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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Prosecuting Attorneys’ Experiences And Perceptions Of Evidence That Most Often Leads To Wrongful Convictions At The Pretrial Stage, Shari Lee Barton Harrell Jul 2025

Prosecuting Attorneys’ Experiences And Perceptions Of Evidence That Most Often Leads To Wrongful Convictions At The Pretrial Stage, Shari Lee Barton Harrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Before trial, prosecuting attorneys obtain and review evidence, including the types of evidence (i.e., perjury/false accusations, official misconduct, mistaken eyewitness testimony, false/misleading forensic evidence, false confessions, and inadequate defense counsel) that most often lead to wrongful convictions. The role of the prosector after conviction has been explored. The scholarly community needed to understand how prosecuting attorneys view this evidence at the pretrial stage so some wrongful convictions may be prevented. The purpose of this study was to explore prosecuting attorneys’ experience and perceptions regarding the evidence that most often leads to wrongful convictions at the pretrial stage. As part of …


Relationship Between Indulgent Parenting, Household Composition, And Parental Efficacy In Managing Adolescents' Smartphone Use, Bernice Cook Jul 2025

Relationship Between Indulgent Parenting, Household Composition, And Parental Efficacy In Managing Adolescents' Smartphone Use, Bernice Cook

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Smartphones have become an integral part of society, resulting in increased adolescent dependence on smartphone applications. This dependence poses challenges for parents in managing the risk of problematic smartphone use among adolescents aged 11-17 years old. Rapid technological advancements have significantly reshaped parenting practices, necessitating greater adaptability and impacting adolescent development. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, this correlational study examines how indulgent parenting and household composition, including demographic variables such as race, gender, education, employment, and income, predict parental self-efficacy in managing adolescent smartphone use. A convenience sample of 238 U.S. parents, with at least one adolescent aged 11-17 years, …


Nurse Leader Onboarding, Jennifer Dawn Mcinerney Jul 2025

Nurse Leader Onboarding, Jennifer Dawn Mcinerney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

he objective of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to investigate the impact of a structured 30-60-90-day onboarding program, incorporating a competency-based checklist aligned with the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) nurse leader competencies, on nurse leader satisfaction. Nurse leaders, often promoted for their clinical skills, frequently lack the necessary support and training for their new roles, leading to high turnover rates. This project aimed to address this gap by developing and implementing a nurse leader education module, which was introduced to 23 nurse leaders over four sessions. A pre-/posttest survey was used to measure changes in satisfaction …


African American Women's Lived Experience Of The Process And Outcomes Of Psychotherapy For Depression, Eva Coleman Springs Jul 2025

African American Women's Lived Experience Of The Process And Outcomes Of Psychotherapy For Depression, Eva Coleman Springs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study of individuals’ experiences in psychotherapy has resulted in improvements in delivery of services to clients. The purpose of the current study was to use Aragon’s primary provider theory as the theoretical foundation to explore African American women’s perceptions of the process and outcomes of their psychotherapy for depression. Phenomenological methodology was used to explore a sample of nine African American women’s perceptions of the process and outcomes of their psychotherapy for depression and other mental health issues. Participants answered nine semi-structured interview questions to describe their experiences of at least one session of psychotherapy in the 2023 calendar …


Experiences Of Managing And Living With Autoimmune Addison’S Disease In The Younger And Newly Diagnosed Adults: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Mathew Horodner Jul 2025

Experiences Of Managing And Living With Autoimmune Addison’S Disease In The Younger And Newly Diagnosed Adults: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Mathew Horodner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a lack of knowledge regarding the experiences of managing and living with autoimmune Addison’s disease (AD) in the younger and newly diagnosed adults. AD research usually focuses on biological or medication studies. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the lived experiences of the younger and newly diagnosed adults living with autoimmune AD. Consisting of the complex integration of biological, psychological, and social factors, Engel’s biopsychosocial model served as the study’s conceptual framework. I conducted this study to include the experiences of managing and living with autoimmune AD in the younger (18–35) and newly diagnosed …


Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences Regarding Barriers And Facilitators Of The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, Abrin Jacobson Jul 2025

Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences Regarding Barriers And Facilitators Of The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, Abrin Jacobson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, aims to reduce avoidable readmissions through financial penalties. While HRRP has been associated with modest reductions in readmissions, it has also been linked to the problem of unintended outcomes such as increased mortality and inequitable penalties for hospitals serving socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. The literature presents a limited understanding of how hospital-based healthcare professionals (HHPs) implement HRRP. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how HHPs perceive the implementation of HRRP requirements and the barriers and facilitators that influence compliance. Grounded in Lipsky’s …


Communication Enhancement Strategies To Mitigate Functional Siloes In Head Start Programs, Maryom G. Mccloud Jul 2025

Communication Enhancement Strategies To Mitigate Functional Siloes In Head Start Programs, Maryom G. Mccloud

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inefficient internal communication between program and financial operations may negatively affect organizational performance and profitability. Some Head Start Program (HSP) leaders are concerned with communication failures because of the potential to negatively impact business productivity and profitability. Grounded in business process re-engineering, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies used by HSP leaders to increase communications between program and financial operations to increase profitability. The participants were four HSP leaders located in the Northern Region of the United States, who successfully implemented such strategies. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents. Through thematic …


Factors Associated With Falls Among Nursing Home Residents, Dorsenia Hendrix Jul 2025

Factors Associated With Falls Among Nursing Home Residents, Dorsenia Hendrix

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls in nursing home facilities are prevalent, and numbers continue to rise as residents grow older and antipsychotic (AP) medications are prescribed more frequently. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate whether frequency of falls was related to the use of AP medications. Data (N=100) were collected from 2020 incident reports, investigation sheets, and patient charts generated by the State Department of Public Health regarding resident falls and the use of AP medications in a nursing home Facility located in the Southern United States. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) was used to understand specific behavior patterns such as personal, …


Staff Education Project: Staff Education To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, And Motivation In Supporting Medication Adherence, Giovanna Happy Jul 2025

Staff Education Project: Staff Education To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, And Motivation In Supporting Medication Adherence, Giovanna Happy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication nonadherence among individuals with psychiatric disorders remains a significant barrier to recovery, ranging from 40% to 60%. Contributing factors include fear of side effects, stigma, cognitive limitations, and complex regimens. This staff education project addressed challenges through the implementation of a structured, evidence-based intervention to improve adherence-supportive practices among 14 outpatient psychiatric nurses. A preimplementation needs assessment revealed inconsistent application of adherence strategies and low staff confidence. The project’s objective was to evaluate whether a structured education program could improve nurses’ knowledge by 15%, confidence by 15%, and willingness by 3.5 points on a Likert scale to promote medication …


Strategies Used By Public Relations And Communications Executives To Implement Ethical Use Standards For Ai, Karl Bateson Jul 2025

Strategies Used By Public Relations And Communications Executives To Implement Ethical Use Standards For Ai, Karl Bateson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public relations and communications (PR&C) executives’ ineffective artificial intelligence (AI) strategies to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation can negatively impact organizations’ brand reputation. Grounded in AI4People and stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore the effective AI strategies PR&C executives used to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation while maintaining their organizations’ brand reputations. The participants were six PR&C executives who used effective strategies to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation while maintaining their organization’s brand reputation. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, public websites, …


Staff Education On Colorectal Cancer Screening To Improve Knowledge And Usage, Mary Tessie Thullah Bangura Jul 2025

Staff Education On Colorectal Cancer Screening To Improve Knowledge And Usage, Mary Tessie Thullah Bangura

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Executive Summary: Staff Education Project Staff Education on Colorectal Cancer Screening to Improve Knowledge and Usage


Big Five Personality Traits As Predictors Of Funeral Directors’ Job Satisfaction, Teresa Busick Jul 2025

Big Five Personality Traits As Predictors Of Funeral Directors’ Job Satisfaction, Teresa Busick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

By 2037, annual deaths in the United States are expected to exceed 3.6 million, over 1 million more than in 2015. At the same time, the funeral service industry faces a serious staffing problem, with about 50% of funeral directors leaving the profession within 2 years. These combined challenges highlight the need to understand what contributes to job satisfaction and helps to retain these workers in this essential field. This quantitative correlational study examined whether the Big Five personality traits predict job satisfaction among funeral directors. Thus, the Big Five model of personality traits was used to guide the study. …


