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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Exploring The Mechanisms Of Racial Disparity In Infant Mortality: A Grounded Theory Approach, Barry Chukwugekwu Eneh Jan 2019

Exploring The Mechanisms Of Racial Disparity In Infant Mortality: A Grounded Theory Approach, Barry Chukwugekwu Eneh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Infant mortality (IM) is a critical health-disparity problem in the United States. Of the 23000 infants who die each year, the highest number occurs among African Americans. Previous studies implicated a mix of health determinants and risk factors, but no study has explored the mechanisms by which IM predictably persists among African Americans. This study uncovers the complex network of risk factors that underlies racial death disparities in infants. Two theoretical lenses chosen for this study were social systems theory (SST) and critical race theory (CRT). SST explains human behavior as an intersection of interrelated systems. CRT interrogates inherent social …


Exploring Prayer Functions And Posttraumatic Growth Among Informal Caregivers In Hospice Settings, Nicole Beth Fortin Jan 2019

Exploring Prayer Functions And Posttraumatic Growth Among Informal Caregivers In Hospice Settings, Nicole Beth Fortin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Posttraumatic growth is a positive psychological transformation resulting from the struggle to cope with a challenging life event. There is a significant association between prayer coping functions and posttraumatic growth, but its process remains unclear and studies on informal hospice caregivers are scarce. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between prayer functions and posttraumatic growth among informal caregivers while considering differences due to the caregiving environment and prayer practices. The shattered assumptions theory and model of growth in grief were used as a theoretical framework to evaluate the relationship between prayer functions, using …


Leisure Computer Usage And Perceived Body Weight, Diet, And Physical Activity, Santina Jaronko Jan 2019

Leisure Computer Usage And Perceived Body Weight, Diet, And Physical Activity, Santina Jaronko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Screened media platforms have been blamed for contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic. The purpose of this study was to determine if leisure computer usage, such as engaging in social media, impacted perceived body weight, dietary habits, and physical activity. The social network theory and the social cognitive theory were the theoretical frameworks of this cross-sectional study using secondary data. The data set used was the 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey including a sample size of 8,241 youths between Grades 9 and 12. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were performed to …


Patient Awareness And Knowledge Of Medically Induced Radiation Exposure, Travis L. Mann Jan 2019

Patient Awareness And Knowledge Of Medically Induced Radiation Exposure, Travis L. Mann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The level of knowledge and awareness among patients about the concepts and implications of medical radiation is unknown. The purpose of this qualitative, case study was to explore patients' awareness and knowledge of information regarding this topic from their perspectives. The health belief model provided the framework for the study. A total of 20 individuals were recruited using purposive sampling. All participants were above the age of 18 in central North Carolina and had undergone or are currently undergoing medical radiation exams. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed using Yin's 5-phased cycle, which involved compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, …


Examining K-6 Teachers' Stages Of Concerns Related To Implementation Of I-Ready, Cristy Mckinley Jan 2019

Examining K-6 Teachers' Stages Of Concerns Related To Implementation Of I-Ready, Cristy Mckinley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low reading proficiency rates have been observed throughout the United States including a rural school in southwestern New York State. Although the Outstanding School District (pseudonym) purchased i-Ready, an adaptive diagnostic and instructional program, only 35% of students in Grades 3 through 8 demonstrated proficiency in reading in 2018. The problem is that i-Ready has not been implemented as intended. The purpose of this case study was to investigate teachers' concerns related to implementation and use of i-Ready. The guiding research questions examined the teacher's most common concerns and challenges faced during implementation. The Concerns-Based Adoption Model served as the …


Staff Education For Providers In An Outpatient Hemodialysis Center, Ibijoke Owolabi Jan 2019

Staff Education For Providers In An Outpatient Hemodialysis Center, Ibijoke Owolabi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The impact of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on healthcare costs is significant. In 2013, the cost of providing care for the ESRD patient population was 7.1% of total Medicare expenses. ESRD patients' non-adherence with the medical plan is a reason for the high cost of care and poor patient outcomes. Staff education can have a positive impact on patient adherence in terms of the management of chronic illnesses, such as ESRD. This DNP project was an education program for hemodialysis (HD) staff regarding empowering patients to learn about self-care strategies aimed at improving ESRD patients' adherence to fluid restriction and …


