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Social Anxiety, Quality Of Life, And Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Of Women With Infertility Problems, Esra Savaş

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Not having a child has significant psychosocial effects on women experiencing infertility problems. There is a gap in research on social anxiety, quality of life, and healthy lifestyle behaviors of women during infertility, fertility treatment, and subsequent pregnancy. The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to investigate the social anxiety, quality of life, and healthy lifestyle behaviors of Turkish women with infertility issues and Turkish women who conceived after infertility treatment, as measured by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, the Fertility Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale II. The social support and stress buffering theory …

Regulating Medicolegal Death Investigations, Antoinette Vicks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medicolegal death investigators (MDIs) are a crucial part of the death investigation process but the profession remains unregulated and lacks a required accreditation or licensing process that many other professions use. Research shows the current medicolegal death investigations system, though a crucial government function, has existing deficits in its functionality that affect service delivery. The current study was based on an educational theory and utilized open ended survey questions. Data from 16 investigators was collected through surveys where relevant information was asked in the context of their situation and questions were specific to the phenomenon being studied. The data was …

Post-Hurricane Sandy Coping Strategies And Resilience Factors Among People With Disabilities, Miriam Mukasa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People with disabilities are likely to experience difficulties overcoming the impact of natural disasters. Few scholars have focused on this population's ability to recover and handle stress following a natural disaster. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe coping strategies and resilience factors that people with physical or mental disabilities used in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Resilience theory was used as the theoretical framework. Through face-to-face interviews, 10 persons with disabilities shared their experiences of coping and resilience. A lens of interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to identify emergent themes related to persons with disabilities' …

Social And Structural Barriers To Safer Sex Among Heterosexual Female Sex Workers, Erika Nikole Harding-Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals infected with HIV through heterosexual contact made up 24% (9,578) of all new infections in the United States. Female sex workers are at increased risk of getting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) because they may be more likely to participate in risky sexual behaviors including sex with multiple partners and condom-less anal/vaginal sex. Guided by the syndemic theory, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between social and structural factors (homelessness, substance use, immigration status, and use of healthcare) and risky sexual behaviors (condom-less vaginal sex and multiple sex partners) among female sex workers …

Service Providers' Perspectives On Coping Strategies Of Discharged Adolescent Psychiatric Patients, Laneeka S. Henry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Using systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of service providers about the psychiatric experiences of hospitalized adolescents, their coping strategies and the aftercare services they used following discharge. The goal was to learn about their experiences as they transitioned into mainstream culture. This study was conducted for psychiatric policy makers to assist with implementing therapeutic programs that teach adolescents coping strategies that help them make a smooth transition. The technique used to recruit 21 participants (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and direct care workers) was snowballing. The participants involved in face-to-face or …

Job Transitioning Experiences Of Blue-Collar Employees After Federal Downsizing, Eduardo Hurtado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Downsizing, realignment, and closure of military bases have forced many low-skilled, blue-collar federal employees into involuntary job loss and job transition. The impact of involuntary job loss on blue-collar workers has been linked to stress and other adverse psychological effects. There is gap in the literature regarding the lived experiences of federal blue-collar employees following downsizing of military bases. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was to examine lived experiences of job loss and job transition for federal blue-collar employees following downsizing of military bases. Schlossberg's transition theory provided a conceptual framework for the study. Ten ex-federal blue-collar …

Prescreening Recommendations For Patients On Medical Cannabis, Wen Chieh Hu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal substance in the United States and is most widely used among young people aged 12 to 21 years. Accurate screening and monitored issuance of medical cannabis recommendations have been shown to decrease abuse rates of the substance, create fewer deaths from opiates, reduce crime rates, reduce marijuana use in youths, decrease car crash deaths, and lessen prevalence of suicide in young men. The purpose of this project was to explore whether multiple screening methods for depression and anxiety in patients who seek medical cannabis referrals for anxiety and depression would improve screening and …

Emergency Preparedness Experiences By Emergency Managers In Rural Hospitals Of The Pacific Northwest, Gabriella Korosi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative research focused on the emergency preparedness (EP) rule implementation in rural hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. A new law has been implemented that requires hospitals to comply with Medicaid and Medicare law. Learning about the implementation and preparedness process could help rural regions in the Pacific Northwest better prepare for emergencies and comply with the law. The purpose of the study was to gain increased understanding of how the new EP rule of 2016 impacts rural hospitals' preparedness in the Pacific Northwest. The theoretical framework was complexity theory. This study focused on the lived experience of emergency managers …

