Digital Commons Network^™

A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Cultural Competence And Patient Satisfaction Scores, Kelley Ann Lovati

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the U.S. population continues to diversify, hospitals need to understand and care for patients of diverse backgrounds and provide quality service for positive patient satisfaction scores. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative retrospective survey design was to determine what relationship exists between cultural competence initiatives (CCI) and patient satisfaction scores as reported by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey in U.S. hospitals. The theoretical framework for this study was based upon CCI and patient satisfaction through the lens of service quality. The research questions were created to understand the relationship between CCI and …

The Relationship Between Hospital Leadership Activities And Clinical Quality Outcomes In Iowa, Sarah Pavelka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have been working with hospital networks across the United States to improve health care through education and training on clinical best practices and leadership frameworks. Some organizations have failed to reach the high-quality standards of care expected and have adverse patient care outcomes. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between leadership actions, funding type, and clinical care outcomes in participating Partners for Patients hospital programs in Iowa. The secondary variable data were provided from a Partnership for Patients contractor, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Organizational Assessment …

Initial And Long-Term Homeless Shelter Volunteerism: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Study, Jonathon Andrew Wade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was implemented to explore

and describe the initial and long-term motivations of community volunteers within a selected homeless shelter in central Indiana. The settlement house movement of human service delivery was the conceptual framework, which provided guidance and understanding concerning why and how community members provide human services through volunteerism. The research question examined the ways in which long-term volunteers thought about and made sense of their motivations to volunteer initially and over the long term at a homeless shelter. To answer the research question, the IPA methodology was implemented with 6 long-term community …

Sustainability Challenges For Maize And Cassava Farmers In Amankwakrom Subdistrict, Ghana, Franklin Komla Atadja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Agricultural system in Ghana underperformed because of limited financing, which constrained some small-scale maize and cassava farmers. The purpose of this case study design was to explore the methods that some small-scale maize and cassava farmers in Amankwakrom Subdistrict used in obtaining farm financing. Two themes from the literature review were a lack of collateral for small-scale farm financing and the small-scale farmers cooperative associations' role in farm financing. Regional-scale management sustainability index formed the conceptual framework for this study. Data collection included semistructured face-to-face interviews with 8 fluent English speaking small-scale maize and cassava farmers who have obtained farm …

Predictive Factors Of Organizational Support Communication In Volunteer Mentor Retention, Jennifer Kristin Stukey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that long-term volunteer retention is critical for sustaining the viability of youth mentoring programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS). Data from recent studies have indicated that volunteers must continue their service for at least 1 year in to have a sustainable effect on the mentee. Results from prior studies have indicated that the support provided by the agency to the volunteer can predict volunteer retention. However, a gap in current literature exists regarding the effect of support communication on volunteer retention. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the relationship between organizational …

Teachers' Perceptions Of African American Middle School Girls' Interest In Mathematics And Science, Bonnie Marie Best

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research into African American female underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields has become an area of interest due to the fact that a majority of African American middle school females do not possess the high levels of mathematics and science knowledge because of social and cultural barriers both inside and outside school that challenge their academic success. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was to explore teachers' shared, lived experiences of teaching mathematics and science to African American middle school girls. Delgado and Stefancic's critical race theory, Pratt-Clarke's critical race feminism, and Baker-Miller's relational-cultural theory …

Promoting Social Change By Increasing Oral Reading Fluency By Second Grade, Ella D. Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teaching students to read fluently has always been a national problem. At an elementary school in Louisiana, over 50% of second grade students earned at risk or at some risk ratings on the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) test in reading fluency from 2007 to 2009. The purpose of this project study was to determine the professional learning needs of educators for teaching oral reading fluency by investigating 2 aspects of reading proficiency: educators' perceptions of additional skills needed to increase students' fluency by second grade, and the types of professional development educators believed would assist them …

The Challenges Of Cultural Business Relationships Within Manufacturing, Delariah Katherlene Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Manufacturing leaders seek strategies to improve cross-cultural business relationships because of the increasing demand for outsourcing, which requires strong partnerships among manufacturing supply chain members. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore successful strategies that manufacturing business leaders use to improve cross-cultural business relationships within their manufacturing supply chain. The targeted population included business leaders, fluent in English, within 1 company located at 2 different manufacturing sites in the Midwest region of the United States and the Northeast region of Mexico. The capability-based view theory was used to support knowledge sharing, trust, and strategic management. Methodological …