Pragmatic Approaches To Data Breach Prevention: Strategies Employed By It Managers, Thompson Adefemi Olatuyi Jul 2025

Pragmatic Approaches To Data Breach Prevention: Strategies Employed By It Managers, Thompson Adefemi Olatuyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing frequency and complexity of data breaches present critical challenges for cybersecurity managers responsible for protecting organizational assets. This qualitative phenomenological study examined how information technology (IT) managers conceptualize, strategize, and apply best practices to prevent breaches in complex environments. Unmanaged risks can compromise sensitive systems, disrupt operations, and erode stakeholder trust. Business and IT leaders must proactively address these threats to avoid reputational damage, financial loss, regulatory penalties, and loss of competitive advantage. Grounded in Actor-Network Theory (ANT), the study examined insights gathered from 20 experienced IT managers in multiple countries, using semi-structured questionnaires and organizational documents. Thematic …


Intersectionality Gaps Among Multiple Social Determinants In U.S. Infant And Maternal Mortality Rates, Mary D. Kirkley Jul 2025

Intersectionality Gaps Among Multiple Social Determinants In U.S. Infant And Maternal Mortality Rates, Mary D. Kirkley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to examine whether social determinants interactively influence U.S. maternal and infant mortality rates. Grounded in the Social Ecological Model, this study analyzed secondary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistics System were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. The final sample included 110,402 maternal deaths and 55,839 infant deaths, with inclusion criteria requiring complete data on race, education, age, marital status, gender (for infants), residency, and year of death. Exclusion criteria included non-U.S. resident deaths or missing demographic data. Results revealed statistically significant interaction effects: race/ethnicity with education …


Strategies For Reducing Employee Turnover In Long-Term Care, Eleanor Denise Gaines Jul 2025

Strategies For Reducing Employee Turnover In Long-Term Care, Eleanor Denise Gaines

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover in long-term care (LTC) facilities contributes to diminished care quality, low staff morale, and increased operational costs. LTC organizational leaders must address high turnover because it disrupts continuity of care, undermines team cohesion, and increases the burden of recruiting and training new staff. This qualitative multiple case study explored strategies used by human resource managers (HRMs) to improve staff retention and morale in LTC settings, motivated by the need to prevent workforce deterioration, enhance competitive advantage, and increase organizational profitability. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of the study was to identify evidence-based practices that effectively …


Imaging Sciences Teachers’ Experiences With Simulation-Based Clinical Training Curriculum, Mandy Stelz Jul 2025

Imaging Sciences Teachers’ Experiences With Simulation-Based Clinical Training Curriculum, Mandy Stelz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Simulation-based education (SBE) is currently being used in imaging sciences education with no set standards or best practices. Grounded in the framework drawn from Kolb’s experiential learning theory and Magana’s T3 framework of innovation, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore imaging science teachers’ experiences using SBE for clinical training. The participants were 12 imaging science teachers that have taught imaging science students using SBE for a minimum of 3 years. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (a) imaging science teachers reported a wide variety of tools and types of SBE …


Administrator Perspectives Of Challenges In Instructional Support Of Secondary Special Education Co-Teach Model, Sonya R. Pichon Jul 2025

Administrator Perspectives Of Challenges In Instructional Support Of Secondary Special Education Co-Teach Model, Sonya R. Pichon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that school administrators may not be knowledgeable regarding how to support co-teachers, which may contribute to the underperformance of students in special education co-teach programs. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore school administrator perspectives regarding the supervision of special education teachers and the support they provide to them in the classroom. This study was grounded in Bass’ transformational leadership. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 12 secondary school principals and assistant principals who supervise special education programs in one large urban district in Texas serving 22,600 students from …


Examining The Association Between The Timing Of The First Antenatal Check; Number Of Antenatal Care (Anc) Visits During Pregnancy With Maternal Mortality In Nigeria, Kanayo Omonoju Jul 2025

Examining The Association Between The Timing Of The First Antenatal Check; Number Of Antenatal Care (Anc) Visits During Pregnancy With Maternal Mortality In Nigeria, Kanayo Omonoju

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal mortality is growing at an alarming rate in Nigeria, ranking the second highest Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) globally. This cross-sectional study examined the association between the timing of the first antenatal check and the number of Antenatal Care (ANC) visits during pregnancy and its impact on maternal mortality using the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 among a study population of women 15 - 49 years old. The theoretical framework for this study was grounded in the socioecological model. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine if there are relationships between timing of first antenatal check, the number …


