role and relationship with the surviving twin. Very few researchers have addressed the unique parenting situation in which one twin infant dies. The aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe the experience of parents who lose one twin in utero, at birth, or in the neonatal period. The study question was "What is the parenting experience of mothers and …

Development Of The Woman Abuse Screening Tool, Wendy K. Taylor

Dissertations

Researchers reported that 25%-33% of female trauma victims had injuries caused by battering. More than one million women per year seek medical care for injuries caused by battering. Of those who seek medical care, only one in ten is officially identified as a battered woman. Women are routinely screened for a variety of problems, conditions, or medical disorders, but violence is not included. An important issue related to identifying battered women is the lack of an appropriate comprehensive screening tool. The purpose of this study was threefold: (a) determine whether using a comprehensive abuse screening tool results in an increased …

From The Boots On The Ground: A Comparison Of The Attitudes And Beliefs Of Military Members And Mental Health Professionals Regarding The Moral Injury Construct, Karis L. Callaway

Dissertations

An increasing amount of research conducted in recent years indicates that, in addition to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, moral injury is a key concept to recognize when considering the deployment experiences of service members. Although related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, which is a fear-based mental health diagnosis, moral injury is a distinct concept. It acknowledges the possible prolonged negative psychological, social, and spiritual consequences that may occur after experiences that challenge and transgress one’s deeply held moral beliefs. Events such as perpetration of harm, failing to protect or prevent harm, and witnessing or learning about distressing acts committed by influential others …

Social Justice And Inclusion As Competency: A Content Analysis Of Syllabi In Student Affairs Master’S Programs, Karla Iveliz Perez-Velez

Dissertations

This dissertation seeks to explore and discovers how the social justice and inclusion competency set forth by American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) in 2015 is achieved in student affairs master’s programs. The idea of an individual being able to achieve competency in social justice and inclusion is problematized. A competency-based approach sets up social justice and inclusion as an attainable skill set instead of an ongoing and lifelong approach of challenge injustice with and for minoritized communities. The literature review provides an overview of the development of student affairs. The overview of …

Effects Of Flipgrid For Training On Job Satisfaction In Adjunct Clinical Nursing Faculty In A Baccalaureate Nursing Program, Maria Quimba

Dissertations

Given the critical shortages of nurses in the United States and the corresponding shortfall of qualified faculty, the need to support adjunct faculty to meet the challenges of higher education is paramount. Comprising nearly half of the professoriate across institutions of higher education and nearly 50% of instructional time in associate and baccalaureate programs, adjunct clinical nursing faculty play a significant role in nursing education. Despite empirical research to support the need for training, development, and mentorship, ample evidence indicated lack of institutional support. Consequently, adjunct faculty experience numerous challenges accessing institutional services, struggle in their roles, and report job …

Exploring Restorative Justice, Suspensions, And Expulsions With African American Males, Dorothy L. Mosby

Dissertations

Zero tolerance programs led to unequal consequences for African American males because the programs targeted behaviors African American students were more likely to receive discipline for, which resulted in an increase of disciplinary situations for the students. With the disproportionate suspensions and expulsions of African American male students in public schools, Illinois Senate Bill 100 addressed the discipline issues to reduce the number of long-term suspensions and expulsions. In the 2016–2017 school year, the state of Illinois implemented Senate Bill 100. The bill reconstructed the procedures on how school administrators suspended and expelled students; Restorative Justice was a technique used …

Barriers To Mental Health Treatment In Patients Referred By Primary Care, Rebecca Palmer

Dissertations

Problem: Limited access to mental health treatment is one of many potential barriers to treating mental illness in the United States. Where resources are readily available, reportedly high no-show rates for established mental health appointments suggests further investigation is necessary to identify frequent barriers within that population. This was a quality improvement project to identify common themes in patient-reported barriers to care.

Methods: A 4-question phone survey was offered to individuals that did not appear at their mental health appointment. Data was analyzed to identify the most commonly reported barriers to mental health treatment. Additional data collected includes reported history …

A Quality Initiative To Reduce Pneumonia Readmissions And Mortality In Older Adults, Terri Morris

Dissertations

The United States (U.S.) healthcare system journey for making improvements in the quality and value of healthcare continues. Hospital organizations are required to compose and make publically available their health quality outcome data. The publication transparency and increased availability of local, regional and national health quality metrics, including readmission and mortality rates, to governmental agencies, health plans, investors, other hospitals, providers and potential patient and families’ knowledge, creates a competitive pressure for a hospital to assure their quality outcomes data are the best. Despite breakthrough improvements using innovative care models that target vulnerable and potentially high cost of care areas …

Race-Based Trauma Care Training For Veteran’S Health Administration Nurse Practitioners, Vanessa Loyd

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Trauma informed care has become a priority for persons exposed to psychological, physiological, emotional consequences as a result of traumatic experiences. Veterans are from different cultures, including gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and other social groups. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is responsible for the health of this culturally diverse patient population. Healthcare providers without any prior military experience may experience difficulty obtaining an accurate history and physical exam due to the military’s cross-cultural environment. The project aim was to increase confidence and competence in race-based trauma care by incorporating training into a new acute care fellowship …

The Importance Of Leadership Motivational Activities In Encouraging International Students To Return To Their Tier 1 Universities, Eric Hall

Dissertations

Abstract

The problem is international students are not returning to their undergraduate Tier 1 institutions during a period when quality student enrollment is essential, and there is scant research on academic advising strategies that can be used to combat international student attrition at these universities (O’Keefe, 2013). Studies have often lumped all international students together and made efforts to attract more international students, but the reasons why international students chose research universities, and returned, were not being investigated in this manner (Hegarty, 2014).

