Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
-
- Medicine and Health Sciences (5856)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (5139)
- Nursing (2597)
- Psychology (2441)
- Education (2364)
-
- Public Health (2122)
- Business (1855)
- Public Health Education and Promotion (1504)
- Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration (1334)
- Public Policy (918)
- Arts and Humanities (851)
- Educational Administration and Supervision (791)
- Health and Medical Administration (734)
- Sociology (631)
- Teacher Education and Professional Development (594)
- Epidemiology (580)
- Public Administration (552)
- Business Administration, Management, and Operations (532)
- Physical Sciences and Mathematics (512)
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (507)
- Social Work (502)
- Clinical Psychology (469)
- Mental and Social Health (395)
- Psychiatric and Mental Health (388)
- Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies (360)
- Organizational Behavior and Theory (354)
- African American Studies (304)
- Computer Sciences (299)
- Databases and Information Systems (284)
- Counseling Psychology (265)
- Keyword
-
- Leadership (385)
- Education (253)
- Nursing (219)
- Retention (186)
- African American (151)
-
- Management (147)
- Stress (138)
- Obesity (135)
- Depression (131)
- Strategies (123)
- Mental Health (120)
- Burnout (119)
- Diabetes (113)
- Qualitative (107)
- Women (103)
- Healthcare (99)
- Motivation (95)
- Communication (93)
- Resilience (91)
- Self-efficacy (91)
- Turnover (91)
- Sustainability (88)
- Mental health (85)
- Job Satisfaction (80)
- Engagement (79)
- COVID-19 (78)
- Recidivism (77)
- Adolescents (76)
- Trauma (73)
- Autism (72)
- Publication Year
Articles 871 - 900 of 15576
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Falls In Inpatient Hospital Settings, Merlina Constantine
Falls In Inpatient Hospital Settings, Merlina Constantine
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Inpatient falls are a common and preventable problem that affects health care costs, patient safety, and clinical quality. Inpatient falls occur within hospitals, cause harm, extend hospitalization, and require additional healthcare funding. Falls harm a patient’s physical health and cause emotional trauma, decrease patient satisfaction, and undermine confidence in the hospital care systems. Falls are therefore a significant concern in the nursing practice environment because nurses form the first component of prevention, monitoring, and intervention. This doctoral project aimed to re-educate and reinforce staff understanding of clinical guidelines to prevent inpatient falls through evidence-based interventions targeting environmental, behavioral, and organizational …
The Experiences Of Faith-Based Non-Profit Human Services Professionals In The Implementation Of Parental Resources For Homeless Mothers, Latasha Sublett
The Experiences Of Faith-Based Non-Profit Human Services Professionals In The Implementation Of Parental Resources For Homeless Mothers, Latasha Sublett
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Homelessness is a worldwide, complex social problem that has impacted groups like women and children. In recent studies, researchers have demonstrated that homeless mothers can face mental health challenges and stressors related to parenting, while homeless children can experience emotional and physical difficulties. Parental resources have been cited as a tool to help homeless families address stress and development in distinct settings in current research; however, there was limited research on how faith-based non-profits utilize parental resources to help homeless mothers. The purpose of the generic qualitative study was to learn the perceptions and experiences of faith-based non-profit human services …
Coping Strategies, Barriers, And Supports Of Female Nurses And Veterans With A Work-Related Traumatic Exacerbation Of An Existing Respiratory Disorder, Joanna Lynn Phillips
Coping Strategies, Barriers, And Supports Of Female Nurses And Veterans With A Work-Related Traumatic Exacerbation Of An Existing Respiratory Disorder, Joanna Lynn Phillips
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The United States Department of Defense and Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that female veterans and nurses experience work-related trauma at rates of 51% or higher. While many studies have examined their mental health outcomes, posttraumatic worsening of physical health has been less studied in this population. This generic qualitative inquiry was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the subjective lived experiences of female nurses and veterans' work-related traumatic exacerbation of an existing respiratory disorder. The coping strategies developed, the potential barriers they overcame, and the support systems used were examined. The theoretical framework that grounded this study was …
Effect Of Physical Custody On Relationship Satisfaction In Adults, Mathew Aaron Richards
Effect Of Physical Custody On Relationship Satisfaction In Adults, Mathew Aaron Richards
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Custody decisions are often informed by attachment-based arguments, yet little research has examined long-term effects of custody type on adult outcomes. This study involved examining whether joint versus sole physical custody predicted relationship satisfaction, testing both parental attachment and socioeconomic status as mediators. Data were collected from 226 adult participants (mean age = 33.42), whose parents separated before age 13. Validated measures were used to assesse relationship satisfaction, parental attachment, and socioeconomic status. Participants who grew up in joint physical custody arrangements reported significantly higher relationship satisfaction compared to those who experienced sole physical custody (b = 0.54, p = …
Hr Strategies Used To Reduce Employee Turnover And Employee Replacement Costs, Karlita Mcclinton
Hr Strategies Used To Reduce Employee Turnover And Employee Replacement Costs, Karlita Mcclinton
