Digital Commons Network^™

Social Workers' Role In Treating Individuals With Neurological Impairments From Brain Trauma, Kimberly D. Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nearly 1 billion individuals worldwide are diagnosed with a neurological condition. Neurological conditions might harm an individual’s overall mental state and quality of life. This qualitative action research project examined the social worker’s role in treating individuals with neurological impairments due to brain trauma. Information was gathered using a focus group of 4 rehabilitation social workers in Dallas, Texas, about their experiences related to utilizing social work practice with patients who have neurological conditions. Data from this action research project revealed an understanding of the psychosocial benefits of social work services for individuals with neurological impairments due to brain trauma …

Urgent Care Centers And Workers’ Compensation Medical Cost Containment, Drema M. Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In response to healthcare payment policy reforms, billions of dollars in healthcare provider charges are challenged annually. Following the implementation of the Virginia workers’ compensation medical fee legislation, healthcare organizations experienced declining worker compensation medical fee schedule reimbursements and lack of profitability. Grounded in the adaptive cycle model, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies 2 urgent care center (UCC) leaders in Virginia used to increase profits after implementing the Virginia workers’ compensation medical fee legislation. Data were collected via in-depth interviews and a review of company documents. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. …

The Origins Of Skin Tone Perceptions Within The African American Community, Clarissa Tibbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The distinction, categorizing, and hierarchical ranking of African Americans can be traced back to the enslavement of Africa Americans in the United States. There has been limited exploration on the origins of color consciousness among African Americans. Further, there is limited exploration on the in-group interactions of African Americans, perceptions of self-esteem, and experiences with psychological distress with skin tone as a mediating factor. Inquiry concerning the origins of color consciousness can lead to more effective cultural competence among mental health professionals and also treatment modalities equipped to address the unique experiences that African Americans face. The Black Racial Identity …

Strategies U.S. Coal Railroad Company Leaders Use To Remain Profitable, Jonathan Tomlin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders of coal railroad companies in the United States have experienced significant losses in profitability. Loss of profitability is of concern to railroad company leaders because it can lead to business closure. Through the lens of the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies leaders of U.S. coal railroad companies use to remain profitable. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents from 4 railroad leaders in the Southeastern United States who successfully implemented strategies to remain profitable. Yin’s 5-step process was used to analyze the data. Three themes emerged: an equipment …

Sexual Behavior, Contraceptive Use, And Unmet Needs Among Unmarried Teenage Women In Uganda, Lawrence Were

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At 25%, teenage pregnancy in Uganda is one of the highest in the world, and this has been mainly attributed to low contraceptive use and a high unmet need for modern contraceptives. Unmarried women aged 15 to 19 years in Uganda face unique cultural, ethical, financial, and legal barriers to the use of contraception. The purpose of this study was to investigate how sexual behavior, contraceptive use, and unmet needs among unmarried teenage women in Uganda aged 15 to 19 years are influenced by personal and environmental factors. Bandura’s social cognitive theory was used as a theoretical framework for this …

User Perception Of The U.S. Open Government Data Success Factors, Joy Alatta

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative correlational study used the information systems success model to examine the relationship between the U.S. federal departments' open data users' perception of the system quality, perception of information quality, perception of service quality, and the intent to use open data from U.S. federal departments. A pre-existing information system success model survey instrument was used to collect data from 122 open data users. The result of the standard multiple linear regression was statistically significant to predict the intent to use the U.S. open government data F(3,99) = 6479.916, p <0.01 and accounted for 99% of the variance in the intent to use the U.S. open government data (R²= .995), adjusted R²= .995. The interdependent nature of information quality, system quality, and service quality may have contributed to the value of the R². Cronbach's alpha for this study is α=.99, and the value could be attributed to the fact that users of open data are not necessarily technical oriented, and were not able to distinguish the differences between the meanings of the variables. The result of this study confirmed that there is a relationship between the user's perception of the system quality, perception of information quality, perception of service quality, and the intent to use open data from U.S. federal departments. The findings from this study might contribute to positive social change by enabling the solving of problems in the healthcare, education, energy sector, research community, digitization, and preservation of e-government activities. Using study, the results of this study, IT software engineers in the US federal departments, may be able to improve the gathering of user specifications and requirements in information system design.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Rates Among Children In Foster Versus Family Kinship Care, Rashanda Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children in foster care represent a highly traumatized population. However, trauma researchers studying this population have focused primarily on maltreatment rather than the full spectrum of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) attributes and symptoms for children living in nonkinship foster homes versus kinship foster homes. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in the literature, as well as examine the benefits and limitations of children placed in kinship and nonkinship foster homes. Attachment theory was the theoretical framework. The research questions centered on the prevalence of specific types of posttraumatic stress symptoms for a sample of children living …