The Association Between Dietary Behavior Change And The Health Of Adult African Immigrants In The United States, Seyoum Abebe Jul 2025

The Association Between Dietary Behavior Change And The Health Of Adult African Immigrants In The United States, Seyoum Abebe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African immigrants represent one of the fastest-growing immigrant populations in the United States; yet, their health outcomes related to Type II diabetes remain understudied compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Grounded in the theoretical framework of the Health Belief Model, the purpose of this quantitative non-experimental study was to examine the relationship between dietary behavior changes and the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes among African immigrants aged 20–80 residing in the United States. The research questions examined the association between getting meals prepared away from home and awareness of MyPlate nutritional guidelines, recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, …


Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Farmers’ Effective Strategies For Achieving Profitability, Norman Washington Grant Jul 2025

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Farmers’ Effective Strategies For Achieving Profitability, Norman Washington Grant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Jamaican Blue Mountain (JBM) coffee farmers often fail to improve production, which has the potential for adverse business outcomes. Farmers and business owners are concerned about the sustainability of their farm operations, which is essential for achieving profitability. Grounded in Hawley’s risk theory of profit, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to identify and explore effective strategies that JBM coffee farmers used to achieve profitability. The participants were six JBM coffee farm owners in the Jamaican coffee industry who used effective strategies to achieve profitability. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of organizational marketing …


Experiences Of Post-Secondary Teachers With Using Information And Communication Technologies In Rural Communities, Latonya Shirelle Motley Jul 2025

Experiences Of Post-Secondary Teachers With Using Information And Communication Technologies In Rural Communities, Latonya Shirelle Motley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teaching and learning in the 21st century requires full access and use of digital technologies but this can be challenging in rural areas. Teachers at post-secondary schools in rural communities often have limited access to information and communication technologies (ICT), which restricts their ability to fully serve their rural students. Guided by the theory of the digital divide, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of post-secondary teachers with using ICT in rural areas in the United States. Data for this qualitative study were collected from 44 participant interviews who evaluated their access of digital …


Evaluating Nutrition, Exercise, And Education, On Mental Health And Quality Of Life In Menopause, Jill R. Stone Jul 2025

Evaluating Nutrition, Exercise, And Education, On Mental Health And Quality Of Life In Menopause, Jill R. Stone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and a lack of understanding of menopause adversely affect mental health and quality of life in women entering menopause. Metabolic changes during this period can lead to an increase in visceral fat, loss of muscle mass, depression, and anxiety. These metabolic changes are linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. This cross-sectional quantitative study, guided by the health belief model, explored the contribution of adopting specific nutrition strategies, exercise, and education in women during menopause transition to help manage mental health (as measured by depression and tension), and quality …


Lived Experiences Of Sexual Orientation Discrimination Of Gay Male Service Members, Dwayne A. Tyler Jul 2025

Lived Experiences Of Sexual Orientation Discrimination Of Gay Male Service Members, Dwayne A. Tyler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy (DADT) has been an area of study among scholars since 2011. Researchers have demonstrated that discrimination based on sexual orientation is still occurring in the armed forces. However, researchers have not studied the lived experiences of active-duty male service members in the army who self-identified as gay. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of discrimination based on the sexual orientation of male service members who self-identified as gay in the army since the repeal of the DADT policy. Using semi-structured interviews, four self-identified gay …


Staff Education Project An Educational Project To Educating Mental Health Staffs On Stress Management To Improve Knowledge And Staff Retention, Lilian Eneude Jul 2025

Staff Education Project An Educational Project To Educating Mental Health Staffs On Stress Management To Improve Knowledge And Staff Retention, Lilian Eneude

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This evidence-based educational project addressed the knowledge gap in stress management techniques among mental health nursing staff at an acute psychiatric facility. Mental health professionals experience substantially higher rates of workplace stress and burnout compared to other healthcare workers, affecting staff wellbeing, patient care quality, and organizational outcomes. The practice-focused question was: Does educating mental health nurses on stress management improve knowledge as evidenced by pre- and post-intervention? A comprehensive literature search was done at the Walden University Library using CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases that yielded 200 potential articles, with 45 full-text articles reviewed and 20 high-quality studies included …