Effective Planning Of Urban Communities' Vulnerabilities For Mitigation Of Homelessness After A Natural Disaster, Tamara Michelle Lapsley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Urban communities often lack the ability to recover after disaster plans have been implemented because of a lack of coordinated resources among federal, state, and local agencies. As a result, economically marginalized citizens find themselves in risky conditions, particularly concerning finding and securing post-disaster housing. Using social conflict theory as a guide, the purpose of this exploratory case study of an urban area in a southern state was to better understand the specific vulnerabilities of urban communities and develop solutions for challenges related to emergency or temporary shelters to victims. Data were primarily collected through interviews with 10 residents who …

Experiences Of Ex-Offenders Assigned To A Work Release Program, Julia Marie Cottrell Lefevre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ex-offenders face many challenges and barriers in obtaining sustainable employment when reentering society. Researchers have demonstrated that participation in a work release program prior to release from prison may be beneficial. However, not all work release reentry programs are alike. Because offenders are the benefactors of these programs, it is essential their experiences are captured. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and describe unique experiences of male ex-offenders previously assigned to a work release program in an urban setting in an Atlantic East Coast state. Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory framed the study. This study gives voice to …

Simulation As A Remediation Tool For Clinically At-Risk Associate Degree Nursing Students, Janna G. Lock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evidence-based remediation options are limited for nursing students who fail their clinical competency evaluations. Scholarly literature provides a paucity of studies related to the use of simulation-based technology to remediate nursing students. The research question focused on the difference in the initial competency demonstration evaluation scores of associate degree nursing students compared to the reevaluation scores after remediation with simulation-based technology. Benner's novice to expert and Kolb's experiential learning theories were used to explain how nurses acquire and develop skills. The researcher used a quantitative one-group pretest posttest design to examine archival data from 149 nursing students from a South-Central …

Military Sexual Trauma Survivors' Experiences And Perceptions Of Cognitive Processing Therapy, Sally A. Mead

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military sexual trauma (MST) has been associated with poor emotional and psychological well-being, less overall life satisfaction, and poorer health in general as well as higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Department of Veterans Affairs provides treatment for veterans who experienced MST and recommends cognitive processing therapy (CPT) as a preferred treatment modality. Quantitative studies have shown that CPT can decrease symptoms of PTSD; however, a neglected area of study concerns the experiences of veterans who receive CPT for MST-related PTSD. In this generic qualitative study, the perceptions and experiences of female veterans who were survivors of MST …

The Long-Term Health-Related Outcomes Of Breast Ironing In Cameroon, Norbert Nicholas Njume Nkwelle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast ironing (BI) practice is a common practice in Cameroon. Most villages and towns continue with BI because they believe it constitutes a positive cultural lifestyle. However, public health officials and other advocates have branded BI as a harmful traditional practice because of the traumatic impact it has on the women who experience it. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the perceived long-term health-related outcomes of BI and the quality of life changes on these women. Underpinning this study was the betrayal theory of trauma. A survey was used to collect data from 230 women. Descriptive analysis …

Telehealth Implementation Strategies For Healthcare Providers, Ismaila Gbenga Olatinwo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The shift in the landscape of healthcare services from inpatient care to outpatient care prompts healthcare leaders to re-evaluate their strategies to boost declining revenue. Telehealth offers potential for increasing efficiency and access to care, and the acceptance of its modal quality is essential for its diffusion and adoption. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies that healthcare providers used to implement telehealth to increase profitability. The conceptual framework was the technology acceptance model. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and review of organizational documents. The research population comprised 4 healthcare leaders in 1 organization in …

Impact Of Food Insecurity On The Management Of Illness In Wayne County, Ohio, Bernadette Coleen Paul