Effect Of Genetic Background Combined With Excessive Media Screen Time On Markers Of Cardiovascular Risk In United States Youth Aged Newborn To 20 Years, Maria Moroni

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Time with media screens (television, computers, videogames, cell phones, and tablets) is the primary activity of youth, second only to sleeping, and represents a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Additionally, the populations with highest rates of screen time are also those most at risk of CVD from genetic predisposition (i.e., Blacks, Hispanics). The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study, based on cross-sectional analysis of archived data from the 2009 - 2010 NHANES for United States youth, newborn to 20 years old, was to determine whether the combination of media screen time with genetic background is a better predictor …

Risk Factors For Measles Among Hiv-Infected Children In Uganda, Miriam Nanyunja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Measles remains a major global public health problem. Attainment of high population immunity to measles through vaccination is necessary to control this disease. Children infected with HIV infection often experience secondary measles vaccine failure by 2 years of age, making them susceptible to measles. It is not clear whether HIV-infected children on Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment (HAART), older than 2 years, have a higher risk of measles than HIV-uninfected children. This retrospective cohort study, guided by the proximate determinants framework, was conducted to compare the risk of measles between HIV-infected children on HAART (exposed) and HIV-uninfected peers (unexposed). The age …

Socioecological Determinants Of Obesity Among Hispanic Parents/Child Caregivers In Aurora, Illinois, Deanna Marie Sommers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity has increased during the past 30 years in the United States. Obese adults and children are at risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and comorbidities. Parents and child caregivers play key roles in the decisions of family health. Studies exploring sociodemographic and socioecological factors associated with obesity among U.S. Hispanic parents and child caregivers are lacking. Guided by the socioecological model, this study examined the following factors: gender; acculturation; dietary intake of fat, sugar, fruits, and vegetables; and role as food purchaser/food preparer that influenced obesity. A 3-paper-based survey, consisting of a demographic survey, the Block Fat-Sugar-Fruit-Vegetable Screener and …

Donor Coordination And Health Aid Effectiveness In The Nigerian Health Sector, Ifeoma Edna Uduji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Development partners and donors increasingly acknowledge the importance of coordinating their activities to achieve the outcome of the official development assistance to developing countries. Although stakeholders have recognized the importance of harmonizing donors and development partners' efforts in the Nigerian health sector, little research has addressed the influence of coordination on the health aid effectiveness. This qualitative case study determined the influence of coordination among the donors and development partners involved in the HIV/AIDS, malaria, and nutrition program on the outcome of these programs in Nigeria. Data were collected through interviews with 22 program officers participating in the health programs …

The Relationship Between Nigerian Local Government Administrative Leadership Styles And Organization Outcomes, Adebayo A. Adanri

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the multitude of existing studies of leadership and organizational outcome, there are few empirical studies of these phenomena in Africa. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between Nigerian local government administrative leadership and organizational outcome and between perceived leadership effectiveness and transformational leadership factors, based on Bass's full range leadership theory (FRLT). Data were collected through the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaires administered to a randomly selected sample of 240 department heads in 30 local governments in Osun State, Nigeria. Regression result shows a statistically significant correlation between the local public administrators' leadership practices and organizational …

Rights Abuse As Root Causes Of Political Violence In Nigeria, Andrew Abidemi Olugbenga Babalola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ethnic division fuelled by inadequate governance and uneven economic development has led some ethnic based groups to regard violence as a legitimate means to achieve political and social ends. The political disruption caused by ethnic militia related violence in Nigeria prevented the first 3 attempts at republican democracy. The purpose of this study was to analyze the role played by human rights abuse in Nigeria in the formation of the Oodua People's Congress (OPC) in 1994, and to also analyze the OPC turning to violence in 1999. The theoretical construct of the study is the constructivist philosophy, which purports that …

The Implications Of Employee Turnover On Credit Unions, Jason Carreno

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of managerial responses to employee needs contributes to an increased rate of employee turnover in credit unions. Some managers do not possess the skills and strategies necessary to reduce employee turnover. This case study explored what strategies managers used to successfully reduce employee turnover. The population for this study was managers of a financial institution in Northeast Kansas with at least 1 year of leadership experience using methods to reduce employee turnover. Theory X and theory Y theory was the conceptual framework for this study. Data collection included semistructured face-to-face interviews with 10 managers and an exploration of …