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Ineffective employee well-being strategies can contribute to elevated levels of voluntary turnover, resulting in increased employee replacement costs, lost organizational knowledge, and operational disruption. Human resource (HR) leaders who do not successfully develop employee well-being strategies may find their organization facing operational disruptions as a result. Grounded in social sustainability and the European corporate sustainability frameworks, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective employee well-being strategies used by HR leaders to reduce employee turnover and employee replacement costs. The participants were 10 HR leaders who had implemented effective employee well-being strategies. Data …
Exercise Effects On Decreased Levels Of Depression In Female Breast Cancer Patients, Dorothy Y. Spencer
Exercise Effects On Decreased Levels Of Depression In Female Breast Cancer Patients, Dorothy Y. Spencer
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Breast cancer patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are at a high risk of experiencing pain and fatigue, anxiety and substance use, poor quality of life, marital spouses with elevated depression, impaired sexual functioning, sleep disorders, poor immune system functioning, rapid progression of cancer, and higher mortality rates. Grounded in Fritz Heider’s attribution theory, the purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study was to examine the relationship between physical exercise and a decrease in MDD. The participants comprised of 15 female breast cancer patients, 18 years of age and older, who may have experienced depression. The participants completed the Beck Depression …
Examining Predictors For Surgical Site Infection Following Abdominal Hysterectomy Among Women In New York, Nicole Henry
Examining Predictors For Surgical Site Infection Following Abdominal Hysterectomy Among Women In New York, Nicole Henry
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain one of the most frequent and preventable complications following abdominal hysterectomy. Existing literature has focused on clinical and procedural risk factors, while less is known about how social conditions shape surgical outcomes. This gap is especially concerning for women in New York State (NYS) where differences in income, marital status, primary payer, rurality, and county-level food insecurity may influence postoperative outcomes and subsequent care. The socioecological model provided the foundation for this retrospective cohort study by examining how social drivers of health (SDoH) are associated with SSI incidence following abdominal hysterectomy, and whether food insecurity …
Contributing Factors To The Rise In Juvenile Gun-Related Homicides: Investigating Criminal Behavior In Southern Georgia, Tracey Hudson
Contributing Factors To The Rise In Juvenile Gun-Related Homicides: Investigating Criminal Behavior In Southern Georgia, Tracey Hudson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Gun-related juvenile homicides continue to be a critical public health and social issue, disproportionally affecting African American males aged 17. Prior research identified poverty, neighborhood violence, individual and familial risks, gang affiliation, and inadequate education as contributors to the increase in juvenile gun-related homicides. In this study, the relationship between gun-related juvenile homicides and poverty, violent crimes, and gang affiliation were examined from 2019 to 2023 in 66 counties within South Georgia. Guided by sociological positivism, a quantitative non-experimental design was used using secondary data sources that included juvenile homicide totals, demographic characteristics, poverty levels, violent crime rates, and gang …
U.S. Pharmacists’ Perceptions Of Getting The Covid-19 Vaccine And How That Affects Their Interactions With The Public, Megan Boals
U.S. Pharmacists’ Perceptions Of Getting The Covid-19 Vaccine And How That Affects Their Interactions With The Public, Megan Boals
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Pharmacists play a pivotal role in public health, particularly in promoting vaccination. However, vaccine hesitancy among pharmacists significantly undermines their willingness to provide effective patient counseling and to advocate for vaccination, potentially eroding public trust in vaccines. This descriptive-phenomenological study sought to understand the factors contributing to pharmacists’ COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and how this hesitancy affected their willingness to recommend vaccines to patients. Twenty practicing pharmacists were interviewed via Zoom between September 23 and October 14, 2025. The health belief model helped interpret the study findings. Thematic analysis, as described by Braun and Clarke, was conducted to identify and interpret …
Teachers And Administrators’ Perspectives Of Teacher Retention Rates During The First 5 Years Of Employment, Seth Hay
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The problem that was addressed through this study was the high percentage of novice teachers leaving the profession during the first 5 years of teaching in a Southwestern state. Grounded in Mitchell et al.'s job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore K-12 teachers’ perspectives on factors influencing their decision to remain in the education profession, as well as K-12 administrators’ perspectives on influencing novice teachers’ decisions to persist in the education profession in a Southwestern state. For this basic qualitative design, data were collected from 10 teachers and three administrators and analyzed using Braun and …
Relationship Between Teacher Psychological Safety And Perceived Administrator Support In Independent Schools, Kim Schinzel
Relationship Between Teacher Psychological Safety And Perceived Administrator Support In Independent Schools, Kim Schinzel
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
No abstract provided.
