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Suicidal Ideation, Suicidality, And Hiv/Aids Infection Or Diagnosis Among Asian American Sexual Minorities, Francis Azih Ngene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Asian American men who have sex with men (MSM) are an understudied minority. They are particularly affected by HIV/AIDS and are also impacted by psychosocial and mental health factors of depression, substance use, drug use, and alcohol use/abuse, any of which may lead to suicidal ideation and suicidality. These associations have not been widely studied in this population. The purpose of this quantitative study was to use the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data to examine these psychosocial and mental health issues and their association with suicidal ideation, suicidality, and HIV/AIDS infection or diagnosis among Asian American …

Perceptions Of White Mountain Apache High School Graduates About College, Tyler Rush Bangert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Very few high school graduates from the White Mountain Apache Reservation go on to college, and it is not known what perceptions may contribute to a decision not to attend college. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study is to investigate these perceptions, including cultural values and family obligations. The framework of this study is founded on Tribal Critical Race Theory, also known as TribalCrit, which came out of Critical Race Theory (CRT). TribalCrit posits that colonization (Western European peoples colonizing Native American lands and peoples) is endemic in society. Seventeen White Mountain Apache tribal members who had graduated …

Knowledge And Use Of Health Services Related To Mother-To-Child Transmission Of Hiv In Nigeria, Uduak Bassey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV has remained a global public health issue despite efforts to curb the trend; especially in sub-Saharan African countries where more than 50% of those infected are women, creating implications for infant transmission. The purpose of this study was to assess trends in knowledge of prevention of mother-to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and use of PMTCT-related maternal health services (measured by antenatal care [ANC] in health facilities, use of HIV counseling and testing [HCT] during ANC, and use of skilled birth attendant at delivery [SBA]); as well as the association between knowledge and use of health services among reproductive …

Subjective Well-Being And Life Satisfaction Among Midlife Former Division Iii Student- Athletes, David Alfred Bayer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People in midlife, age 35-50, often reach a state of generativity wherein they feel a need to enhance the well-being of younger generations. Although midlifers enjoy the potential for their highest lifetime levels of subjective well-being (SWB) and contributions to the social good, they also often experience decreased SWB and life satisfaction (LS). The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to develop an understanding of the lived experiences of SWB and LS among a purposively selected group of 10 midlife former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III collaborative sport student-athletes. Although participants in NCAA Division I athletics have …

Secondary Traumatic Stress In The Mortuary Industry: Prevalence And Mitigation, Robert Borselli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For those working in the mortuary industry, exposure to traumatically deceased remains may predispose them to developing subjective Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship among the independent variables of hardiness and perceived social support, and the dependent variable of subjective STS in mortuary workers. The theoretical foundations on which this research was based are the theories of stress and illness, secondary traumatic stress, hardiness, and social support. The primary research question governing this research was whether social support and hardiness had any correlation to the levels of subjective STS in this …

Elementary Teacher Usage Of Daily Behavior Report Cards With Students With Disabilities, Patrika K. Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Elementary teachers in a school district in a mid-western state were struggling to manage classrooms with students with disabilities. Additionally, there is a gap in practice in which some teachers do not use daily behavior report cards (DBRC), or use them without fidelity, despite the effectiveness of DBRC with various groups. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to explore how elementary teachers used DBRC with students with disabilities to manage their behaviors. Guided by Canter’s assertive discipline model, an exploration of how elementary teachers in a mid-western school district used DBRC to support the behavior management of students with …

Depression And Awareness Of Mental Health Resources Among Minority And Non-Minority College Students, Henry David Browne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Minority college students experience higher levels of psychological stress and depression, and lower utilization of mental health resources (MHR) compared to the general student population. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between self-reported depressive symptoms and awareness of mental health services among college undergraduate minority and non-minority students, controlling for sex, interest in MHR information, and history of mental illness. The self-determination theory guided the study. The study utilized a cross-sectional research design using secondary survey data from the National College Health Assessment (NCHA). The NCHA dataset included 354,262 respondents from 52 self-selected U.S. colleges …

