Digital Commons Network^™

Program Evaluation Of A Home-Based Primary Care Practice And Patients With Heart Failure, Anne Rose Walsh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Heart failure (HF) affects over 5.5 million adults in the United States with a prevalence of 10%'€“20% in older adults and accounts for 3% of all hospital admissions with a readmission rate as high as 25% within 1 month of discharge. Patients with HF account for approximately 42% of the doctor of nursing practice project site's patient population, and the health system has a 30-day readmission rate of 35% for patients with HF in 2 large hospitals. Thus, the health system loses almost $13 million per year in Medicare penalties. This retrospective quality improvement project reviewed the effectiveness of care …

A Phenomenological Study Of Millennials' Different Lived Perspectives Of Employee Engagement, Delores Grant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee engagement is vital to the success of organizations. Employee disengagement continues to contribute to organizational failure. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and report millennials different perspectives of employee engagement by exploring the research question. The central research question dealt with the lived experiences of millennials about employee engagement in the United States. The study sample consisted of 25 participants with at least 3 years of working experience in the United States. The data collection process consisted of semistructured interviews with participants of the millennial generation. Data analysis included coding of descriptive words by means of …

Experiences Of Jamaican Adult College Students In Counseling, Pamela Victoria Gray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the introduction of counseling services in Jamaica in the 1960s, young adults continue to encounter obstacles in utilizing the services made available to them. Some significant factors impacting how individuals use the professional counseling services are (a) the clients’ historical and political background, (b) the ill-treatment of people with mental illness, (c) cultural practices and values, (d) the stigma toward mental illness, and (e) knowledge deficiency concerning psychological issues and psychosis. This qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological research describes the experiences of Jamaican adult college students in counseling with counseling professionals. Seven participants volunteered through the networking sample method from universities …

Marketing Strategies That Chinese Business Leaders Use To Increase Sales Of Smartphones, Byron Edward Johns

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chinese smartphone manufacturing business leaders are experiencing difficulties associated with entering into the U.S. market, partly because of U.S. government concerns that the technology could be used by the Chinese government to gather intelligence. Grounded in Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore marketing strategies Chinese smartphone marketing business leaders used to increase their smartphone sales in the United States. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents from 3 Chinese smartphone marketing business leaders with successful experience in using marketing strategies to increase their smartphone sales in the United …

The Lived Experiences Of Professional School Counselors Who Have Implemented Trauma-Informed Practices, Sharon A. Hansen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractFor nearly 4 decades, trauma-informed care has been the focus of numerous scholarly studies in a variety of contextual settings. While the focus of most research in education has been on how school staff might implement trauma-informed practices, little research exists that supports the understanding of the role of the professional school counselor (PSC) in the implementation of trauma-informed care. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to examine how 9 PSCs experienced the implementation process of trauma-informed care within their school. This study used purposive and snowball sampling in a semistructured interview format to tease out themes related …

Social Workers’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Trauma On Police Officers, Amber Leigh Copeland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPolice officers experience trauma in their roles as first responders. Although there are resources to address the psychological and physical impact on police officers, these resources are underutilized. Police officers in active duty endure traumatic events regularly but fail to seek assistance for their physical and mental health symptoms. Officers interact with individuals from multiple disciplines throughout their daily encounters, including social workers. Despite the professional relationship between officers and social workers, some officers remain guarded and minimize their mental health needs. For this project, a focus group was conducted with 9 social workers who have worked with police officers …

African American Law Enforcers’ Perceptions About Crime In Minority Communities, Shantae Coppock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a problem with law enforcement and the African American community in the United States, and African American law enforcement employees perpetuate more tension in these communities. The aim of this qualitative study was to learn how African American law enforcement personnel perceived high-crime or poor urban communities and the bond shared among law enforcement agencies, as seen through African American supervisors’ viewpoints. Twelve African American law enforcement supervisors from a Philadelphia County law enforcement agency completed questionnaires. Bureaucratic representation and the racial threat or minority threat framework grounded the study. Participants were evaluated based on supervisory level or …