The Experiences Of Faith-Based Non-Profit Human Services Professionals In The Implementation Of Parental Resources For Homeless Mothers, Latasha Sublett
The Experiences Of Faith-Based Non-Profit Human Services Professionals In The Implementation Of Parental Resources For Homeless Mothers, Latasha Sublett
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
No abstract provided.
Implementing An Acuity-Based Staffing Model To Improve Staffing Equity And Patient Safety In An Inpatient Mental Health Unit, Vivian Emuobe
Implementing An Acuity-Based Staffing Model To Improve Staffing Equity And Patient Safety In An Inpatient Mental Health Unit, Vivian Emuobe
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Understaffing during the weekends has been related to issues in patient safety, delayed responses, and increased nurse fatigue and turnover in a majority of inpatient mental health units. This practice improvement Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to address disparities in nurse staffing ratios between weekdays and weekends within inpatient mental health units. The purpose of the project was to design and test an evidence-based acuity-based staffing model, supported by structured staff education and compliance monitoring, to promote equitable workload distribution and improve patient and organizational outcomes. The guiding practice question asked: How does the implementation of an acuity-based …
Effective Strategies For Hospital Adoption Of Value-Based Reimbursement Models, Nicholas Isbell
Effective Strategies For Hospital Adoption Of Value-Based Reimbursement Models, Nicholas Isbell
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Acute care hospitals continue to experience financial strain as the healthcare system transitions from fee for service to value-based reimbursement (VBR) models. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify evidence-based financial, clinical, and operational strategies that support hospital adaptation to value-based models while maintaining financial stability and high-quality care. The guiding question focused on determining which strategies reduce financial pressures and improve value-based performance in acute care hospitals. Guided by resource-based theory, this integrative review included 25 empirical and nonempirical studies published between 2019 and 2025 that examined U.S. acute care hospitals. Data were synthesized through a thematic …
Lived Experiences Of Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color (Bipoc) Counselors Collaborating With Multidisciplinary Teams To Treat Bipoc Clients Diagnosed With Eating Disorders, Melissa Sherfield
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Eating disorder (ED) treatment has historically been grounded in Eurocentric models that inadequately account for the cultural contexts and lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), contributing to persistent disparities in care. The purpose of this descriptive transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of BIPOC counselors who provide culturally responsive care to BIPOC clients diagnosed with EDs. Guided by Husserl’s phenomenological philosophy of intentionality and Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method, the central research question addressed the lived experiences of BIPOC counselors providing culturally responsive ED care, with a sub-question addressing how counselors describe their preparedness …
Exploring The Lived Experiences Of African American Women In Counseling For Body Dysmorphia, Sitonja Valenzuela
Exploring The Lived Experiences Of African American Women In Counseling For Body Dysmorphia, Sitonja Valenzuela
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
African American women may experience body dysmorphia differently due to cultural, racial, and societal influences that shape their body perceptions and counseling experiences. Guided by a Heideggerian theoretical foundation, this hermeneutic phenomenological study aimed to explore how African American women experience receiving counseling for body dysmorphia in the United States. The guiding research question was: How do African American women with body dysmorphia experience receiving help in counseling? Eight African American women participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews, and data analytic procedures were analyzed using the hermeneutic circle. Key findings revealed body dysmorphia as a persistent, embodied experience shaped by racialized …
Exploring The Process Of Using Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy To Treat Anxiety, Danica Yates
Exploring The Process Of Using Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy To Treat Anxiety, Danica Yates
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Anxiety is the most rapidly growing mental health problem globally, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Mental health clinicians need effective integrative health treatment strategies to address the anxiety epidemic. The purpose of this qualitative generic study was to explore the perspectives of clinicians on the process of using equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) to treat adolescents and young adults with anxiety through the lens of a somatic theory, bioenergetics. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 12 EAP clinicians and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: 1. The process of EAP is highly effective because energetic …
Enhancing Staff Education For Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring In Rural Clinics, Judi Brown Brown
Enhancing Staff Education For Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring In Rural Clinics, Judi Brown Brown
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This is an educational intervention project targeted was developed to fill a knowledge gap in the treatment of hypertension in a rural primary care clinic. The project focused on enhancing staff education for Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring (RBPM) to enhance the desired patient outcomes regarding continuous monitoring and early interventional actions. The practice problem focuses on the lack of effective methods in managing hypertension that can facilitate the identification of hypertensive crisis and in rural areas. This project's primary research question is: "How can staff education on RBPM enhance knowledge and skills about hypertension management in rural clinics?" The project …