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The incidence of food insecurity coupled with poor management of illnesses poses a

public health challenge. Poor adherence to medication regimens is a contributor to poor

health outcomes, especially among the socioeconomically disadvantaged. Food insecurity

is a global health and nutrition problem that affects approximately 50 million people in

the United States. The number of food-insecure households in the United States has

increased by 12% since 1995, and so has the burden of management of illnesses. The cost

of healthcare has risen from 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1960 to 20% of

the GDP currently. This quantitative …

Emergency Responders' Perceptions Of Mental Health Patients While Providing Care In Rural Areas, Cindy Perkinson Costilla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prior research has shown a correlation between public stigma and emergency responders' perceptions of mental health patients while providing care. However, research examining public stigma and emergency responders' perceptions of mental health patients is limited in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to explore possible relationships between the dependent variable, public stigma, and the independent variables: social distance, blameworthiness, and fear of unpredictable behavior. Link's modified labeling theory was the theoretical framework for this study. A sample of 92 emergency responders obtained from Facebook completed a questionnaire that consisted of three Likert scales. A multiple regression showed little …

Pediatric Behavioral Health Best Practices In The Children's Emergency Department, Kristina Marie Pickering

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emergency department (ED) use for behavioral-health-associated diagnoses has steadily increased in adult and pediatric populations, accounting for 1 out of every 8 ED visits. The increase in pediatric behavioral health ED visits, combined with limited resources for treatment, has created a challenge for EDs faced with extended boarding and constant observation of this population. The generalized behavioral health guidelines used at the practice site have not been adapted for the pediatric population. This project focused on providing age- and developmentally appropriate best practice guidelines for children under constant observation in the children's emergency department (CED) using Havelock's theory of planned …

Adoption Of Cloud Computing Services In An Illinois-Based Insurance Company, Nekerral Polk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The decision to adopt cloud computing services should involve business units of an insurance company as well as information technology (IT) because cloud computing services are viewed as both a technology offering and business alternative. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the strategies used by IT architects of an Illinois-based insurance company when adopting cloud computing services. The theory supporting this study was the technology acceptance model. The study's population consisted of IT architects from an Illinois-based insurance company that have used strategies to adopt cloud computing services. This study's data collection included semistructured interviews …

Discharge Phone Call On Unplanned Readmission Due To Chemotherapy Among Cancer Patients, Denise Angelo Moreno Prudencio

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The transition after hospitalization is a vulnerable period when adverse events like unplanned readmissions may occur. Unplanned readmissions with patients undergoing chemotherapy that are the result of gaps in communicating the discharge plan may be preventable. Several transitional care interventions have been explored, and one of these is the nurse discharge phone call. This project explored the effect of a nurse-led transitional discharge phone call within 30-days after hospital discharge on unplanned readmission due to chemotherapy among patients in the medical-oncology compared to patients without a nurse-led transitional discharge phone call. A nurse-led transitional discharge phone call was implemented within …

Educational Training On Falls Intervention For Elderly Patients In Acute Care Settings, Kasturi Ramasamy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls among hospitalized elderly patients are a safety concern for health care organizations and the patients they serve, but falls can be prevented through the team effort of nurses and other health care professions to promote safety within the organization. The project site was experiencing an increase in the number of patients falls and identified the need for staff education related to assessment and intervention to prevent patient falls in the elderly population. Thus, the practice-focused question for this project was whether an educational program on evidence-based fall prevention strategies using the American Medical Directors Association clinical guidelines would improve …

Experiences And Perceptions Of Staff Providing Substance Use Disorder Treatment For Adolescents, Connie Jean Rendleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is associated with high mortality rates and remains a public health concern in the United States. Although, numerous interventions are offered for adolescents struggling with substance misuse, minimal research is available on the effectiveness of treatments to reduce recidivism. Researching the most effective treatment offered to adolescents is crucial to treatment adherence and recovery. The purpose of this study is to determine the most effective SUD treatment for adolescent patients by exploring the perceptions and experiences of treatment therapists providing treatment. The trans-theoretical model was used with elements of the social cognitive theory as a guide …

Staff Development Introducing Self-Care Within The Nurse Residency Curriculum, Lauren Elizabeth Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Caregiver burnout is an issue for health care organizations, negatively influencing cost, engagement, and workforce stability. Nurse residency programs are intended to address the gap in practice between academia and clinical practice and provide social support during this transitional time. Self-care education can positively affect novice acute care nurses' transition into their new professional role while building connections with the health care organization during the first year of employment. The purpose of this project was to develop a staff educational module to address the nursing practice problem of evidence-based self-care education within a nurse residency curriculum at the doctoral site. …