Financial Sustainability Strategies Of Religious Nonprofit Organizations, Erica Illauna Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The percent of religious nonprofit organizations (RNOs) facing uncertainty in operational capital and resources will rise as government funding diminishes. The RNOs that struggle to maintain a competitive advantage are at high risk of failure. Grounded in the resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore funding strategies leaders of RNOs use to achieve financial sustainability beyond the first 5 years of operation. Participants were 3 leaders of RNOs in Middle Tennessee with successful experience in applying funding strategies that increased revenue year-over-year while serving their constituencies. Data sources included face-to-face interviews and organizational …

Treatment Plans For Diabetes Management During Hurricane Maria In Puerto Rico, Joel De La Cruz Oller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the health outcomes of diabetic patients in Puerto Rico, before, during, and after Hurricane Maria, in 2017. The Department of Health in Puerto Rico provided the secondary data for the variables low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), mortality, and consumer price index (CPI). The inclusion criteria were participants for whom electronic data were available before, during, and after Hurricane Maria; the sample size was 450. The theoretical framework for this investigation was the health outcomes and impact assessment. The data were analyzed by univariate and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare …

Evidence-Based Diagnosis Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using Quantitative Electroencephalography, Roger Yoder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is challenging and is currently, diagnosis through self-administered checklists. Because a diagnosis of PTSD can open up significant benefits to compensation, education, and medical care, people can tailor their responses to the checklist to help ensure a diagnosis of PTSD. The purpose of the study was to examine the utility of the quantitative electroencephalograph for diagnosing PTSD. Frequency and presence of biomarkers and alpha brain wave symmetry in the frontal and parietal lobes were examined. Research questions involved examining the presence of alpha wave imbalance across the frontal lobe and between the right and left …

Emotional Intelligence, Turnover Intention, And Commitment Among Nonprofit Employees, Tabitha Brewster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover is a persistent problem contributing to financial issues and declining

productivity in nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits cannot fulfill their core missions of

providing services to people in need when managing staffing disruptions. Measuring

employee turnover intention can determine the probability of employee turnover, and a

potential predictor of turnover intention is emotional intelligence, an area unstudied in the

nonprofit sector. This study was designed to explore this relationship, in addition to the

employee's commitment to the organization. The population consisted of 273 nonprofit

employees older than 18 years, working in a nonsupervisory capacity. They completed an

online survey consisting …

The Impact Of Perceived Stress, Happiness, And Religiosity On Political Orientation, Bryant Daniels

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Increasing stress levels over the past 30 years have reached an all-time high, which has also correlated with an increase in medical insurance costs due to the adverse effects on life expectancy, obesity rates, and non-communicable disease deaths. An additional social problem affecting the U.S. is a 20-year increase in political dichotomy. Research has shown a distinction between liberals and conservatives on a variety of characteristics ranging from sleep patterns, disgust, personality, and even cleanliness. This current study used two other characteristics that correlate with both stress and political orientation, and they are happiness and religiosity. The purpose of this …

Exploring The Competencies Of Educators Who Serve Transgender Learners In Secondary School, Genevieve C. Godin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The majority of transgender youth have learning experiences in school that are less than optimal; however, there is a paucity of research on the competencies of educators of transgender learners that could ameliorate the comorbidities and adversities they endure in secondary school. The purpose of this study was to explore what knowledge, attitudes, and skills educators apply to serve transgender learners in secondary school. The conceptual framework of servant leadership was used in this inquiry. A single case study design was used to examine a secondary school participating in the Alberta Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Educator Network that serves …

Adolescent Substance Abuse Screening, Wesley W. Lynch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adolescent substance use is a key public health problem in rural Ohio. Primary care nurses lack substance use screening knowledge and skills. Early screening and detection of possible substance use issues aids in directing patients to appropriate health services. This project involved the implementation of an educational intervention on the CRAFFT screening tool for primary care nurses in rural Ohio. Guided by Kurt Lewin's 3-step model to emphasize prevalence of substance use and need for screening among adolescents, the purpose of this project was to provide training on the CRAFFT screening approach and share guidelines to implement routine substance abuse …

