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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Effects Of Age And Employment On Covid-19 Rates By Nonmetro/Metro Location, Amanda Jean Keith May 2025

Effects Of Age And Employment On Covid-19 Rates By Nonmetro/Metro Location, Amanda Jean Keith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, the combination of a highly transmissible virus and the preexisting vulnerability of rural areas amplifies the impact of COVID-19 surges in the rural population compared to the urban counterpart. This quantitative non-experimental ex-post facto study aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between metro and non-metro locations and COVID-19 infection and mortality, and how age and employment status influence the outcomes. The theoretical framework was the rural nursing theory, with the social determinants of health providing the framework for integrating the underlying concept through the five domains of economic stability, education, health and health care, …


Investigating The Association Between Metabolically Healthy And Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity With Disease, Colleen Marie Cohick May 2025

Investigating The Association Between Metabolically Healthy And Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity With Disease, Colleen Marie Cohick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a global health concern, affecting individuals of all ages and ethnicities worldwide. A key factor in health concerns related to obesity is metabolic health: Obese individuals are either metabolically healthy obese or metabolically unhealthy obese, leading to different degrees of risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.. There is a lack of comprehensive research examining the association between metabolic health status among obese individuals and kidney, liver, and stomach diseases. This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted to examine whether metabolic health status is a significant predictor of kidney, liver, and stomach diseases among obese individuals when lifestyle is a …


Enhancing Strategies For Government Partnerships To Meet Organizational Goals And Objectives, Nuela Uche Umeh May 2025

Enhancing Strategies For Government Partnerships To Meet Organizational Goals And Objectives, Nuela Uche Umeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organization X’s mission to strengthen legal rights and rehabilitate inmates involves effective collaboration with government entities. Organization X struggled to build strong partnerships with government agencies, limiting its ability to provide legal aid and rehabilitation services to marginalized inmates and victims of human rights violations. The purpose of this study was to use a SWOT analysis to explore the challenges and opportunities in government partnerships, aiming to identify barriers and recommend strategies to strengthen collaboration, build staff capacity, and enhance service delivery. Guided by four research questions, the study examined barriers and opportunities in government partnerships. Data were collected through …


Examining The Relationship Between Leadership Styles, Staff Performance, And Staff Retention In Medication-Assisted Treatment, Chauncey Manique Tims May 2025

Examining The Relationship Between Leadership Styles, Staff Performance, And Staff Retention In Medication-Assisted Treatment, Chauncey Manique Tims

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This case study examines the influence of leadership styles on employee retention and performance in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) facilities located in the southeastern United States, with a focus on facilities treating patients with severe opioid use disorder (F11.20). Using the Baldrige Excellence Framework, the study explores how different leadership approaches impact the work environment, employee satisfaction, and retention. Data were collected through semi structured interviews with six clinic directors, one regional clinical supervisor, and one regional director, as well as a review of organizational archival records and a literature review. The analysis revealed several key findings: (a) staff licensure requirements …


Examining Hospital Mergers And Acquisitions From A Supply Chain Perspective: Applications For Public Hospitals In Louisiana, Jamar O'Neal Powell May 2025

Examining Hospital Mergers And Acquisitions From A Supply Chain Perspective: Applications For Public Hospitals In Louisiana, Jamar O'Neal Powell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public hospitals undergoing mergers and acquisitions (M&As) often encounter complex supply chain challenges that disrupt operations, decrease efficiency, and jeopardize financial sustainability. Ineffective post-merger integration may result in increased costs, lower employee performance, and diminished patient satisfaction. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether key post-merger supply chain strategies: supply chain integration, vendor consolidation, inventory rationalization, and healthcare landscape evolution (independent variables) were significantly associated with hospital performance outcomes: supply chain efficiency, employee performance, employee satisfaction, patient care experiences, and financial efficiency (dependent variables). Grounded in organizational change theory, this study utilized a secondary data analysis design …


Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives On Challenges Using Developmentally Appropriate Practices In The Classroom, Tamesha Samone Parris May 2025

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives On Challenges Using Developmentally Appropriate Practices In The Classroom, Tamesha Samone Parris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early childhood teachers’ understanding of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) is necessary to support children’s development and learning in early childhood settings. The problem was many early childhood teachers experience challenges using DAP to make informed decisions in the classroom to support birth to 3-year-old children’s development and learning. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore early childhood teachers’ perspectives on challenges using DAP to make informed decisions to support birth to 3-year-old children’s development and learning in the classroom and what was needed to improve their use of DAP. The conceptual framework for this study was the National …