Improving Provider A1c Testing Frequency Adherence To Recommended Diabetes Guidelines, Susan Ann Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Appalachian region of the United States has a high prevalence of diabetes, placing residents with diabetes at risk for physical, psychological, social, and financial burdens. To compound the issue, primary care providers often do not adhere to the guidelines established by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) regarding the recommended frequency of testing hemoglobin A1C in patients with diabetes. Lewin's planned change theory guided the project. The purpose of this project was to measure the knowledge of the primary care providers before and after an educational intervention covering the ADA guidelines for A1C monitoring and testing and to assess compliance …

Job Satisfaction Strategies To Improve Performance Of Small Businesses, Akram Abubaha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business leaders continually face challenges due to limited resources and lack of employees' engagement. Only 78% of new small businesses survive 1 year after establishment, and half of those fail within the next 4 years. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies small business leaders used to increase employees' overall job satisfaction in Alberta, Canada. The conceptual framework for the study was transformational leadership theory. The targeted population was 10 purposefully sampled leaders of small businesses from different industries located in Alberta. Member checking and methodological triangulation were used to validate the data gathered through …

Post-Hurricane Sandy Coping Strategies And Resilience Factors Among People With Disabilities, Miriam Mukasa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People with disabilities are likely to experience difficulties overcoming the impact of natural disasters. Few scholars have focused on this population's ability to recover and handle stress following a natural disaster. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe coping strategies and resilience factors that people with physical or mental disabilities used in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Resilience theory was used as the theoretical framework. Through face-to-face interviews, 10 persons with disabilities shared their experiences of coping and resilience. A lens of interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to identify emergent themes related to persons with disabilities' …

Small Business Leaders' Strategies For Obtaining United States Government Subcontracts, Damian C. Dunbar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business leaders (SBLs) underutilize billions of dollars of U.S. government funding for small business subcontracting. The role of small business in the United States is important to local economies as well as a major contributor to the U.S. economy. Using the resource-based view as the conceptual framework for this study, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies 5 government support sector SBLs in the mid-Atlantic region used to obtain U.S. government subcontract awards to remain sustainable. The selection criteria for this study consisted of small businesses in the mid-Atlantic region that have obtained …

The Self-Perceived Cultural Competency Of Hiv Interventionists, Tonya Herring

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite significant research and inroads with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), disparities in HIV infection continue to widen for African American (AA) men who have sex with men (MSM). In recent times, cultural competence has been receiving increased attention as a possible factor to enhance the quality of health messaging and lessening HIV disparities. However, there is a dearth of research specifically dedicated to AA MSM and culturally competent HIV health messages. To address this gap, this qualitative research was designed to investigate the self-perceived cultural competency among HIV counselors. The theoretical framework for the project was the PEN-3 cultural …

Trauma Social Workers' Perspectives On The Response Of Rural Social Work Agencies To Vicarious Trauma, Tiffany Ann Hardman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers are susceptible to the potential negative impacts of vicarious trauma. Perspectives of trauma social workers on the responsiveness of rural social work agencies to vicarious trauma have not been explored even though the trauma-informed care model has been available since 2006 and outlines best practice in all settings of trauma social work. Considering the risk factors and negative effects vicarious trauma has on social workers, an increased understanding of the perspectives of social workers on how rural social work agencies are responding to vicarious trauma was needed. The purpose of this study was to explore this response through …

Validation Of Communication Simulation Scenarios For Nurse Preceptors, Karie Thurston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An expectation of the nurse preceptor role includes the ability to evaluate, deliver feedback, and coach new graduate nurses. A gap in nurse preceptors' communication skills can affect the safety-related behaviors and quality of care provided by new graduate nurses, thus affecting patient outcomes. To bridge this gap, robust training on delivering feedback and coaching is needed for preceptors. The purpose of this staff education project was to develop and validate 5 communication simulation scenarios for preceptor training. Mezirow's transformative learning theory and the National League for Nurses-Jeffries simulation theory were used to guide the project. A panel of nurse …

Promoting Nurses Management Of Night Shift Sleepiness, Sunday Iken Okundolor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurses are largely unaware of the problems of night-shift-nurse sleepiness and available strategies to manage night-shift sleepiness. The purpose of this project was to examine nurses' self-perception, awareness of sleepiness, and current strategies to manage this problem in the emergency medicine department of a major academic hospital in the western United States. The validated de-identified Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) was used to measure the prevalence and intensity of night shift nurses' sleepiness prior to the development of an educational program on strategies to manage sleepiness. Of the 164 registered nurses surveyed, 72 (43.9%) reported sleepiness greater than 7 on the …