Racial Disparities In Periconceptual Folic Acid Levels, Kelvin Gibson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Periconceptional folate level deficiencies are associated with birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, posing a significant public health problem. In 2009, Black and Hispanic women exhibited lower periconceptual folate levels and higher rates of folate-related birth defects compared with non-Hispanic White women, prior to enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010. It is not known if improved access to prenatal care under the ACA narrowed the gap in mean periconceptual folate levels between non-Hispanic White, Black, and Hispanic women between 2009 and 2017. The purpose of this causal-comparative cross-sectional quantitative study was to determine whether there …

Battered Women's Help-Seeking In The Rural Southwestern United States, Celina Gerese Bryant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many victims of domestic violence who seek help are never able to break the cycle of abuse. Many studies address the stages and types of domestic violence, but few focus on successful recovery from abuse. The purpose of this study was to fill the gap in the literature concerning battered women's help-seeking processes in rural southwestern United States. The specific focus was on how victims and survivors of intimate partner violence seek help for domestic violence issues and whether their help-seeking processes determine successful recovery from domestic violence situations. This study was a qualitative case study based on symbolic interactionism …

Occupational Stress And Coping Strategies Among Prison Educators In State Prisons, Vanessa Burrison-Meade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correctional education in the United States can be traced back to 1789. Its main purpose was to teach inmates literacy so that they could read the Bible. Because most of the inmates in the U.S. state prison system will be released in modern times, they will need as much education as possible to adapt to civilian life. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of 6 correctional educators belonging to the Correctional Education Association who are employed at maximum and medium secured prison regarding their strategies for handling stress and coping in their classrooms. The …

The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence And Youth Violence: A Systematic Literature Review, Donna M. Butler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth are responsible for a great number of violent acts committed in the United States. Experiencing or witnessing some type of violence at home during childhood increases the possibility of engaging in violent behaviors as a youth. At present, no systematic literature reviews examined the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on the development of youth violence. IPV includes various types of abuse that one member of a couple commits against the other member. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to examine the literature and analyze the relationship between IPV and youth violence. Bandura’s social learning theory and …

Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence And Workplace Instability, Robert Boyd Cannon Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) on victims’ employment status is well-documented. The purpose of this study was to examine the implications of domestic violence on the status and stability of employment for victims who work in the public sector. The study’s 2 research questions asked how victims’ perspectives on IPV could provide insights to (a) help public sector employers improve victims’ employment stability and (b) create policies and practices that support victim disclosure. A phenomenological approach was used to understand the experience of victims of IPV and unstable employment. The theoretical framework derived from feminist theory and focused …

The Impact Of The Exercise Of Self-Care Agency And Compassion Satisfaction On The Professional Social Worker, Elaine Franks Carter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Few studies have provided empirical data on the relationship between compassion satisfaction and self-care agency in professionals like the professional social worker, even though compassion satisfaction could be a prime motivator for continued work in the field of social work. To address this gap, this quantitative study addressed the research question asking if there was a statistically significant linear relationship between the exercise of self-care agency and compassion satisfaction. This study centered on theories related to the compassion satisfaction and the compassion satisfaction/compassion fatigue theories of Stamm (2010), and self-care agency and the theories of self-care/self-care deficit of Orem (1980; …

Predictors For Passing The Psychology License Exam, Edith Chaparro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychology license exam takers who do not pass the exam cannot practice psychology independently, have difficulty securing employment, and may lose current jobs. Despite the increased number of psychologists entering the field and the increase in ethnic minority students in doctoral-level psychology programs, there is scarce recent research on predictors of license exam pass rates. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to examine whether APA internship match rates, GRE scores, percentage of ethnic minority students, gender, program type, rate of admittance, and years to completion predict license exam pass rates. The triarchic theory of intelligence served as the …

Formerly At-Risk, Undergraduate Alumni’S Mentoring Experiences At A Historically Black University, Calaundra M. Clarke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As evidence of the continuing attainment gap, students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds have a lower enrollment and completion rate in higher education. Although studies have documented that mentoring programs have the capability to address a variety of problems these students may face in completing college, there appeared to be limited research on examining their experiences in mentoring programs at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the mentoring experiences of formerly at-risk, HBCU, undergraduate alumni. Astin’s theory of student involvement and Tinto’s theory of student retention provided the framework for understanding the …

Impact Of Mentoring On First Year Nursing Student Anxiety, Heather Ann Clesi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

First-year nursing students (FYNS) experience anxiety that can decrease academic achievement and result in attrition from the nursing program (NP). Research has not evaluated the impact of faculty mentoring (FM) offered by the NP on FYNS anxiety level and academic achievement in didactic courses. This study, guided by Neuman’s system model, used a descriptive cross-sectional design. An online survey link was distributed to FYNS in a southwestern state via NP directors and social media. FYNS were asked if their NP offered FM and were sorted into groups based on their response. Responses were received from 321 participants with 75 meeting …

Leadership Strategies For Reducing Regulatory Citations To Maintain Tax-Exempt Statuses In Nonprofit Organizations, Emmanuel Kamara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Leaders of nonprofit organizations have challenging responsibilities of satisfying the

demands of all their stakeholders by obeying state and federal regulations.

