Digital Commons Network^™

Parental Needs Regarding The Future Of Their Adult Intellectually Disabled Child, Jeannie Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem examined in this study was the lack of policy in New York State regarding the provision of prioritized residential services for intellectually disabled individuals who are being cared for by an aging caregiver. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and document the needs experienced by aging parents regarding securing the future of their intellectually disabled adult child. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Sabatier’s advocacy coalition framework. The research questions examined the lived experiences of aging parents caring for an adult child with an intellectual disability what parents perceive their needs …

Analysis Of Nurses’ Perceptions Of Their Role In A Multidisciplinary Team, Jessica Ann Dempsey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A better understanding of task allocation for the registered nurse (RN) within the scope of the multidisciplinary care team model is required. Patients, healthcare staff, and medical facilities that utilize RNs in multidisciplinary care teams will benefit from improved role identification. A multidisciplinary care team consists of a variety of health care professionals and without role identification, confusion, miscommunication, and negative patient outcomes can occur. A literature review demonstrated that a gap in knowledge existed related to task allocation and role identification of RNs within a multidisciplinary care team. The purpose of this study was to evaluate RNs’ scope of …

Strategies To Reduce Job Dissatisfaction Within 911 Call Centers, Gary Marshall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2017, more than 6.9 million employees parted ways with their employer because of voluntary employee turnover, layoffs, or terminations. Emergency call center supervisors who fail to implement adequate job satisfaction strategies experience reduced productivity and increased voluntary turnover. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies some southern Ontario 911 call center supervisors used to reduce job dissatisfaction. The conceptual framework supporting the study was the competing values framework. The population included 6 supervisors of 911 call centers in the province of Ontario, Canada, who successfully implemented job satisfaction strategies. Data were collected from interviews …

Education Program For Critical Care Nurses On Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections, Olatunde Olatunji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most frequently reported hospital-acquired condition, affecting more than 560,000 patients each year. CAUTIs prolong hospital stays and increase health care costs, and they can result in patient morbidity and mortality. Nurses can be empowered by receiving education and knowledge to manage and identify urinary catheters that are not clinically indicated. The purpose of this project was to develop an education program on CAUTI prevention for critical care nurses using the teach-back method. The conceptual framework that guided this project was Knowles's adult learning theory. The theoretical model was based on 4 fundamental assumptions …

Parental Perception Of Physician Cultural Sensitivity And Adherence To Asthma Treatment, Narue Jaynelle Wright-Jegede

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, asthma remains a major cause of frequent urgent care visits, hospitalizations, and preventable deaths among children. Nationwide, the chronic disease continues to fall disproportionately on minorities, mostly residing in urban localities. When a child is diagnosed with asthma, the parents are typically tasked with managing the child's condition. Establishing a collaborative partnership between parents and their child's primary physician is significant for improving asthma self-management among youth. Using the theory of reasoned action as a theoretical framework, this mixed-methods study examined whether a relationship exists between parental perceptions of physician cultural sensitivity and parental care in …

How People With Multiple Sclerosis Experience Web-Based Instructional Technologies, Gary Eugene Deroest

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People with the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS) have few options for

educational activities. Although web-based instruction may be a viable option, little is known about how people with MS perceive this form of learning. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences of people with MS regarding web- based instruction. The 3 learning structures--differentiated instruction, collaborative learning, and assistive technology--provided the conceptual framework for this research. Nine volunteers from the Pacific Northwest area of the United States who have MS were individually interviewed for this basic qualitative study. Transcripts were analyzed using open, axial, and selective …

Effect Of Hot Spot Policing On Reducing Officer Stress, Alfred Henry Hollie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police officers endure various threats ranging from verbal abuse to physical attacks, which can escalate and lead to police officer stress. Despite the abundant research exploring the relationship between high-stress occupations and environmental health, adequate exploration of the relationship between officer stress and hot spot policing (HSP; area with an above-average level of crime) has yet to occur. The purpose of this correlational study was to use Cohen and McKay's conceptualization of the stress-buffering hypothesis to explore whether HSP mitigates the negative impact of job stress, leading to improved officer performance and ultimately improved relationships between the police and communities …