Nutritional Assessment Of Patients In The Intensive Care Unit, Jennifer Maureen Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Impaired nutrition is associated with prolonged hospitalization, poor patient outcomes, high mortality, and increased health costs. Nutritional assessment in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is important in recognition of changes in the patient’s nutritional status from admission to discharge and may promote early nutritional interventions by the health providers to prevent complications of poor nutrition. The purpose of this staff education doctoral project was to assess ICU nurses’ knowledge of nutritional assessment for critically-ill patients and to provide education on an assessment tool for patient nutritional assessment- the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST). The guidelines from the American Society for …

Funding Sources And Marketing Strategies To Sustain Small-To-Midsized Nonprofit Businesses, Lynette Bryant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective funding sources and marketing strategies can negatively impact business sustainability. Half of all leaders of small-to-midsized businesses (SMBs) experience an inability to sustain their businesses for more than 5 years. Grounded in Greiner, Jablonski and Jablonski’s and Mella and Pellicelli’s sustainable growth models, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore how leaders of an SMB developed funding sources and marketing strategies to sustain their business for more than 5 years. The participants comprised 3 leaders from a nonprofit SMB in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, documents on …

Improving Nursing Knowledge Of Heart Failure Discharge Self-Care Instructions, Maria Patricia Picar Deza

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients with heart failure (HF) have recurrent symptoms that lead to frequent hospital readmissions. Moreover, HF is one of the leading causes of 30-day hospital readmissions. Evidence shows that patients with a high level of HF self-care have decreased readmissions. HF self-care education is commonly delivered by the nurse at hospital discharge, and the patient’s transition to self-care is a critical point in the continuum of care. However, nurses must be knowledgeable of patient self-care in HF to effectively convey this information to the patient upon discharge. Therefore, this staff education project question asked whether nursing knowledge of HF patient …

Motivating Factors For Nurses Aged 65 Years And Older To Extend Their Work Life, Dr. Cynthia M. Dobek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurses age 65 years and older who retire will leave a knowledge gap in the workforce unless motivated to continue working. A knowledge gap in the workforce is of concern to human resource professionals because healthcare professionals may not be able to keep pace with the increase in patients needing medical care. Grounded in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore what factors motivated nurses aged 65 years and older to extend their work life. The participants comprised 6 nurses aged 65 years and older who were still working or semiretired …

Demographic, Lifestyle, And Psychosocial Predictors Of Obesity Among Nigerian Igbo Immigrants, Ahamefula Arthur Duru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is known as a risk factor for chronic diseases, and a contributor to health disparities among minorities and vulnerable persons. There is a paucity of data on Nigeria Igbos on obesity risks in the United States; therefore, studying obesity in this population may help policymakers tailor interventions that could reduce the prevalence of obesity. The purpose of the study was to examine the predictors of obesity among Nigerian Igbo immigrants in the United States. This study sought to examine lifestyle, psychosocial, and demographic factors as unique predictors of obesity in Nigeria Igbo immigrants. The social-ecological model and acculturation theory …

Understanding Male Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence And Women’S Demands For Condom Use, Linda Musu Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sub-Saharan Africa is host to more than 70% (25.5 million) of people with HIV/AIDS. More than half of the reported cases of people living with HIV/AIDS are women who are twice as likely to contract HIV than males in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior was to determine if a relationship between female demands for male partner condom use and male perpetrated intimate partner violence (MPIPV) in opposite sex cohabitating or married couples, as well as examine the relationship between the risk factors of age, education level, socioeconomic status, history of MPIPV, …

Reintegration Of Female Non-Commissioned Officer Veterans Into The Private Business Sector, Wanda E. Floyd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Experiencing a significant career transition can directly impact military veterans.

Literature exists on military transition and reintegration but is focused on topics ranging from combat-related disabilities and mental health issues to higher learning. There is a lack of knowledge regarding female Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) veterans’ transition and reintegration experiences. The purpose of this qualitative study, using a phenomenological design with purposeful sampling, was to explore the lived experiences of female NCO veterans’ process of transition and private-sector reintegration. The research question evaluated participants’ perceptions, leveraging them to increase awareness and improve programs for the U.S. veteran population. Semi structured interviews …

Increasing Reading Skills For Students With Intellectual Disabilities Through Lively Letters, Barbara Ann Forney-Misuraca

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

All students can learn how to read, but students with intellectual disabilities (ID) often learn at a slower rate than their peers without disabilities. The purpose of this quantitative, pretest-posttest study design was to analyze whether Lively Letters (LL), a researched-based program, was a useful tool for teaching students with ID to read by using a multisensory approach. The two main theories used were Bandura’s social cognitive theory, also known as social learning theory, and Mayer’s cognitive theory of multimedia learning. Sixty-eight students participated in a self-contained program. The students’ phonological skills (PA) skills were measured before and after the …