How Do African American Women In Halfway Housing Perceive Their Experiences With Mental And Emotional Rehabilitation, Eiyana Middleton May 2025

How Do African American Women In Halfway Housing Perceive Their Experiences With Mental And Emotional Rehabilitation, Eiyana Middleton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After reviewing the literature, Black women living in halfway housing needed more culturally accommodative and responsive access to mental health care. Despite recent efforts to improve the access and quality of mental health services for Black Americans, some of the most common barriers that continued to exist include and were not limited to the following: stigma associated with mental illness and distrust of the health care system. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand Black women’s perceptions of their mental and emotional rehabilitation while living in halfway housing. The hermeneutic phenomenology theory was most appropriate as it …


Impact Of Pediatric Urgent Care Center Utilization, Deiandria Robinson May 2025

Impact Of Pediatric Urgent Care Center Utilization, Deiandria Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Across the United States, the utilization of the emergency department for nonemergent conditions has gained the attention of public health officials, hospital administrators, and policymakers. Care in the emergency department comes with negative factors such as overcrowding, increased wait times, patient dissatisfaction, and higher costs. Urgent care centers offer viable, cost-efficient options for nonemergent care. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the use of a pediatric urgent care center for nonemergent conditions in relation to race for patients that live within 5 miles of the pediatric urgent care center. The Anderson and Newman model of health service …


Developing An Effective Business Strategy For Microinsurance Demand In Nigeria, Adewale Ayokunle Adewusi May 2025

Developing An Effective Business Strategy For Microinsurance Demand In Nigeria, Adewale Ayokunle Adewusi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nigerian insurance leaders face significant challenges in developing a sustainable microinsurance sector. Despite subsidies from governments and donors aimed at increasing demand, microinsurance operators struggle to expand and sustain their customer base, posing a critical challenge for industry leaders. Grounded in the cumulative prospect theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies some insurance leaders in Nigeria use to grow and sustain business demand for microinsurance products. The participants were five insurance leaders in Nigeria who had employed successful strategies to develop and sustain business demand for microinsurance products. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and …


Staff Education To Reduce Medication Error In Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, Christiana Omodugba-Udeh May 2025

Staff Education To Reduce Medication Error In Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, Christiana Omodugba-Udeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This staff education project was an initiative designed to address the practice problem of medication errors in the psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU). The project’s purpose was to improve the nursing staff’s knowledge regarding medication administration and documentation through a structured educational intervention. The practice-focused question was: Will staff education on medication administration and documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR) result in an increase in staff knowledge with an aim to promote a reduction in medication errors in the PICU? The education was delivered through in-person sessions during regularly scheduled staff meetings to ensure full participation without disrupting …


Implementation Of Classroom Technology For Elementary Students With Adhd, Melanie Flemming May 2025

Implementation Of Classroom Technology For Elementary Students With Adhd, Melanie Flemming

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is the teacher-reported increase in behavioral problems among students with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) since a mandated introduction of educational technology in the classroom aimed at improving student performance. Using the PICRAT (passive, interactive, creative, replacement, amplification, transformation) describes the impact of technology on a teacher's previous practice model as the conceptual scaffold, this study was conducted to explore teachers’ experiences integrating educational technology and any corresponding student behavioral changes in classrooms that include students with ADHD. Following a basic qualitative design, data were collected through semistructured interviews, using a self-designed interview protocol, with …


Faculty Perceptions Of Challenges To Faculty Retention In Workforce Training Programs At A Higher Education Center In The Southern United States, Brea Terry May 2025

Faculty Perceptions Of Challenges To Faculty Retention In Workforce Training Programs At A Higher Education Center In The Southern United States, Brea Terry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is the challenges of retaining faculty in the workforce training program division at a higher education center in the southern United States. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore faculty perceptions regarding challenges to faculty retention in the workforce training program division at a higher education center in the southern United States and their recommendations for improved faculty retention. The conceptual framework that supported the study was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with eight full-time workforce training faculty members who had been employed with the …


Examining The Impact Of Reentry Programs On The Employability Of African American Ex-Offenders Entering The Workforce In The State Of Michigan, Lawrence Gene Caldwell May 2025