Strategies To Improve Small Business Sustainability, Tywon Guy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses are considered the backbone of the U.S. economy with significant contributions in the areas of job creation and economic development. However, 79% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years. This multiple case study aimed to explore strategies and knowledge of resources that owners of small businesses used to sustain business operations for longer than the first 5 years. The population included 5 minority owners of small businesses in Texas. Chaos theory formed the conceptual framework. The data collection process included semistructured interviews, member checks, field notes, company artifacts, and archival documents. Data were analyzed using Yin's …

Staff Education On Metabolic Syndrome In Patients Taking Antipsychotic Medications, Juliana Ifeoma Omile

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are prescribed for treatment of psychosis. A major side effect of SGAs is an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with symptoms of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and truncal obesity. A clinic in the northeastern United States was not screening patients for MetS when being treated with SGAs. The purpose of this project was to educate staff on MetS risk factors, signs, symptoms, and patient management with a goal to improve their knowledge of MetS. Lewin's change theory provided a conceptual framework for the project. The project question explored the development and evaluation of an educational module on …

Impact Of The Prophecy Job Fit Predictor On New Graduate Nurse Satisfaction, Joi Alesha Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that job satisfaction influences retention of nurses, and policies focused on nursing satisfaction are more beneficial for retaining new nurses than adjusting work hours and wages. The prophecy job fit predictor is a quality improvement initiative designed to identify where a nurse should be assigned based on behavior, clinical capabilities, and personality assessment. The practice-focused question for this project focused on whether satisfaction rates of recently graduated registered nurses were influenced by their unit placement. The conceptual frameworks that guided this project were the plan, do, study, and act method and Herzberg's 2-factor theory. Data were obtained …

Lived Experiences Of Homeless Adults With Companion Animals In Utilizing Community Services, Sandra Harp

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over 71% of American homeless individuals are adults over 25 years of age, and the numbers are increasing. Approximately 25% of homeless individuals own a companion animal (CA). Because most service providers do not allow CAs within their facilities, the current $60.2 billion dollar national budget for homeless resources may be underutilized or forfeited altogether by homeless adults with a CA. The purpose of this study was to explore community service utilization by homeless adults with a CA through the lens of attachment theory. The research question addressed the lived experiences and perceptions of homeless adults who own CAs regarding …

Lived Experiences With Social Networking Technology To Improve Physical Activity, Paula Nobles Eubanks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research suggests that Black women living in the United States are not engaging in sufficient physical activity, which is a major factor negatively impacting their health outcomes. Black Girls Run (BGR) is a targeted national health movement using the capacity of social networking technology as a tool to interact with and inspire Black women to live healthy through running. Literature lacked the voice and perspective of Black women who were embracing the innovation of technology to positively improve their health behaviors. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain a better understanding of the composite experiences of women …

Relationship Between Employee Development, Employee Burnout, And Employee Turnover Intentions, Marvin D. Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover is a concern for the highway maintenance leaders in the construction

industry because employees with turnover intentions may exhibit decreased commitment and increased cynicism towards the organization, which may affect business profits. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between employee development, employee burnout, and employee turnover intentions in highway maintenance organizations in the United States. Hobfoll's conservation of resources theory was the framework for this study. A convenience sampling of participants, which included a target audience who accessed the paper-based surveys from 6 field offices and the central office building within the northwestern …

Staff And Family Perspectives Regarding Person Centered Care For Adults With Intellectual Disability, Tasrina Khan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with intellectual disabilities often require additional support in performing daily activities as compared to individuals without intellectual disabilities. New York's Office for Developmental Disabilities developed the eight hallmarks of person centered planning to help individuals with intellectual disabilities understand the options available to them regarding care and support and to advocate for themselves and their rights. Researchers have yet to articulate how guardians and professional care providers of individuals with intellectual disabilities experience person centered planning in day habilitation. Thus, using a qualitative phenomenological approach, 5 direct care staff and 5 guardians of individuals with intellectual disabilities were interviewed …

Predictors Of Admission For Stroke Or Transient Ischemic Attack Patients, Jessica Janice Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 11% of patients diagnosed with a stroke or a transient ischemic attack are readmitted to the hospital, creating a cost burden of nearly $2 billion per year for Medicare beneficiaries. Because researchers and policy makers consider hospital readmission for patients with strokes or transient ischemic attack to be an indicator for the delivery of quality care, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has imposed financial penalties of up to 3% of a hospital's Medicare reimbursement in 1 year for excessive readmissions, potentially impacting the financial sustainability of various healthcare organizations. The ecological systems theory allows for the understanding …