Black Students' Online Networking And Social Capital Development Behaviors In Varied University Settings, Tarita Bateman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sustained high unemployment among educated Black jobseekers as well as disparate salaries between educated Blacks and non-Blacks continues to persist. Social capital as a major source for job attainment and career progression is recognized as a potential factor contributing to this situation. This quantitative study examined the social networking site usage intensity and external social capital development behavior among 130 graduate Black university students at predominantly White, historically Black, and diverse online universities. The theoretical foundation of social capital development was analyzed from perspectives of bridging and bonding social capital. Educational setting, sex, and socioeconomic status were used to predict …

Sexually-Abused Adolescent Females Versus Nonsexually-Abused Adolescent Females Regarding Rorschach Inkblot Assessments, Angela D. Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored differences between female adolescents who experienced sexual abuse as children and those who experienced other forms of trauma or abuse. There is no previous research assessing the differences between these two groups. Some female adolescent victims of sexual abuse are sexually revictimized, sex trafficked, and exhibit delinquent behaviors. If differences are determined, a more tailored and appropriate intervention could be introduced to reduce these youths' revictimization and minimize adult sexual risk. This study was quantitative in nature and assessed the clinical profiles of 27 female adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system for being sex trafficked or …

Sex Bias In The Diagnosis Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Olga Ivan Belitchenko Ryan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, disability, and cost globally and in the United States. Various sources point to women experiencing greater morbidity, increased health care resource use and higher incidence of mortality resultant from COPD. While exact causality is not fully understood, it is possible that social bias towards COPD in women impacting screening and timely diagnosis may be a contributing factor. This current investigation involved the social ecological model. In this cross-sectional secondary analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2017 data, differences in screening through use of breathing testing among 6334 …

Evidence-Based Practice Guideline: Breastfeeding Support Of The Active Duty Servicewoman, Heidi A. Koslo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is no policy on breastfeeding support of the active duty military servicewoman at the targeted military treatment facility, and no global policy serving active duty personnel applicable at the Department of Defense and Defense Health Agency (DoD/DHA) level to span across branches of the U.S. military. Nurses, as members of the most trusted profession, are often expected to know how to assist a mother in meeting her feeding goals. Creation of an evidence-based practice guideline (EBPG) for support of the active duty servicewoman in the military health system was the purpose of this project. The project was conceptualized within …

Abc County’S Welfare-To-Work (Wtw) Program Participation Rate, Alberto Banuelos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Welfare-to-work (WTW) programs are an essential part of societal assistance made available to families in need. In ABC County, CA, problems have been found with the implementation and success rates of their WTW program: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). Even with funds allotted for the program, ABC County has not been able to design a WTW program that meets the TANF program work participation requirement of 50% of active TANF recipients in a WTW activity. The purpose of this study was to address this need as it related to the TANF program specifically. A qualitative, exploratory, single case study …

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 …

Identifying Strategies That Address Race-Based Traumatic Stress Of African Americans In Rural Mississippi, Syrenia Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There has been a dramatic increase of race-based encounters that have had an extensive health impact on African Americans. Social workers and other mental health professionals play a crucial role in working with African American adults who experience race-based traumatic stress. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify strategies to address race-based traumatic stress from a mental health perspective. Racial encounter coping appraisal and socialization theory (RECAST) guided this study where eight social workers from the local community mental health center in rural Mississippi completed an open-ended questionnaire to identify and determine culturally competent treatment strategies for African …

Influence Of Summer Bridge Programs On First-Generation Latino Students' Academic Success, Amber Dawn Gutzwiler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colleges and universities have used programs like the summer bridge program (SBP) to improve academic abilities and retention. The research on the effectiveness of SBPs is inconclusive. With a focus those on who required remediation in writing, the purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study was to evaluate the influence of a SBP on first-generation Latino students' weighted grade point average (GPA) and retention. Tinto's theory of student retention was used as the framework. To determine the effectiveness of the SBP on first-generation Latino students, this study focused on comparing the variables between those who took the SBP versus a remedial …

Borehole Water And Sachet Water Production In Southeast Nigeria, Joseph Emerenini