Law Enforcement Perception Of Social Media As An Influence In Mass Shootings, Jazma Mekelle Parker Jan 2019

Law Enforcement Perception Of Social Media As An Influence In Mass Shootings, Jazma Mekelle Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mass shootings have been a persistent issue in the United States, and the underlying factors that continue to influence this crime are not yet evident. This study explored the effects of social media as an influence on mass shootings in the United States. Its purpose was to address the role of social media in spreading opinionated ideologies. The research question addressed the role of social media in influencing the actions of perpetrators of mass shootings in the United States. The study framework was based on the social-ecological model to facilitate classification of the susceptibilities of social media users to adverse …


The Perceptions Of Transgender Patients Toward Nursing Care, Debra Ann Quenga Jan 2019

The Perceptions Of Transgender Patients Toward Nursing Care, Debra Ann Quenga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transgender individuals present unique issues when seeking care that many nurses are not prepared for. Nursing education is lacking in transgender care for both nursing students and practicing nurses, which may delay care or lead to patients not disclosing their gender if they feel their needs are not understood or that there is bias toward them. Due to the limited research available, educators are not prepared to include transgender care in their nursing curricula, leading to a lack of knowledge and skills needed to care for this population. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of …


Director Of Nursing Role Conflict And Ambiguity, Commitment, And Intent To Stay, Amy Elizabeth Thiesse Jan 2019

Director Of Nursing Role Conflict And Ambiguity, Commitment, And Intent To Stay, Amy Elizabeth Thiesse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High rates of turnover and the limited tenure of directors of nursing (DONs) in long-term care creates instability in the nursing workforce and the quality of care provided. Organizations, industry, and stakeholders have made little progress to change this turnover crisis. The purpose of this quantitative study, guided by organizational role and social exchange theories, was to determine if there was a difference in levels of affective organizational commitment and intent to stay mediated by leader-member exchange in long-term care DONs with different levels of role conflict and role ambiguity. The key variables were measured with the Role Questionnaire, Leader-Member …


Mental Health Service Providers' Engagement Experiences Of Homeless Individuals, Tarsha Thomas-Richardson Jan 2019

Mental Health Service Providers' Engagement Experiences Of Homeless Individuals, Tarsha Thomas-Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited literature exists regarding best engagement practices of mental health service providers in encouraging the homeless individuals to participate in clinical mental health services in New York City. New York City has a population of more than 8.5 million, and in 2017 more than 129,803 homeless individuals slept in shelters. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to gain more insight and knowledge about the best engagement practices and experiences of mental health service providers in encouraging homeless individuals to participate in clinical mental health services. The conceptual framework used to guide this study comes from Kearsley and Shneiderman's …


Jamaican Kindergarten And First Grade Teachers’ Expectations For Readiness Skills, Sadie Henrietta Harris-Mortley Jan 2019

Jamaican Kindergarten And First Grade Teachers’ Expectations For Readiness Skills, Sadie Henrietta Harris-Mortley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children’s readiness to meet demands in Grade 1 is a common concern in most primary schools in Jamaica. Teachers have voiced their expectations that students should display a level of mastery in readiness skills so that they can be engaged in academic tasks when they transition from the kindergarten to Grade 1. The purpose of this qualitative case study, guided by social constructivism, was to explore kindergarten students’ readiness for Grade 1 based on the perceptions of kindergarten teachers compared to Grade 1 teachers on readiness skills, instructional practices, and expectations of students’ competency. The research questions were designed to …


Lived Experiences Of African Students With Microaggressions In U.S.-Based Higher Education Institutions, Amevi Molley Jan 2019

Lived Experiences Of African Students With Microaggressions In U.S.-Based Higher Education Institutions, Amevi Molley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence of microaggressions in higher education institutions in the United States is a major issue for individuals of color and international background. Microaggressions can interfere with international students' smooth transition into their new academic system and social environment. The purpose of this qualitative study with a transcendental phenomenological approach was to explore the lived experiences of Sub-Saharan international graduate students who have experienced microaggressions in a higher education institution in the United States. The racial microaggression theory and the theory of neo-racism served as a guiding conceptual framework for this study. The research question was to examine the lived …