Transitions Of Growth And Partner Responsiveness In Late Adolescent Marriage, Terrell Ka-Seem Pugh
Transitions Of Growth And Partner Responsiveness In Late Adolescent Marriage, Terrell Ka-Seem Pugh
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
During the stage of late adolescence, marriage presents unique challenges, with partners navigating several developmental tasks in tandem with forming and maintaining marital relationships. Partner responsiveness has been consistently identified as a key factor for personal wellbeing and relationship satisfaction. Limited research has explored how late adolescent married individuals describe this dynamic. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore lived experiences of late adolescent married individuals between 18 and 20 who described their experiences with partner responsiveness during this transitional period. This study was grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory in order to explore how relational …
Assessing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Christine A. Mccaulay
Assessing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Christine A. Mccaulay
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This Doctor of Nursing Practice capstone project presents the development and evaluation of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for the assessment and management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in adults. The project addresses the ongoing challenge of diabetes-related complications and hospitalizations, highlighting the critical role of personalized patient education and the integration of smartphone technology for home monitoring. Central to this initiative was the question of whether an expert panel would endorse an evidence-based guideline for diabetes monitoring using innovative technology, as evaluated by the AGREE II tool. A robust review of the literature supported the guideline’s development, with high-quality …
Reducing Social Isolation In Elderly Hospice Patients Through Structured Social Interventions, Ashley Babayan
Reducing Social Isolation In Elderly Hospice Patients Through Structured Social Interventions, Ashley Babayan
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This doctoral project was conducted as a quality improvement organizational change initiative aimed at reducing social isolation among elderly hospice patients through structured social interventions. Social isolation is a significant psychosocial concern in hospice populations and is associated with increased emotional distress, depression, and decreased quality of life. Despite hospice care’s holistic philosophy, structured and standardized social engagement interventions are inconsistently implemented across settings, creating a gap in practice. The practice-focused question guiding this project was: In elderly hospice patients experiencing social isolation, how do structured social interventions (regular visits, group activities, and emotional support systems), compared to standard hospice …
Decision Making Processes Of Adolescent Women About Entering Intimate, Long-Term Romantic Relationships, Jeannie Miller
Decision Making Processes Of Adolescent Women About Entering Intimate, Long-Term Romantic Relationships, Jeannie Miller
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
There is a high rate of women in their late 20s and early 30s that are in destructive relationships, many because of decisions that were made during adolescence . Little research has focused on understanding the decision making process of entering intimate, long-term romantic relationships from the viewpoint of adult women in their late 20s through 30s who made that decision during adolescence. This phenomenological study allowed for a greater understanding of adolescent decision making, specifically about entering intimate, long-term romantic relationships. The research questions were (a) What are the lived experiences of young women as they enter intimate, long-term …
Effective Marketing Strategies Of Private Entities For Leading The United States Military Armed Forces, Harry B. Willis Iii
Effective Marketing Strategies Of Private Entities For Leading The United States Military Armed Forces, Harry B. Willis Iii
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Ineffective marketing strategies contribute to lower retention outcomes by failing to communicate the value of training programs and build sustained community engagement. Training managers must implement intentional marketing strategies that strengthen community engagement and improve participant retention. Grounded in organization theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the successful marketing strategies used by training managers of private organizations in the United States to increase military numbers. The participants were six training managers from the Southwest United States. Data were collected from semistructured interviews. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged: (a) marketing strategies, (b) training managers, (c) …
Standardizing Data-Sharing And Communication Procedures Among Healthcare Providers To Enhance Disaster Response, Bahaeldin Mahmoud
Standardizing Data-Sharing And Communication Procedures Among Healthcare Providers To Enhance Disaster Response, Bahaeldin Mahmoud
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Effective data sharing during disasters remains an unresolved administrative challenge for acute care hospitals, as fragmented communication directly affects patient safety and impacts vulnerable populations. This study identified gaps in hospitals' alignment with the Emergency Management Conditions of Participation standards. This integrative review applied a Complex Adaptive Systems conceptual framework to analyze the interdependent technological, governance, and human factors that cause systemic failures. The purpose of the review was to determine actionable administrative strategies that enhance data-sharing resilience. The guiding question examined barriers to standardized data sharing and communication in disaster preparedness and the approaches to address them. The methodology …