Experiences Of Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Leaders, Laketa Monique Hillman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic conditions are public health threats. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is an evidence-based disease management program that addresses personal self-management of chronic conditions. The CDSMP involves peer trainers who instruct and assist with chronic disease preventive measures. Although disease management demonstrates promise to improving patient self-maintenance, previous researchers have not evaluated how the program affects program leaders. The purpose of this study was to discover how self-help leaders feel about the CDSM program. The overarching research question asked about perspectives that self-help leaders had toward the program. Through a narrative qualitative approach, the perceptions of peer leaders were …

Evaluation Of Clinical Reasoning Of Nursing Students In The Clinical Setting, Stefanie Lynn Legrande

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The primary focus of nursing education in the 21st century is to graduate students with well-developed critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills. This descriptive case study explored the perceptions of 6 faculty and 6 unit staff nurses concerning the assessment of critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills of nursing students in the clinical setting. Benner's novice to expert theory served as the conceptual framework for the research. The guiding research questions focused on faculty and staff perceptions concerning unit staff nurses' level of preparedness to assess the critical thinking and clinical reasoning ability of nursing students, and explored how faculty …

Relocation Based On Slow-Onset Climate-Induced Environmental Change In Keta, Ghana, Abdul-Moomin Ansong Salifu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coastal indigenous communities in Keta, Ghana, are experiencing resettlement as a result of slow-onset, climate-induced flooding and erosion. Previous researchers have documented the risk of relocation from rapid-onset events, but little is known about the effectiveness of policies developed in response to slow-onset changes. This phenomenological study investigated the ongoing lived experiences of adult household members in Keta who were relocated by the government. Jun's critical theory provided a constructionist interpretive framework to determine whether Ghana's national policy on climate change resettlement adequately meets Rawls's criteria for distributive social justice. Policy documents and transcriptions of interviews with a purposeful sample …

Relationship Between Generational Identity, Burnout, Job Satisfaction, Job Tenure, And Turnover Intention, Jason J. Abate

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover rates are problematic in the retail banking industry because turnover increases the risk of costly regulatory compliance mistakes. The factors that predict turnover in this industry are not well understood, however. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between the independent variables of job satisfaction, burnout, time on the job, generational identity, and the dependent variable of turnover intention for retail banking employees in the United States. Mannheim's theory of generations was the framework for this study. A random sample of 100 individuals from the banking industry responded to an online survey that …

Recruitment Strategies, Matrices, And Techniques Used In Hiring Veterans, Christine Paula Agard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Successful transition to civilian employment is a challenge for veterans. The purpose of this single case study was to explore critical aspects of hiring managers' decision-making process and to understand how these strategies and techniques affect the hiring of veterans. Tajfel and Turner's social identity theory and Lewin's organizational change model formed the conceptual framework for the study. The participants for this study were 8 hiring managers from a midsized company in the Upper Hudson Valley Region, New York. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. The data were analyzed and coded and 4 themes emerged: strategies used to fill open …

Long-Term Hiv Survivors' Beliefs About Aging And A Cure, Geary William Brewer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prior to 1996, the prognosis of HIV disease was near-certain death; however, biomedical advancements in the past 20 years established HIV as a chronic manageable disease with a nearly normal life span. Recent advancements suggest the potential for a cure. One outcome of current medical treatments is that 50% of all HIV positive individuals are older (-?¥ 50years), and a substantial number of those individuals are long-term (-?¥ 20 years) survivors. Existing research Qualitative research has provided little insight about what older long-term HIV survivors believe about their disease circumstances and aging with the disease. A qualitative method in the …

Community And Patient-Centered Medical Home In The Care Of Chronically Ill Patients, Victor A. Carrillo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Large portions of the US population live in poor inner-city communities. Health needs assessment data have shown that these communities have disproportionately high rates of chronic illnesses. The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model was developed to address the gaps that exist in the primary care system, and emphasizes a redesign of primary care that is patient centered, utilizes multiple levels of healthcare professionals, information technology, and care coordination. However, little evidence exists on the value of this model which may explain why it has not gained wide acceptance by primary care providers. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the …