Timing Of Substance Use Initiation: Assessing The Role Of Trauma And Race, Rebecca Petrie Jan 2019

Timing Of Substance Use Initiation: Assessing The Role Of Trauma And Race, Rebecca Petrie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to examine the strength of the association between race, trauma, and the age of initiation for substance use, specifically tobacco, marijuana, alcohol among high school students aged 13-18 in the United States. This research is critical because prior research has shown that trauma and race led to higher rates of substance use in adulthood. Still, limited research has shown how these factors affect the age of substance use initiation. The theoretical foundation for this study was the general strain theory since the theory posits that exposure to stresses or strain leads to delinquency, which …


Job Retention Of Childcare Workers In A Military Child Development Center, Janet Marie Hooten Jan 2019

Job Retention Of Childcare Workers In A Military Child Development Center, Janet Marie Hooten

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the low retention rates of childcare workers at a military child development center in the northeast United States. The purpose of this case study was to explore the work experiences of childcare employees during their first year of employment at a child development center to discover the factors that influenced their decision to resign. The conceptual framework that guided this study was a 2-factor approach of motivator and hygiene factors associated with experiences and perceptions. Transcripts from interviews with 15 current and prior childcare workers and management team members were coded, triangulated, and thematically analyzed. The themes …


What Drives Underprepared Students From The First Year On, Shanetta S. Lillard Jan 2019

What Drives Underprepared Students From The First Year On, Shanetta S. Lillard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

College students often enter college academically unprepared, as evidenced by low high school cumulative GPAs or poor SAT scores. In response to this problem, administrators at a 4-year university in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Unites States implemented an intensive, semester-long program to introduce and acclimate conditionally admitted students to the rigors of collegiate life. The purpose of this study was to understand how to assist students in moving from Year 1 to full admission and beyond. In accordance with Bandura's reciprocal causation of social cognitive theory model, the research questions centered on conditionally admitted students' descriptions of their experiences …


Medication Reconciliation, Competency, Timely And Effective Care, And Hospital Readmissions, Perry Theodore Nichols Jan 2019

Medication Reconciliation, Competency, Timely And Effective Care, And Hospital Readmissions, Perry Theodore Nichols

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge result in significant multimillion-€dollar penalties to thousands of Medicare-€eligible hospitals throughout the United States and are indicators of suboptimal patient healthcare leading to less than ideal health outcomes for previously hospitalized patients. The purpose of this correlation study was to examine the relationship between medication reconciliation, nursing workforce competency, timely and effective care, and Medicare-€eligible hospital 30-€day readmission rates. The sample of 269 hospitals came from the population of Medicare-€eligible hospitals throughout the United States. Complexity theory and the general model of readmission were theoretical frameworks grounding this study. Secondary data were from …


Influence Of Police Officer Fear And Use-Of-Force Outcomes, Michele D. Stafford Jan 2019

Influence Of Police Officer Fear And Use-Of-Force Outcomes, Michele D. Stafford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police officer and community relations tensions have heightened with increases in publicized deadly use-of-force incidents on social media platforms. Though some deadly force encounters have been justified because officers stated they feared for their lives, little is known about the impact fear has on police officers' actions. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the impact fear plays when officers implement use-of-force continuum practices during encounters with civilians. Schacter and Singers' two-factor theory of emotion was used as the conceptual framework for this study. The key research question examined the influence of police officer fear as a factor …


Perceptions Of Fatherhood Programs From The Experiences Of Uninvolved Fathers, Rahsaan Roland Turpin Jan 2019

Perceptions Of Fatherhood Programs From The Experiences Of Uninvolved Fathers, Rahsaan Roland Turpin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Past researchers have reported that father absence and low engagement affects 24 million children in the United States. African American fathers make up the largest group with low involvement. Fatherhood programs support men in their roles, yet little is known about why this group still exhibits low engagement. Using the family systems theory as a foundation, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American fathers who participated in fatherhood programs and their engagement after these programs. This study used purposeful sampling and semi-structured interviews to collect information from 9 African American men aged …