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractDrinking water is potable and safe if it is free from physical, chemical, and microbiological contaminants. Despite the Nigerian government's interventions to alleviate water contamination, a considerable number of Nigerians are still without safe potable water. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine whether the level of contamination of drinking water sourced from boreholes and sachet packaged water in Owerri City, Southeast Nigeria was in compliance with World Health Organization (WHO) standards, and to examine the relationship between the physical, chemical, and bacteriological parameters of drinking water sourced from borehole and sachet packaged water The conceptual framework …

The Influence Of Community-Based Reentry Programs On Reintegrating Ex-Offenders In Ohio, Ebony Ann Ivery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ex-offenders participate in community-based reentry programs to help transition back into society, yet some are still reoffending. Previous research suggested that community-based reentry programs need to be evaluated to successfully determine their influence on reintegrating ex-offenders. Limited research existed on the experiences of ex-offenders while taking part in such programs. The theory of effective correctional intervention was used to guide this general qualitative research study on Ohio community-based reentry programs. The following areas were addressed: (a) the role that community-based reentry programs play in addressing the needs of ex-offenders; (b) barriers and limitations that community-based reentry programs face in meeting …

Factors Associated With Patients Who Leave Emergency Departments Without Being Seen, Eva E. Koci

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPatients leaving an emergency department (ED) without being seen by a provider are a significant problem in United States for patient health. Research on leaving without being seen (LWBS) has been conducted; but very few researchers have examined patients with Tricare or military members. This quantitative study explored the association between patients’ social demographic characteristics (age, gender, race, ethnicity), triage levels, visit characteristics (hour of arrival, day of the arrival), and LWBS rates. The theoretical framework for this study was the Donabedian theory. Secondary data from Agency for Healthcare Administration located in Florida were examined. The research questions explored whether …

Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs’ Strategies For Financial Inclusion: A Generic Qualitative Inquiry, Oluwatoyin Madein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women in Nigeria are approximately 50% of the population and operate significantly in the micro, small, and medium enterprises. Women entrepreneurs in Nigeria are experiencing business failure, early exit, stagnant growth, and low return on investment due to inadequate finance. This study’s specific management problem is that many women entrepreneurs in Nigeria lack strategies to develop financial literacy and access to external loans for business sustainability. Using the concepts of financial inclusion and financial exclusion, the purpose of this qualitative inquiry was to explore the strategies women entrepreneurs use and whether they have the required experience and knowledge of financial …

Parent–Teacher Online Communication And Third- Through Fifth-Grade Student Academic Achievement, Sandra Joyce Mcknight

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractTechnology-based tools for parent–teacher communication, such as online parent portals, are becoming the preferred method of exchanging information between home and school. However, little research has been conducted on parent–teacher communication using online parent portals. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between parents’ use of a parent–teacher online communication parent portal and students’ academic achievement. Bandura’s social cognitive theory of self-efficacy provided the theoretical framework for this study. Archival data from a Southeast U.S. public school district were used to examine the relationship between parents’ average quarterly use of a parent portal and …

Hospice Interdisciplinary Use Of The Social Work Assessment Tool For Military Families, Miranda Lishell Rankin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The development of the social work assessment tool (SWAT) was an initiative designed by members of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization to move hospice and palliative care social workers into the arena of viewing the family as an extension of the patient. Of those dying in the United States, 1 out of 4 is a military veteran (vet) in need of assessments, culturally relevant interventions, and/or supports at the end of life. For military families, caring for vets at the end of life can prompt stressors that may require culturally unique assessments and/or interventions. Tsai’s (2003) theory of …

Health Systems Predictors And Trends Of Access To Vaccinations In 9 Sub-Saharan African Countries, Mirfin Mpundu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this ecological quantitative study was to examine the predictors of health systems building blocks and their interactions in improving access and uptake of immunizations in nine sub-Saharan African countries. Immunization rates in this region remain lower than global targets leading to preventable diseases and mortality. Using the systems approach, the study examined the relationships among five independent variables: quality of service delivery, governance, vaccine supply, health financing, socioeconomic factors and the dependent variable, access to immunizations. Datasets from the WHO and UNICEF were used. Analysis included a series of descriptive statistics, logistic and linear regression, and correlations. …