Crafting A System Of Profound Knowledge Management In Long-Term Care, Charlotte Johnston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The paradigm shift to a knowledge economy, predicted by Drucker, is currently reflected in a knowing-to-doing gap in healthcare, potentially threatening the lives of long-term care (LTC) residents and sustainability of LTC organizations. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to seek a substantive conceptual theory to explain how LTC uses knowledge management (KM) to improve performance by probing the a priori views and lived experiences of 11 LTC knowledge creators, managers, and users. Data were collected via semi structured interviews that were transcribed and coded. The research questions guided by the conceptual concentrated on how KM is used …

Business Strategies For Asean's Single Window In Southeast Asia, Craig Allen Mcgee Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 and the Global Financial Crisis of 2007, members of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) have sought to strengthen ASEAN's regional economies through a digital trade project known as the ASEAN Single Window (ASW). The purpose of this case study was to explore the business strategies that multinational organizational leaders used to overcome business barriers while implementing ASEAN partnership contracts and ASW region-wide projects. This study may be unique in that, at the time of this research, there was no published study in which researchers had explored a single window for a …

Building Designers' Perception And The Effect On Sustainability In Malawi, Lloyd Ndau

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Environmental sustainability in buildings is an important part of preserving the environment and reducing climate change. The increasing amount of physical infrastructure systems in Malawi has not been accompanied by policy-makers clearly understanding perceptions and attitudinal behaviors of building designers to promote environmental sustainability. Some building designers in Malawi might not be practicing sustainability innovations adequately, requiring more research to understand their perceptions and behaviors. The purpose of this mixed methods sequential and explanatory study was to explore how building designers' behaviors relate to the implementation of sustainability innovations in Malawi. Ajzen's theory of planned behavior explaining how attitudinal behaviors …

Mitigation Strategies Of Technostress On Supply Chain Management, Robert Lewis Penn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Logistics managers work to create practices that reduce technostress, which is associated with diminished productivity in supply chain management. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the mitigation strategies that logistics managers at distribution centers used to reduce technostress with their employees in the Los Angeles County, California area. The conceptual framework included in this study was the sociotechnical systems theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 6 logistics managers from large distribution centers who implemented mitigation strategies that demonstrably reduced technostress with their employees. Public documents and physical artifacts reviewed in this study included productivity assessment tools, …

Impact Of A Rural Public School District On Community Culture, Lynnwood Michael Baade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals and families often migrate to rural areas anticipating a utopian environment and a school system that supports their beliefs and values. Little qualitative research, however, has been conducted about the impact of rural public school districts on their local communities. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study, as reflected in the central research question, was to explore how a rural public school district contributed to community culture. Maslow's motivational theory related to a hierarchy of human needs formed the conceptual framework for this study. A single case study was executed as the method of inquiry. Participants included 6 residents …

Case Study Of Learning And Instruction For Members Of An Online Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Support Group, Heather Rae Gilmore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that individual members of traditional support groups gain a sense of identity and community and feelings of respect and support. Online support groups provide individuals avenues to find medical information and thus learn more about a given condition or illness. Little has been studied about the learning and instruction that occurs in online social support groups, especially in groups about chronic pain. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of members who participated in one open social support group. Siemen's constructivism theory served as the basis for comprehending the learning …

Implementation And Evaluation Of Dietary Modification With Gestational Diabetes, Celia T. Ojeaga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) negatively affects the health of both mothers and babies, and is the most common pregnancy complication in the United States. Many dietary modification programs for pregnant women diagnosed with GDM rely on a one-size-fits-all approach to menu planning. The purpose of this project was to develop a diet modification program for GDM management using a patient-centered approach. The project objective was to develop the policies, procedures, and supporting documents needed to implement a successful GDM management program for pregnant women receiving antenatal care at an obstetrical clinic. The developed program incorporated strategies for clinic nursing staff …

The Relationship Between Knowledge Management Tools And Interprofessional Healthcare Team Decision Making, Lisa Simon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rising costs and continued risks in patient care indicate that knowledge management (KM) tools have not been fully recognized in healthcare. A case study was conducted to determine how KM tools might support the decision-making process of interprofessional teams. The study was predominately qualitative with a quantitative supplemental component. A questionnaire was used to collect data; this questionnaire contained open-ended questions along with Baggs' Collaboration and Satisfaction about Care Decisions and Anderson & West's Team Climate Inventory instruments. Responses to open-ended questions were reviewed, categorized, and coded as part of the qualitative analysis. Descriptive statistics were completed from Likert scale …