Secondary Teachers' Perceptions Of Professional Development's Role For Instruction In Inclusive Settings, Dwight Erving Williams Jan 2019

Secondary Teachers' Perceptions Of Professional Development's Role For Instruction In Inclusive Settings, Dwight Erving Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students with disabilities (SWDs) are being placed in inclusive settings. The problem is that in many cases, teachers who are assigned to these students may not have necessary training in special education. Lack of such teacher training can lead to deficits in learning for SWDs. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify secondary general education teachers' perspectives on professional development (PD) regarding teaching SWDs in inclusion classroom settings. The conceptual framework for this study was Bandura's self-efficacy construct as presented in social cognitive theory. For teachers, self-€efficacy may influence instructional practices, classroom climate, and attitudes toward educational processes. …


Promoting Nursing Communication Competence On A Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Tishon L. Creswell Jan 2019

Promoting Nursing Communication Competence On A Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Tishon L. Creswell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The power to communicate effectively and respectfully in the health care setting promotes job satisfaction, retention, and healthy relationships. Ineffective communication is one of the major causes of sentinel events, incivility, nurse turnover, and workplace hostility in the health care environment. This project examined a communication competence educational program on a spinal cord injury (SCI) nursing department and its potential to improve communication competence. The project question explored whether an educational series on incivility and creating healthy relationships would increase communication competence in nurses on the SCI unit. The project used the high reliability solutions for health care model communications …


Race Matters: Administrators Perspectives On Affirmative Action In Higher Education, Terry Hogan Jan 2019

Race Matters: Administrators Perspectives On Affirmative Action In Higher Education, Terry Hogan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Legal challenges and statewide bans regarding the use of affirmative action as an admissions policy have affected the way higher education administrators must comply with these mandates to receive federal funding. The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives and experiences of college and university administrators at public and private U.S. colleges and universities regarding the implementation of race-based and race-neutral admissions policies. Critical race theory provided the framework for the study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 9 administrators at U.S. institutions of higher education. Data were organized, sorted, and coded to reveal 4 themes: holistic …


Role Of Primary Care Providers And Integrated Disease Surveillance In Chad, Dhoud Stave Gischel Samba Jan 2019

Role Of Primary Care Providers And Integrated Disease Surveillance In Chad, Dhoud Stave Gischel Samba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the Republic of Chad, primary care physicians play a central role in the detection and control of outbreaks and are critical actors in the integrated disease surveillance system through mandatory reporting. Feedback on such surveillance must reveal the needs and perceptions of these physicians. These needs and perceptions were examined using a questionnaire survey distributed to a sampling of 20 physicians in Chad. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the role of primary care providers in the integrated disease surveillance to identify factors that impact complete, quality, and timely reporting. The theory of planned behavior was …


Diffusion Of Innovations And Labor Market Challenges: A Multiple Case Study From Angola, Édney Marco Cardoso Dos Santos Jan 2019

Diffusion Of Innovations And Labor Market Challenges: A Multiple Case Study From Angola, Édney Marco Cardoso Dos Santos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A gap exists in the literature between general diffusion of technological innovations and socioeconomic development that results in an ambiguous connection between theory, academia, and professional practice. To inform governments in sub-Saharan Africa on how to achieve the diffusion of innovation for economic development through the voices of regional stakeholders, this qualitative multiple case study was conducted to gain deeper understanding on the views of stakeholders on rapid technology diffusion and its implication on labor market challenges within their regions of Angola. Information from semistructured interviews with 8 adult participants, male and female, born and residing in impoverished communities in …


Female Persistence In Fully Online Allied Health Programs At A Career College, Melissa A. Wertz Jan 2019

Female Persistence In Fully Online Allied Health Programs At A Career College, Melissa A. Wertz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Persistence to program completion is critical for online students. Retaining online students is a struggle in higher education with online persistence rates being significantly lower than nononline students. In this qualitative case study the perceptions of female graduates who persisted in a fully online allied health program at a career college were investigated. Using Tinto's theory of student departure and self-determination theory, the characteristics, attitudes, and motivations of female online learners explored to discern their perceived success in the online classroom. The research questions focused on participants' perceptions, skills, and attitudes that contribute to their success, experiences with support services, …