Examining The Impact Of Reentry Programs On The Employability Of African American Ex-Offenders Entering The Workforce In The State Of Michigan, Lawrence Gene Caldwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American ex-offenders in Michigan have faced numerous challenges when trying to secure employment after incarceration. Despite the well-documented difficulties of reintegration, their personal experiences and perceptions of these obstacles remain largely unexplored. Successful reintegration has required individuals to break free from the behaviors and social patterns reinforced during their time in prisons. This generic qualitative study examined the role of reentry programs in addressing these challenges and emphasizes the need to reassess current criminal justice practices to better support formerly incarcerated individuals. This generic qualitative study focused on the employment struggles faced by African American ex-offenders and the broader …


Probation Officers Perceptions Of Probationers Economic Barriers To Successfully Complete Probation In Eastern North Carolina, Dwayne Ponton May 2025

Probation Officers Perceptions Of Probationers Economic Barriers To Successfully Complete Probation In Eastern North Carolina, Dwayne Ponton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study explored probation officers’ perceptions of the economic barriers that prevent probationers in Eastern North Carolina from successfully completing probation. Challenges such as unemployment, financial sanctions, housing instability, and debt were identified as key obstacles contributing to noncompliance and recidivism. Grounded in Merton’s Strain Theory, the study addressed a gap in research by focusing on the experiences of officers who directly supervise probationers facing economic hardship. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with twelve officers and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study was guided by two research questions: (1) What economic barriers prevent probationers from successfully completing …


Grades 5–6 Mathematics Teachers’ Experiences Implementing Professional Learning Communities, Jamarc Rashad Crawford May 2025

Grades 5–6 Mathematics Teachers’ Experiences Implementing Professional Learning Communities, Jamarc Rashad Crawford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that in an urban Southeast Texas school district (SETSD), professional learning communities (PLCs) were implemented to provide support for mathematics teachers; however, Grades 5–6 teachers continued to struggle with providing mathematics instruction for their students in this Title I district. This ongoing challenge indicated a gap between the intended support mechanisms and their practical impact on teaching practices, necessitating a deeper investigation into the factors contributing to this persistent issue. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the SETSD Grades 5–6 teacher experiences with mathematics PLCs aimed at developing their …


The Effectiveness Of Postincarceration Reentry Programming In Fostering Community Reintegration For Women, La Shawn B. Kelley May 2025

The Effectiveness Of Postincarceration Reentry Programming In Fostering Community Reintegration For Women, La Shawn B. Kelley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Identifying gaps in reentry programs for formerly incarcerated women is challenging due to the lack of evaluations that include the perspectives of the transitioning women on which components most effectively support their reintegration. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of transitioning women who received reentry services, in order to assess program effectiveness in community reintegration and inform future interventions. The research question for this study was, how do women served by Organization A’s reentry program describe the program’s effectiveness in preparing them for community reintegration after incarceration? To answer the practice-focused research …


Healthcare Use: Impact Of Race And Insurance Status On Influenza In The Bronx, Miselie Charite May 2025

Healthcare Use: Impact Of Race And Insurance Status On Influenza In The Bronx, Miselie Charite

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Underuse of healthcare services by Blacks, who receive fewer influenza vaccinations than Whites in New York, has resulted in elevated health complications and increased healthcare costs. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if there is an association between race and insurance status with length of inpatient stay and total charges. Theoretical frameworks were the Quality, Cost, and Health Model and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Triple Aim framework. Using a dataset from the New York State Planning and Research Cooperative System with a sample size of 3,137 cases, findings showed significant disparities during analysis. Regression analysis …


Increasing Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Among C-Suite Executives In Non-Profit Rural Hospitals, Veaunka Gulley May 2025

Increasing Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Among C-Suite Executives In Non-Profit Rural Hospitals, Veaunka Gulley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rural hospital health systems in the United States provide different services to rural communities, such as serving vulnerable populations, providing better access to healthcare, and contributing to the overall health of the community. Ninety percent of nonprofit CEOs are White, and 90% of nonprofit board members are White. This integrative review aimed to explore evidence of strategies to implement, promote, and increase DEI representation among C-suite executives in rural health systems. Twenty-five articles published between 2018 and 2024 were selected based on words used across the databases which included rural health*, hospital*, diversity*, and equity*. Literature containing the inclusion criteria …


Mitigating Supply Chain Disruptions In The Retail Warehousing Industry, Terricka Nichole Townsend May 2025