Exploring Strategies For Implementing Information Security Training And Employee Compliance Practices, Alan Robert Dawson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Humans are the weakest link in any information security (IS) environment. Research has shown that humans account for more than half of all security incidents in organizations. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the strategies IS managers use to provide training and awareness programs that improve compliance with organizational security policies and reduce the number of security incidents. The population for this study was IS security managers from 2 organizations in Western New York. Information theory and institutional isomorphism were the conceptual frameworks for this study. Data collection was performed using face-to-face interviews with IS managers …

Relationship Between Socialization Tactics, Military Cultural Competence, And Self-Efficacy Of Service Providers Serving Veterans, Dorothy Ann Seabrook

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military cultural competence has gained attention due to the past 15 years of military conflict and ongoing deployment of troops around the globe. Returning veterans, particularly those who go on to experience homelessness, have reported negative experiences and adverse treatment from programs that were designed to support them. Those experiences have resulted in perceived barriers to access or use of such services. Researchers have established the need for increased levels of military cultural competence to develop rapport with veterans and their families when delivering community-based social and healthcare services. Bandura's self-efficacy theory was the theoretical framework of this study. This …

Reducing Operational Costs In The Trucking Industry To Increase Profitability, Theophlius Bush Ii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders of small trucking businesses who fail to reduce operational cost and increase profitability can experience reduced profits and sustainability challenges. During the first 2 years of operation, 75% of small trucking businesses in the United States fail. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that successful leaders of small trucking businesses implemented to retain talented employees after downsizing. Transformational leadership was the conceptual framework for the study. The population for the study included 3 business leaders in a small trucking business in the southeastern region of the United States who had successfully reduced operational …

Globalization Of Clinical Research And Assessment Of Global Access To Treatments Approved Between 2006-2015, Rafael Duncan Escandon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Globalization in clinical research and development has increased since the 1990s. Products approved in the United States (U.S.) and European Union (EU) include increasing numbers of research participants from low- and middle-income countries. The purposes of this quantitative correlational study were to investigate the lag time, or drug lag, between U.S. approval and the approval of selected drugs in all countries that hosted their pivotal clinical trials. The study population was limited to products approved first in the U.S. between 2006 and 2015. The health capability model and research for health justice framework were the theoretical frameworks for the study. …

Connecticut Primary Care Physicians And Chronic Lyme Disease, Yvette P. Ghannam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence of chronic Lyme disease (CLD) remains relatively unknown in Connecticut because there is not an agreement on what CLD is and how it should be diagnosed in addition to which pathological agent causes CLD. The aim of this quantitative study was to assess whether there were significant differences between two groups of primary care physicians (PCP) working in Connecticut from two different points in time regarding their knowledge in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of CLD. A knowledge, attitude, and practice model was used as the underlying theoretical framework for this study. A random cross-sectional survey was mailed …

Academic Accountability Between Charter And Public-School Principals In New Jersey, Nicole Goodman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to explore school principals' accountability with student academic performance. Charter and public-school principals are responsible for the learning process and academic development. Previously published literature did not reveal a clear understanding of the policies and practices that contributed in obtaining the desired student academic outcomes. Parsons's theory of action served as the foundation for analyzing principals' decisions to achieve accountability and comply with the policies established by the regulating authorities. A snowball sampling of school principals included a public charter school principal and 5 traditional public-school principals in the state of New Jersey. A …

The Experience Of Parents Of Children With Autism Participating In Aba Treatment, Monica Labrie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Having a child with autism results in a unique set of challenges for both parents and siblings. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) has significant empirical support demonstrating its effectiveness as a treatment for children with autism. However, effective behavioral interventions should also consider how the family is affected. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of 8 parents of children with autism who have received ABA treatment and their perceptions of how the family system is impacted by ABA outcomes, specifically focusing on parental well-being and sibling relationship quality. A family systems theoretical framework and phenomenological …

A Thematic Analysis On How Forensic Psychologists Conduct Personal Injury Evaluations, Denise M. Autret