Regulatory Effects On Traditional Financial Systems Versus Blockchain And Emerging Financial Systems, Samuel Edwin Addo Baidoo Jan 2019

Regulatory Effects On Traditional Financial Systems Versus Blockchain And Emerging Financial Systems, Samuel Edwin Addo Baidoo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The expansion of the Internet led to disruptive business and consumer processes, as existing regulations do not cover the scope and scale of emerging financial technologies. Using organization economic theory as the foundation, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine and compare the financial regulatory impact on traditional and emerging financial systems across a variety of factors including organizational type, predicted users, operational concerns, reasons for cost increases, and changes in business practices as a result of the regulatory environment. Data were collected through a survey of 227 adult Americans who engage in the financial sector and are …


Female Veterans' Combat Experience And Ptsd On Male Partners' Psychological Distress And Relationship Quality, Theresa Denise Abraham Jan 2019

Female Veterans' Combat Experience And Ptsd On Male Partners' Psychological Distress And Relationship Quality, Theresa Denise Abraham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female veterans' combat exposure to trauma places them at risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which has consequences for healthful reintegration to family and civilian life. Previous research found that wives who provide continuous care to male veterans with PTSD experience symptoms of psychological distress; however, little research has been conducted on the influence of female veterans' PTSD on their intimate male partners' (IMPs) psychological well-being. A multivariate correlational design was used to examine the influence of female veteran PTSD on psychological distress and relationship quality in IMPs. The couples' adaption to traumatic stress model was used as the …


Separated By The Child Welfare System: The Journey Of One Set Of Fraternal Twins, Jocelyne Coan Bond Jan 2019

Separated By The Child Welfare System: The Journey Of One Set Of Fraternal Twins, Jocelyne Coan Bond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the separation of twins in foster care and examined how their lived experiences relate to their interpersonal relationships as adults. Many researchers have studied the long-term impact of nontwin sibling separation in foster care, but little is known about the separation of twins, leaving a significant gap in existing literature. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences twins who were separated in foster care as relates to their interpersonal relationships during adulthood. A qualitative, narrative approach was used to gather the lived experiences of one set of twins. The research questions examined how …


Papanicolaou Test Status Among Inner-City Adolescent Girls In Accra, Ghana, Collins Kwesi Asamoa-Afriyie Jan 2019

Papanicolaou Test Status Among Inner-City Adolescent Girls In Accra, Ghana, Collins Kwesi Asamoa-Afriyie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cervical cancer is an emerging public health problem in developing countries. Globally, it is the 3rd most common malignancy in women after breast and colorectal cancers and 4th most frequent cancer in women, with an estimated 570,000 new cases and 311,000 deaths in 2018. Cervical cancer screening in the developed countries is credited with the reductions in cervical cancer morbidity and mortality during the last 50 years. However, nearly 90% of cervical cancer deaths occur in less developed countries. Ghana has a cervical cancer rate of 26.4%. Further, it is the highest cancer incidence faced among women 25 to 44 …


Gifted Students In Poverty's Perceptions Of Blended Learning, Darren Chase Crutcher Jan 2019

Gifted Students In Poverty's Perceptions Of Blended Learning, Darren Chase Crutcher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students who are raised in poverty and are not adapted to technology use have less positive learning experiences with technology usage than other students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore students' perceptions of blended learning among gifted students who are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program in a public high school district in the southeastern United States. Davis's version of the technology acceptance model was used as the conceptual framework. The research questions explored the perceptions of these gifted students when they are taught using blended learning in terms of their attitudes, perceived usefulness, perceived …


Community Education Through A Stroke Champion Program, Michele Gribko Jan 2019

Community Education Through A Stroke Champion Program, Michele Gribko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and primary cause of long-term disability in the United States. Public awareness of stroke symptoms and ability to activate the emergency medical system (EMS) quickly are essential for early treatment. At a large Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center with over 6,000 employees, a stroke champion program that included both clinical and nonclinical volunteers was initiated to determine whether stroke champion volunteers could learn and disseminate information about stroke symptoms and the importance of activating EMS within their community. Roger's diffusion-of- innovation framework was used to design and evaluate the outcome of the …