Evaluation Of A Shared Governance Model, Gorda Peters-Joseph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractShared governance (SG) has been defined as a style of management in which frontline staff and managers work together to improve clinical practice. Guided by the PLAN-DO-STUDY-ACT cycle, the purpose of this project was to evaluate the implementation of the SG model for pediatric services in a US acute care hospital. The practice question explored whether the implementation of the SG model would demonstrate improvements in nurse satisfaction using the culture of safety survey, a change in nurse staff turnover reported as numbers hired, retired, resigned, or transferred, and changes in patient satisfaction measured by survey scores from the Hospital …

Advisors’ Perceptions Of Honors College Students’ Experiences Of Stress And Autonomy, Brandy Stanton Roye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Honors college students experience stress and anxiety, which has the potential to affect their psychological well-being. The advice of honors academic advisors may influence the psychological well-being of honors students through recommendations of college engagement that can assist in the development of autonomy and self-authorship. Baxter Magolda’s concepts of autonomy and self-authorship and Ryff’s scales of psychological well-being were the conceptual framework used to examine the perceptions of honors college advisors regarding how cocurricular opportunities influence the reduction of student stress and anxiety and the increase of student autonomy and self-authorship. Using a basic qualitative approach, interviews were conducted with …

Impact Of Nurse Education Program On 30-Day Readmissions Among Ischemic Stroke Patients, Mariana Tsucuneli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unplanned 30-day readmissions among patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke (IS) is a significant public health problem in the United States. The Affordable Healthcare Act introduced financial penalties and incentives for facilities to encourage the adoption of care plans aimed at reducing 30-day readmissions rates for stroke and 5 other illnesses. Therefore, facilities with high rates of 30-day readmissions for IS patients are penalized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services in addition to receiving poor scores on the quality of care they provide. This project was a staff education program aimed to improve postacute stroke transitional care and reduce …

Latino Caregivers Experiences With Transitioning Children From Pediatric To Adult Disability Services, Gloria Yvette Velazquez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Caregivers for children with disabilities may experience caregiver burden when transitioning their offspring to adult healthcare services. As the Latino population in the United States increases, so will the numbers of Latino caregivers of children with disabilities. This research described the experiences of Latino female caregivers who transitioned their children from pediatric to adult healthcare services. General systems theory was used to guide this research. The hermeneutical phenomenological approach was used to describe Latino female caregiver's experiences involving transitioning children with disabilities from pediatric to adult services. Bryman's 4 stages of data analysis were used to assist with thematic content …

Factors Affecting Electronic Banking Adoption In Barbados, Jacqueline Delores Bend

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The low rate of customers' adoption of electronic banking services affects retail banks' profitability. The operating cost for a financial transaction performed by bank tellers averages US$1.07 compared to US$0.01 using electronic banking channels. It is paramount for retail banking leaders to understand the factors influencing customer adoption of electronic banking to sustain competitive advantage. Grounded in the technology acceptance model framework, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), and customer adoption of electronic banking in Barbados. The validated technology acceptance model survey instrument was used …

Recovering Illicit Substance Users' Perspective About Mandatory Drug Testing In Schools, Julie Bowser

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to examine recovering substance

abusers' perceptions about the usefulness of mandatory drug testing in schools for adolescent substance abuse. Illegal substance abuse has reached epidemic proportions as more than half of U.S. adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years, have engaged in illicit drug use. Substance abuse information has been a part of school health education programs since the United States Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986. Despite substance abuse education and school programs about the effects of drug use, many high school students abuse illicit drugs. Face-to-face interviews were conducted …

The Impact Of Dietary Intake On Mortality Risk In Colorectal Cancer Survivors, Ellen Chow

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The colorectal cancer (CRC) survivor population is increasing in the United States. The lack of effective dietary recommendations in recurrence prevention undermines the health-related quality of life of survivors. Grounded in the socioecological model, dietary behavior is a personal-level risk factor that individuals may control. This study investigated the CRC-specific mortality risk as predicted by diet quality, dietary fiber intake, and dietary fat intake in hope of contributing to future dietary recommendations. A secondary analysis using data from 1,166 CRC survivors in the Multiethnic Cohort Study was analyzed via Cox proportional hazard regression models to estimate mortality risk. Results from …