Noncompliance of regulations can quickly cause a nonprofit organization to lose its tax

exempt status and become nonexistent; thus, it appears that most nonprofits are choosing

to prioritize compliance, while struggling to maintain focus on their mission and services.

Using the conceptual framework of transformational leadership and general system

theories, this case study was to explore strategies leaders of nonprofits organizations in

Pennsylvania that cater to the needs of people with disabilities use for decreasing

regulatory citations to …

Review Of A Remediation Program In An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Christopher Thomas Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

New nurse graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in order to achieve nursing licensure. In Northern New Mexico associate degree nursing program with a large disadvantaged student population, the average pass rate for the licensure exam often falls below the state board of nursing mandated 80% pass rate. This study's purpose was to evaluate the effect of an NCLEX remediation program on students' ability to pass the NCLEX, using Knowles adult learning theory to guide this work. The research questions investigated the relation between the remedial instruction and the 2 dependent variables KAPLAN predictor scores and NCLEX …

Factors Affecting Cervical Cancer Screening Among Dominican Women Living In The United States, Cybil Bonhomme

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The highest incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer are seen among minority women groups in the United States. Hispanic women have the highest rate of cervical cancer, contributing to the 2nd highest mortality rate of the disease. Researchers have examined the lower rates of cervical cancer screening among Hispanic women, as compared with other groups of U.S. women, but researchers have not examined cervical cancer screening practices, specifically for U.S. Dominican women. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between compliance with cervical cancer screening and major influences including acculturation, socioeconomic status, immigration status, and usual …

Nurse Practitioner-Led Education Program For Heart Failure Patients, Shay Felecia Clarke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Heart failure (HF) affects 5.7 million Americans and continues to be a leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States, posing an enormous burden on patients, families, and the health care system. Readmission rates for HF within 30 days post hospital discharge at small rural acute care facility in the southeast are consistently higher than the national average. The gap in nursing practice was the lack of up to date patient education postdischarge guidelines on HF for the socioeconomically disadvantaged, culturally diverse patient population located in this small rural town. The purpose of this project was to use …

Perceptions, Practices, And Risk Factors Associated With Typhoid Fever In Nimo Village, Nigeria, George Ilouno

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Typhoid fever is a bacterial disease transmitted by the fecal-oral route. In Nigeria, the condition is life threatening and endemic. It affects communities such as Nimo that have limited water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. Previous researchers focused on sanitation and hygienic conditions that contribute to the disease such as household-level hygiene and food and water contamination, including handling practices. However, there is limited knowledge on how the environmental behavior and living conditions of eating and sleeping on a floor harboring fecal materials affect typhoid fever prevalence. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perception of the …

Relationship Between Intrinsic Job Satisfaction, Extrinsic Job Satisfaction, And Turnover Intentions In Luxury Hotels, Grayce Laverne James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The hotel industry makes significant contributions to U.S. economic growth, but many hotel managers have expressed concerns about high employee turnover intentions. In the context of career choices, leaders of the hotel industry in the United States face turnover intentions that are 70% higher than turnover intentions in other sectors. Grounded in Herzberg’s 2-factor theory, the purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine the relationship between intrinsic job satisfaction, extrinsic job satisfaction, and employee turnover intentions of front desk customer service employees of luxury hotels. Participants included 75 front desk customer service employees with at least 1 year …

Promotion Of Lifestyle Changes By Community Pharmacists Among Adults With Hypertension In Nigeria, Olanike Olawunmi Kehinde

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The growing prevalence of hypertension is a global public health problem. Lifestyle modification is the first-line best practice for the management of hypertension, however there is not enough focus on healthcare professionals’ competencies in managing hypertension in Nigeria. The perspectives of Community Pharmacists (CPs) about promotion of lifestyle modification (PLM) among adults with hypertension have not been explored in Nigeria though they play an essential role in healthcare in the community. This phenomenological study was conducted to document the experiences of CPs about PLM by using in-depth interviews. Social cognitive theory and the health promotion model were used as frameworks …