Mitigating Supply Chain Disruptions In The Retail Warehousing Industry, Terricka Nichole Townsend

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Retail warehousing stability is increasingly threatened by global uncertainties and supply chain disruptions, requiring urgent and innovative strategies. This issue is critical for retail warehousing managers and supply chain leaders, as their ability to respond impacts organizational resilience, business continuity, and customer satisfaction. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies used by retail warehousing managers to mitigate the negative impacts of supply chain disruptions on business stability. The situational crisis communication theory and attribution theory provided the conceptual framework for understanding how retail warehousing managers communicate and respond to supply chain disruptions while maintaining stakeholder trust …


Strategies To Reduce Medicaid Fraud And Abuse In Health Care Billing, Tram-Anh Leeza Nguyen May 2025

Strategies To Reduce Medicaid Fraud And Abuse In Health Care Billing, Tram-Anh Leeza Nguyen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medicaid fraud and abuse in health care billing is committed by licensed practitioners, patients, or criminal organizations and can pose a serious business problem. Health care managers are particularly concerned because fraudulent claims can result in lost revenue, legal consequences, and diminished resources for legitimate patient care. Grounded in the Complex Adaptive Systems Model, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies some health care managers use to reduce fraud and abuse in health care billing. The participants included four health care managers in California who have successfully implemented strategies to mitigate fraud and financial abuse. …


Staff Education On Medication Reconciliation, Ivana Priscilla Adwoa Antwiwaa Buamah May 2025

Staff Education On Medication Reconciliation, Ivana Priscilla Adwoa Antwiwaa Buamah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice education project focused on improving staff knowledge of medication reconciliation through an evidence-based educational intervention in an outpatient clinic. Medication reconciliation is crucial for ensuring accurate and consistent medication lists across care transitions, helping to prevent errors, such as omissions, duplications, dosing mistakes, and drug interactions. The project’s central question was whether staff education on an evidence-based approach to medication reconciliation would improve staff knowledge. A pre- and post-education survey was used to measure changes in staff knowledge after a PowerPoint presentation. Results showed a significant increase in staff knowledge after the intervention; the participants’ …


Treatment-Seeking Behavior: A Quantitative Study Of Firefighters And Mental Health Literacy, Sarah Thompson May 2025

Treatment-Seeking Behavior: A Quantitative Study Of Firefighters And Mental Health Literacy, Sarah Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The mental health of firefighters is a pressing concern, especially given the increasing suicide rates within this demographic. This quantitative nonexperimental study examined the impact of mental health literacy on the intention of firefighters to seek help for personal or emotional issues, employing the Mental Health Literacy Scale and the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire. Key variables, including years of service, rank, and age, were analyzed for their influence on this relationship. Grounded in the conservation of resources theory, the study aimed to answer two primary research questions: the predictive relationship between mental health literacy and help-seeking behavior, and the role of …


Addressing Assistive Technology Training Needs For Special Education Paraprofessionals In School Districts In A South-Central State, Presttee Robinson May 2025

Addressing Assistive Technology Training Needs For Special Education Paraprofessionals In School Districts In A South-Central State, Presttee Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Paraprofessionals who work with students with disabilities in K-12 settings play a significant role in implementing assistive technology (AT); however, inefficient training often limits their ability to implement AT effectively. This training gap hinders inclusive education and equitable access for students with disabilities and may negatively impact their academic outcomes and independence. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the training needs and support requirements of special education paraprofessionals regarding AT in school districts within a South-Central U.S. state. Guided by the technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) framework, which describes the knowledge educators need to effectively integrate …


Executive Summary: Development Of An Evidence-Based Prevention Bundle To Reduce Falls On An Inpatient Psychiatric Detoxification Unit, Ramatu Dougrey Jalloh May 2025

Executive Summary: Development Of An Evidence-Based Prevention Bundle To Reduce Falls On An Inpatient Psychiatric Detoxification Unit, Ramatu Dougrey Jalloh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Following a 16% increase in patient falls from 2023 to 2024 in an inpatient psychiatric detoxification unit, a quality improvement education project was implemented to assess the impact of an evidence-based fall prevention bundle on fall rates and nursing compliance. Nurses received education through a PowerPoint presentation to enhance understanding and implementation of the bundle, which included Edmonson reassessments after high-risk medication administration, ISHAPED bedside shift handoffs, care plan updates, and SWIFT daily safety huddles. Posttests identified that the objective score of 80% knowledge for nurses was met. During the 10-week implementation, the goal was 100% compliance with all bundle …