Lived Experiences Of Ex-Offenders In Securing Stable Employment After Reentry Programs, Tony Lemar Williams Jul 2025

Lived Experiences Of Ex-Offenders In Securing Stable Employment After Reentry Programs, Tony Lemar Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into society has garnered increasing attention largely due to structural and social barriers that impede their successful transition. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of ex-offenders who successfully obtained gainful employment following their reintegration into society while navigating the enduring consequences of their past convictions. Self-determination, self-efficacy, and implicit theories grounded this study. Ten participants were recruited through social media platforms and flyers on community billboards in a suburban area of Ohio. Data were collected using semistructured in-depth interviews. Narrative coding, according to Saldana, was used …


Strategies In Cybersecurity For The Protection Of Patient Health Information (Phi), Denise Holloway Jul 2025

Strategies In Cybersecurity For The Protection Of Patient Health Information (Phi), Denise Holloway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health information technology (IT) professionals are consistently seeking better ways to balance the availability of patient health information (PHI) with data breach prevention, as these breaches negatively impact health organizations legally and ethically due to the exposure of PHI. However, some health IT professionals lack strategies to protect PHI against cybersecurity attacks. Grounded in Dr. Edward Hutchins’ distributed cognition framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to understand what strategies health IT professionals use to protect PHI against cybersecurity attacks. The participants were six IT professionals from Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with at least five to seven …


Service Provider Practice And Dual Victimization Survivors Seeking Emergency Shelter, Lana Heinen Jul 2025

Service Provider Practice And Dual Victimization Survivors Seeking Emergency Shelter, Lana Heinen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Violence Against Women Act supports responses to the crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. It does not provide a permanent or guaranteed pathway to safe and stable housing for those experiencing the dual victimization of domestic violence and human trafficking. Service provider practices can alleviate or aggravate barriers faced by this population. These practices are influenced by the education and training service providers receive before entering the field and throughout their career. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore service providers’ perceptions of structures and barriers contributing to the obstacles of accessing …


Elementary School Administrators Perceptions Of School-Wide Restorative Practices In A School District In Georgia, Simone Simmons Jul 2025

Elementary School Administrators Perceptions Of School-Wide Restorative Practices In A School District In Georgia, Simone Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This basic qualitative study explored the perceptions of elementary school administrators regarding the uses of restorative practices (RPs) to address an increase in undesirable behaviors among K–5 students in a northern public school district in Georgia. Guided by restorative justice theory, which emphasizes repairing harm and fostering positive relationships, the study focused on understanding how administrators perceive the effectiveness of RPs in managing student behavior during instructional time. The research questions focused on administrators’ perceptions of the effectiveness of RPs in addressing student behaviors in the classroom. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 elementary school administrators from the …


Understanding Georgia Child Welfare Case Manager’S Perspective, Practicum Experience, And Retention, Takierra Dawson Jul 2025

Understanding Georgia Child Welfare Case Manager’S Perspective, Practicum Experience, And Retention, Takierra Dawson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child welfare workers have high turnover rates and low retention rates. While there is well-documented research on reasons for turnover, no research was found on how a case manager's practicum experience impacts turnover rates. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore child welfare case managers' perspectives on retention and to understand how their practicum and internship experiences influence retention. The theories that ground this research include systems theory by Bertalanffy and social constructivism by Vygotsky. The two research questions for this generic qualitative study were: What are the experiences of child welfare case managers during their internship and …


The Lived Mental Health Experiences Of African American/Black Mothers With An Infant In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During Covid-19, Dr. Shewonyui S. Lurker Jun 2025

The Lived Mental Health Experiences Of African American/Black Mothers With An Infant In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During Covid-19, Dr. Shewonyui S. Lurker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American/Black (AA/B) women are more likely than other women in the United States to give birth prematurely. Experiencing premature birth and infant hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic may have negatively affected AA/B mothers’ mental health and led them to experience elevated rates of increased posttraumatic stress disorders, depression, anxiety, and postpartum depression. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived mental health experiences of AA/B mothers of infants in the NICU during COVID-19. Feminist theory provided a lens for understanding intersectionality in the experiences of AA/B mothers. Semistructured interviews were …