Elementary Administrators’ Use Of Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports As A School Reform Model For Discipline, Rashida Patrecé Lee
Elementary Administrators’ Use Of Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports As A School Reform Model For Discipline, Rashida Patrecé Lee
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The problem that was addressed through this study was that elementary administrators struggle to implement the positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) framework as a school reform model for discipline at a Southern school district (SSD). Grounded in Bandura’s theory on social learning, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore elementary administrators’ perceptions of their successes, challenges, and recommendations for using the PBIS framework as a school reform model for discipline in the SSD. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 administrators that implemented the PBIS framework in their schools. Through thematic analysis using …
Evaluation Of Nurses' Leadership Self-Efficacy In Belize, Ruth Rosalee Reina Jones
Evaluation Of Nurses' Leadership Self-Efficacy In Belize, Ruth Rosalee Reina Jones
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Nursing leadership in Belize is lacking but crucial to the well-being of patients, families, and the healthcare team. The purpose of this non-experimental, descriptive, comparative study was to a) determine the difference in leadership self-efficacy for current nurse leaders with three years or less of leadership experience compared to current nurse leaders with more than three years of leadership experience in Belize, and b) examine the differences in leadership self-efficacy between nurses in a leadership position and nurses not in a leadership position in Belize. The theories supporting the study were Burns’ transformational leadership theory and leadership self-efficacy, based on …
Opioid Overdose Associations In The United States Among Pregnant And Postpartum Women During 2019-2023, Permecia Winston-Dixon
Opioid Overdose Associations In The United States Among Pregnant And Postpartum Women During 2019-2023, Permecia Winston-Dixon
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The rising trend of opioid-involved overdose deaths among pregnant and postpartum women in the United States from 2019 to 2023 represents a pressing public health issue. This population faces increasing risk due to opioid use and co-occurring mental health conditions, yet remains underrepresented in research. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between opioid involvement among pregnancy-associated overdose deaths, while controlling for pandemic periods (pre-COVID: 2019, peak COVID: 2020–2021, post-peak COVID: 2022–2023). Grounded in the syndemic theory, this study addressed two research questions Grounded in syndemic theory, this study addressed two research questions focused on opioid-involved …
From Silos To Systems: Examining Leadership Communication During Change In A Non-Profit Behavioral Health Organization, Julie Skye Raskin-Li
From Silos To Systems: Examining Leadership Communication During Change In A Non-Profit Behavioral Health Organization, Julie Skye Raskin-Li
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Silo mentality within nonprofit behavioral health organizations creates barriers to effective leadership communication and undermines change management efforts. This case study involved examining how siloed practices influenced leadership communication during organizational change at a nonprofit behavioral health organization in a rural area of California. The study was grounded in the Baldrige Excellence Framework, which emphasizes leadership, workforce engagement, and systems alignment. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with leaders at multiple organizational levels and review of internal archival documents. Thematic analysis revealed 3 central themes: siloed decision-making, information gatekeeping, and inconsistent communication, as well as localized resilience practices that were …
Social Determinants Of Health And Treatment Outcomes In Black And White Men With Early-Stage Prostate Cancer, Laurel Cannon
Social Determinants Of Health And Treatment Outcomes In Black And White Men With Early-Stage Prostate Cancer, Laurel Cannon
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Black men are disproportionately affected in diagnosis and death rates from prostate cancer compared to White men. Although prior research established links between race, sociodemographic factors, and prostate cancer outcomes, longitudinal analyses examining multiple social determinants of health simultaneously were limited. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether race, marital status, and education impact how long patients live who were diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. Social impact theory framed how social forces such as race, education, and marital status influence health outcomes. A non-experimental correlational design was employed, drawing on archival data from 4,407 participants in the …
Access To Care, Vaccine Hesitancy, And The Lived Experiences Of African Americans Living In Pulaski County, Arkansas, Donald Ray Kelly Ellis Jr.
Access To Care, Vaccine Hesitancy, And The Lived Experiences Of African Americans Living In Pulaski County, Arkansas, Donald Ray Kelly Ellis Jr.
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Arkansas’s COVID-19 vaccine rates were among the lowest for African Americans in Arkansas, who were hesitant to accept the vaccine. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American adults in Pulaski County, Arkansas, and to explore factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and access to health care services. Guided by Andersen’s health care utilization model, the study focused on predisposing, enabling, and need-based factors shaping health care decision making. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 8 African American adults and analyzed using directed content analysis. Findings from the analysis revealed 365 codes, …