The Role Of Empathy On Suicidality Among Adults Receiving Mental Health Services, Chelsea Lynn Wade May 2025

The Role Of Empathy On Suicidality Among Adults Receiving Mental Health Services, Chelsea Lynn Wade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Efforts have been made to manage the phenomenon of suicide within the clinical setting; however, suicide remains a prevalent public health concern. The purpose of this research project was to explore the relationship between empathy and suicidality. The study was framed using Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide to determine the relationship between empathy, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belonging, and suicidality in participants receiving outpatient mental health services. The research study was conducted utilizing a quantitative cross-sectional correlational survey design. Suicidality was measured using the Beck scale for suicide ideation and suicide behaviors questionnaire–revised; empathy using the cognitive, affective, and somatic empathy …


Mentoring Teacher Identity Development Among Early Childhood Preservice Teachers, Marla Ruth Pankratz May 2025

Mentoring Teacher Identity Development Among Early Childhood Preservice Teachers, Marla Ruth Pankratz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is that many mentor teachers struggle to support early childhood preservice teachers in developing teacher identity. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand mentor teachers’ challenges and what professional development or support fosters development of teacher identity in early childhood preservice teachers. Guided by Wenger’s communities of practice conceptual framework, data were collected via semistructured interviews with seven participants who had at least 3 years of early childhood teaching experience and had mentored an early childhood preservice teacher from a midwestern regional university in the last 5 years. Data analysis involved …


Staff Education To Enhance The Diagnosis Of Depression In Older Adults, Abiola Oyenwen Izekor May 2025

Staff Education To Enhance The Diagnosis Of Depression In Older Adults, Abiola Oyenwen Izekor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The aim of this staff education project was to improve provider knowledge on using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for screening depression in older adults. Geriatric depression is often underdiagnosed due to atypical symptoms and reliance on generalized tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), leading to delays in treatment and increased health care costs. To address this gap, I collaborated with a librarian to conduct a literature search, initially identifying 149 articles and refining them to 20 for review. I followed the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model to structure the educational intervention. The training included …


Strategies For Identifying Entrepreneurial Opportunities In Small Business It Consulting, Oluwatosin Ogun May 2025

Strategies For Identifying Entrepreneurial Opportunities In Small Business It Consulting, Oluwatosin Ogun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of effective strategies for identifying opportunities threatens the survival and growth of small IT consulting businesses. Without these strategies, owners risk struggling to sustain their businesses in a highly competitive market. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies that IT consulting small business owners use to identify business opportunities for growing their business. The project participants were six IT consulting small business owners in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States who led or significantly contributed to successfully recognizing business opportunities in firms at least 5 years …


Staff Education To Improve Staff Knowledge And Attitudes Regarding Aggressive Patient Behaviors, Roya Khoshbakht May 2025

Staff Education To Improve Staff Knowledge And Attitudes Regarding Aggressive Patient Behaviors, Roya Khoshbakht

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aggressive behavior among psychiatric patients threatens safety and quality in healthcare, causing physical and psychological harm to staff and contributing to burnout and high turnover rates. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project addressed gaps in staff knowledge and attitudes, particularly among nurses, regarding aggression management and de-escalation techniques through a comprehensive education program on the causes of aggression, warning signs, and effective strategies. The evidence-based practice (EBP) question was, Will staff education on evidence-based strategies for preventing and managing aggressive behavior improve staff knowledge and attitude? Project team members used the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice (JHEBP) model to develop …


Parental Vaccine Hesitancy And The Decision To Vaccinate Children Against Covid-19, Jessica Mckee May 2025

Parental Vaccine Hesitancy And The Decision To Vaccinate Children Against Covid-19, Jessica Mckee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While there is a significant body of literature regarding vaccine hesitancy, there is a gap in the literature on its impact to parents’ decisions to vaccinate their children against a pandemic pathogen. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parental vaccine hesitancy, measured using the health belief model (HBM) theoretical framework constructs of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS; the degree to which an individual trusts in vaccine efficacy, safety, the reliability and trustworthiness of vaccine programs, community impact, perceived risks, and the importance of childhood vaccinations), and parents’ decision to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 with …