Exploring Strategies To Transition To Big Data Technologies From Dw Technologies, Mbah Johnas Fortem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As a result of innovation and technological improvements, organizations are now capable of capturing and storing massive amounts of data from various sources and domains. This increase in the volume of data resulted in traditional tools used for processing, storing, and analyzing large amounts of data becoming increasingly inefficient. Grounded in the extended technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies data managers use to transition from traditional data warehousing technologies to big data technologies. The participants included data managers from 6 organizations (medium and large size) based in Munich, Germany, who …

Pulmonary Rehabilitation: A Quality Improvement Evaluation, Michelle Groth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COPD is a progressive, multifaceted, chronic disease with steadily increasing worldwide rates of prevalence, morbidity and mortality, making improved COPD care a global health priority. Current practice guidelines are in place, but the literature continues to demonstrate inadequacies in practice, for example the inconsistent use of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). The purpose of the project was to conduct a quality improvement initiative evaluation of the PR program at a hospital in south-central Idaho. The practice-focused question was: What impact has implementation of a PR program had on COPD care in the area? Donabedian’s framework for healthcare quality evaluation was the theoretical …

Clinical Practice Patient Education Guideline For Elective Induction Of Labor, Allison Keleske

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2018, the state of Florida had a cesarean section birth rate of 38.3% which was the 3rd highest in the nation with the national average being 31.9%. Elective induction of labor (EIOL) involves the initiation of labor for convenience and not because of medical necessity. EIOL carries risks for the mother and fetus, including an unplanned cesarean section. The problem identified in this project was the lack of informed decision-making by pregnant women related to risks, benefits, and management of EIOL. Using the Informed Decision-Making through Engagement Model, the purpose of the project was to develop an evidence-based clinical …

Managerial Strategies To Encourage Learning From Experience, Olena Khomenko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a fast-paced, volatile global economic environment, the ability to learn from successful experiences and failures is critical for the improvement of business performance. The problem is that organizational managers often fail to improve performance because they lack strategies to encourage learning from project teams’ positive and negative experiences. Grounded in the conceptual framework of experiential learning, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore managerial strategies to encourage and facilitate learning from experience in teams. The participants were 7 managers from multinational organizations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland who had …

Severe Maternal Morbidity In Michigan: An Investigation Of Health Disparities, Laura Houdeshell-Putt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) rates in Michigan have increased over the past 20 years and continue to affect racial and ethnic women disproportionately. Women experiencing health conditions that complicate pregnancy outcomes have a greater risk of having poor obstetric outcomes that result in a SMM event. To evaluate the distribution of women experiencing health conditions that complicate pregnancy and a SMM event, geographic information systems were utilized in this study. The purpose of this study was to depict trends in the prevalence of 4 health conditions and SMM among women hospitalized for obstetric delivery in Michigan from 2016–2017. The 4 …

Veterans' Perceptions Of Behavioral Health Services For Posttraumatic Stress, Larence Kirby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavioral health services exist for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); yet, untreated diagnoses may lead to the risk of compromised behavioral health. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of OEF/OIF veterans regarding their decision to seek and retain behavioral health services for addressing PTSD. The research focus and questions were employed through the theoretical concepts of Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenological theory, Heider’s attribution theory, and Beck’s cognitive behavioral theory. In-person interviews were conducted to collect data from 8 OEF/OIF veterans who had encounters with behavioral …

Managing Hypertension In Afro-Caribbean Immigrants Of Non-Hispanic Origin, Ann Marie Laban

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension (HTN) is a preventable disease; however, the prevalence of HTN continues to increase, especially in minority populations. Without adequate interventions, this disease can lead to severe complications such as heart disease, stroke, and death.