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychological evaluations administered by forensic psychologist in personal injury cases are surrounded by complex issues. Although empirically-based research has legitimized that psychological damages do exist in personal injury cases there is a missing link in the way forensic psychologists are conducting these evaluations. Prior researchers suggested that some personal injury evaluations had been dismissed or overlooked due to a lack of a standard of care. Addressing the current literature, this study examined how a diverse group of 14 licensed forensic psychologists, operating in different judicial jurisdictions (Daubert, Frye, and Independent) were conducting personal injury evaluations and their perspectives on the …

An Ecological View Of Urban Kindergarten Reading Instructional Practices, Deborah Ann Clark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Kindergarten students who are identified as at risk in reading often enter school with deficiencies in early reading skills. Little research exists for this vulnerable population on reading instruction in large, urban, school systems. The purpose of this multiple case study, which was guided by Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory of human development, was to describe urban kindergarten teachers' beliefs about the environmental factors that contribute to students' at-risk reading status, instructional practices employed to remediate reading, and teacher reports about systems in place to support student reading development. The multiple case study design included (a) structured interviews, (b) observations of kindergarten …

Language Immersion Teachers' Perspectives Of Foreign Language Learning For Students With Disabilities, Chunling Zhang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Foreign language learning for students with disabilities can be different from that of their nondisabled peers because of their special needs. Understanding the perspectives of language immersion teachers regarding their challenges and the support needed while working with students with disabilities in language immersion programs is important because such programs are growing rapidly nationwide. In addition, there is little research on the perspectives of these teachers in elementary school settings. The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a deeper understanding of foreign language learning needs of students with disabilities from language immersion teachers' perspectives. Ajzen's theory of planned …

The Use Of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy With The Native American Population In The Southwest, Joseph Elias Woodruff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Compared to other races, Native Americans have significantly higher rates of suicide and substance abuse. Dialectical behavioral therapy is an evidence-based program with efficacy for reducing suicidality and comorbid disorders within general populations but may not be effective for Native Americans because it is based in Western ideology. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Native American therapists who use DBT with Native American populations. Using biosocial theory, I investigated the perceptions and lived experiences of 8 Native American therapists through a phenomenological approach. The research questions encompassed the experiences, including the cultural appropriateness, …

Cardiovascular Exercise Participation And Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Adults Over Normal Weight In The United States, Marytherese Agwara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a type of sleep apnea that is common, complicated, and a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases, neurocognitive impairment, and mortality. This disease has additional negative impacts on patients' lives by contributing to daytime sleepiness and low productivity at work as well as absenteeism and work-related injuries. Several studies have been conducted to assess the relationship between cardiovascular exercises and OSA; however, a definite conclusion is lacking. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to assess the relationship between cardiovascular exercise participation and OSA by examining the relationship between total cardiovascular exercise participation per week …

Understanding Caregiver Perceptions Of Attachment With Drug Exposed Foster Children, Sarah Elizabeth Barr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lacking a healthy attachment to a caregiver and having in-utero methamphetamine exposure have been linked to a variety of cognitive delays, developmental delays, and mental health issues throughout a person's lifespan. It is unknown if there is a relationship between in-utero methamphetamine exposure and the ability to build a healthy attachment to a caregiver. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to improve understanding of the perceptions of caregivers about attachment efforts for foster children under the age of 3, who have had in-utero methamphetamine exposure. This study was guided by attachment theory. Purposeful sampling was used to select …

Drugs, Alcohol, And The Community College Student-Athlete: A Narrative Study, Kevin A. Berg

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research shows that student-athletes, whether at the high school or collegiate ranks, experience higher rates of alcohol consumption than their non-athlete student counterparts. However, one population that has not been studied is the community college student-athlete. Traditional community college students have different risk categories and needs than traditional 4-year university students. In this study, community college student-athletes provided their views and perceptions on drugs and alcohol. To obtain data, a qualitative narrative analysis was completed by interviewing 13 community college student-athletes to identify their views and opinions on drugs and alcohol. Once the interviews were completed, transcription and coding were …

Effects Of Canines On Humans' Physiological And Perceived Stress, Beth Marie Bowin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The bond between pet and owner has been shown to decrease stress-related physical, mental, and emotional disorders by lowering blood pressure and heart rate. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a nonpet canine would have the same effect in reducing physical symptoms of stress as a known dog. Human-animal bond theory, Human pressor test. Data were analyzed using repeated measures, analyses of variance, and t tests. Results indicated that interaction with a strange dog lowered heart rate and blood pressure significantly faster in the experimental group than in the control group. The positive social change implications of …