The purpose of this proposed study was to gain an understanding of the decision-making and reasoning processes …

Examining Protective Factors That Promote Resilience Among Children With An Incarcerated Parent, Celeste A. Jackson

Dissertations

Children of incarcerated parents (CIP) represent one of the most vulnerable, at-risk populations in the United States (Johnston, 1995). Best estimates suggests there are 2.7 million children with an incarcerated parents and African-American children are disproportionately represented at a figure of 1 in 9 children (Glaze & Maruschak, 2008). Much of the research attempting to understand this population and guide intervention efforts has employed a deficit-based approach, highlighting the plethora of adverse risk factors and negative outcomes associated with being the child of an incarcerated parent. This approach fails to acknowledge the presence of resilience inherent in these youth. The …

Exploration Of The Decision-Making Process To Access And Utilize Healthcare In Women Veterans, Corinne A. Lee

Dissertations

Previous research described the barriers that women veterans (WVs) encounter during their decision-making to access and utilize healthcare services (Hamilton et al. 2013; Haskell, 2011& Washington et al. 2011).The decision-making process for accessing and utilizing healthcare in VA and non-VA health systems by women veterans is not described in the literature. Using a grounded theory approach (Strauss et al., 1998) and embedding the Decisional Conflict Scale(DCS) to assess for decisional conflict, this study explored how and why women veterans decide to access and utilize healthcare.

The Lived Experience Of Discharged And Readmitted African Americans With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease To A Safety-Net Hospital, Kiiyonna Jones

Dissertations

Background:Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a debilitating respiratory disease that negatively affects the quality of life of those affected and has been a major contributor to the continuous rise in healthcare cost in the Unites States (Guarascio, Ray, Finch, & Self, 2013; National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, 2009; Shavelle, Paculdo, Kush, Mannino, & Straus, 2009; Scott, Smith, Sullivan, & Mahajan, 2001). In 2014, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identified COPD as an applicable condition to the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, which penalizes healthcare organizations having readmissions higher than the national average. COPD is the second …

Toward A Theory Of Home Health Care Nursing Practice, Leslie J. Neal-Boylan

Dissertations

Current theories of home health nursing practice in the United States are not based on research. The purpose of this study was to build a substantive theory of home health nursing practice using a qualitative methodology. A grounded theory study of 26 home health nurses practicing in the tri-state area of Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland was conducted to explore how home health nurses define their practice. The nurse participants varied in nursing background, level of education, home health nursing experience, age, race, position within the organization, and the type of organization that employed them. Unstructured interviews that were audiotaped …

Experiences Of Homeless Vietnam Veterans In Deciding To Access Or Not Access Health Care, Susan K. Lee

Dissertations

Homeless Vietnam Veterans (HVV) report their health status as poor, indicating a multitude of health concerns, including physical and psychological problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol or drug dependencies. Prompt attention to health care may improve the prognosis; however, HVV tend to delay seeking medical attention. The purpose of this study was to explore the process utilized by HVV to make the decision to access or to not access health care services. According to inclusion criteria of the study, all participants served in the US military during the Vietnam War.

Outcome Evaluation Of An Interdisciplinary Care Model For Children With Cystic Fibrosis, Roberta P. Pawlak

Dissertations

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a life-limiting, autosomal recessive inherited disease that affects approximately 30,000 individuals in the United States. Health problems of children with CF tend to be complex, requiring specialty health services. Often children with CF are cared for in CF Care Centers, where an interdisciplinary care team addresses these needs. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) recommends specific Clinical Practice Guidelines be applied to all patients with CF. A major gap in the CF literature is evidence of guideline application results on health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of an interdisciplinary care model …

The Relationship Between Spouses' Strength Of Identification And Their Patterns Of Change In Perceived Body Space And Articulation Of Body Concept During And After Pregnancy, Jacqueline M. Fawcett

Dissertations

The family is a living open system characterized by pattern and organization. While the rate of change in pattern and organization varies throughout the life cycle of the family, few periods involve the rapid and extensive repatterning and reorganization present in pregnancy. Empirical evidence suggests that changes in body image occur during and after pregnancy in both wives and husbands. The study designed to test the hypotheses used a sample of fifty married couples who attended Lamaze preparation for childbirth classes.

Alternative Education Program Best Practices: A Comparative Analysis Of Three Mid-Missouri High School Alternative Education Programs, Elizabeth Christine Nelson

Dissertations

School districts in the state of Missouri are required to provide an education to all students, including those on suspension, and many other states have similar requirements. The number of alternative programs has grown over the last 50 years, and most districts provide some type of alternative program for at-risk students. With few state regulations for evaluation of these programs, researchers in alternative education recommended districts perform internal evaluations to ensure program quality. The research identified six research-based best practices domains critical to the success of an alternative program. The six domains were curriculum, assessment, engagement, instruction, leadership, and structures. …

Promoting Workplace Health Using Wearable Technology: A Mixed Methods Study In A Nonprofit Organization, Mitchell Tarver

Dissertations

Despite efforts to improve the designs and benefits of workplace wellness programs (WWPs), there are two major problems preventing employers from optimizing the human capital of their employees: (a) many WWPs are limited and do not include an exercise component, which increases the potential for chronic health conditions; and (b) more than 50% of employees are reluctant to participate in WWPs due to the common barriers of time, convenience, and location. A lack of physical activity is a problem because studies have shown that chronic conditions increase rates of absenteeism and presenteeism, both of which increase productivity loss. Additionally, low …