The United States is home to a large population of Afro-Caribbean immigrants of Non-Hispanic origin and the prevalence of this disease is high among this group. Although HTN is the leading health challenge for Afro-Caribbean immigrants of non-Hispanic origin, there were limited studies that identify nonpharmacological strategies, clinical practice guidelines, or educational programs (CPG-EP) to manage HTN in this population. This project seeks to discover …

Increasing Awareness Of Lateral Violence In The Perioperative Setting, Laura Licea

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lateral violence (LV) among nurses has been widely known to occur in specialty units, such as the operating room, where disruptive behavior can breed behind closed doors. Research on LV among nurses has only identified the issue, and further research is needed to properly address the negative behavior. LV affects not only the nursing profession but also patient outcomes. The purpose of this DNP project was to shed light on the topic by improving knowledge regarding the issue in the perioperative setting. Watson’s theory of human caring provided the conceptual framework for the project. The practice question for this DNP …

Court Intervention And Recurrence Of Child Maltreatment, Steven Wayne Luke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem of child maltreatment recurrence is both complex and pervasive, affecting nearly every nationality and culture worldwide. The current body of research consistently contains reports of a gap due to the lack of input from the families served that may be resolved through the application of intergroup contact theory. The purpose of this study was to determine if the presence of an attorney representing parents in child maltreatment intervention predicted lower recurrence in child maltreatment as opposed to when those attorneys are absent from the process. While much of the practice of social work is based on ecological systems …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of Virginia’S Senate Bill 1294 On Crisis Intervention Team Cooperation, Dennis Ray Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2009, the Commonwealth of Virginia passed Senate Bill (SB) 1294 that directly involved the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in the spread of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program statewide. The purpose of this mixed-method study was to explore how the passage of SB 1294 affected the level of stakeholder cooperation within Virginia’s statewide CIT program, through 11 interviews with Virginian CIT leaders and by the completion of 115 questionnaires by CIT members in a region of central Virginia. Findings indicated the most common way that SB 1294 affected CIT …

The Effectiveness Of African American Male Faith-Based Juvenile Delinquency, Dewaun C. Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Southeast region of the United States is experiencing an increase in the amount of crime in the African American community particularly among juveniles. Furthermore, the rate of African American juveniles being arrested is higher than arrest rates among other races. This problem reveals the need for reformation and rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism in the juvenile justice system. Research indicates that juveniles who have attachments to a conventional institution commit fewer delinquent acts. Although attachments to sports and other programs are positively associated with the social bond theory, it was unclear what aspects of the church program might influence …

Psychiatric Residents’ Perceptions Of Cultural Competency Training For Mental Health Care Delivery, Carol A. Matthews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Considering and respecting patients’ cultural needs is integral in providing culturally competent mental health care. In 2013, an urban community hospital conducted the Community Health Needs Assessment with patients, community stakeholders, and health care providers. The assessment revealed the need to address a more diverse patient population with culturally different health needs through training culturally diverse health care providers. Thus, the focus of this qualitative case study was on how the academic training of psychiatric residents in cultural competency affected the delivery of culturally responsive mental health patient care. The conceptual framework of Jeffery’s cultural competence and confidence model grounded …

Hispanic Adult Learners’ Support Expectations In A Higher Education Hispanic Serving Institution, Jon Mchenry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hispanic learners have lagged behind their White peers by about 7% in completing an associate degree within 3 years, a lag in completion that has closed to some degree over the decade of 2004 to 2014 but still persists. Since the percentage of Hispanic learners who are adults is increasing, the impact of the lag on this demographic could further increase. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine the expectations Hispanic adult learners have regarding supports a community college provides, especially if it aspires to be designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution. The conceptual framework consisted of …

Mass Murderers: A Case Study Analysis Of Social Media Influence And Copycat Suicide, Stephanie Ann Mckay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The frequency of mass murder has increased over the past decade, with nearly half of all mass murderers committing suicide. Previous researchers have found imitations of mass murderers which relate to suicide contagion, media contagion, and copycat effects; however, there remains a gap in the literature pertaining to the connection between copycat suicides of mass killers and the influence of social media. The purpose of this study was to provide a greater understanding of U.S. public mass murderers who commit copycat suicides based on the influence of social media. The constructivist conceptual framework guided the examination of a purposeful sample …

Understanding Causes For Jamaican Dropouts From The Career Advancement Program, Eron Garfield Mclean

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Jamaica, a significant number of at-risk older youths do not attend school, nor are they employed. The government created the Career Advancement Program (CAP) to provide skills and career options for them, but many students drop out of the program. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of the reasons why students were dropping out of CAP and what could be done to retain them longer. The study was designed to explore why students dropped out of the CAP before completion, to what extent experiences in CAP satisfied student needs, and how experienced …