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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Predictors Of Larc Use In High School Adolescent Females In The Unitedstates, Gloria J. Mabry Jan 2020

Predictors Of Larc Use In High School Adolescent Females In The Unitedstates, Gloria J. Mabry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teen pregnancy is a major public health problem in the United States of America. Among many contraceptive methods, long acting reversible contraception (LARC) is popular and effective. However, there was no adequate research study performed to show if minority teenagers are less likely to use LARC. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between adolescent sexual behavior and activity and the use of LARC in females, ages 14 to 19, in high schools across the United States. The theoretical framework used for this study was the health belief model. The study population was 1,496 White, Black/African American, …


Effects Of Short-Term Intensive Insulin Therapy In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management, Ernest Mwathi Jan 2020

Effects Of Short-Term Intensive Insulin Therapy In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management, Ernest Mwathi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes is a chronic illness affecting millions of individuals in the United States and is the seventh leading cause of death. Most of the Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients manage their illness with non-insulin therapies resulting in inadequate glycemic control but there are times when they experience inadequate glycemic control and require short-term intensive insulin therapy (SIIT). Despite proven effectiveness of SIIT, there is a lack of research focusing on the effectiveness of clinical practice where providers revert their clients to non-insulin therapy after SIIT. The focus of this quality improvement (QI) project was to evaluate pre/post data and …


Clinical Nurse Experts' Experience Of Transitioning To The Novice Nurse Educator Role, Crystal Toll Jan 2020

Clinical Nurse Experts' Experience Of Transitioning To The Novice Nurse Educator Role, Crystal Toll

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinical nurse experts are often recruited into educator roles based solely on clinical expertise. Without support and mentorship, clinical nurse experts struggled with transitioning into the educator role. The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of new nurse educators’ transition from a clinical nurse expert to novice nurse educator and to examine the perceptions of supports and barriers. Transitional theory provided the conceptual framework and informed the development of the interview protocol. The research questions focused on the experience of transitioning from expert to novice and on identifying supports and barriers that influenced transition. Using a case …


Stress And Job Satisfaction As Predictors Of Teacher Turnover Intentions, Alrick Thompson Jan 2020

Stress And Job Satisfaction As Predictors Of Teacher Turnover Intentions, Alrick Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High teacher turnover is problematic because of the costs associated with recruiting and training new hires. However, some of the factors originating outside of the working environment that may influence teacher turnover intentions are not fully understood. The purpose of this quantitative correlational design study was to examine the extent to which job satisfaction, commuting stress, and financial stress are predictors of teacher turnover intentions. The study involved a purposive sampling of 227 teachers within a school district in the South Eastern part of the United States. Hobfoll’s conservation of resources theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. Validated …


Influences On Ethical Decision-Making By Nurses Employed In Federal Health Care Facilities, Cecil Dean Blount Jan 2020

Influences On Ethical Decision-Making By Nurses Employed In Federal Health Care Facilities, Cecil Dean Blount

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare professionals are tasked with making key decisions involving new and controversial approaches such as organ transplantation and life-prolonging technologies and treatments that raise various ethical issues. Suboptimal ethical choices by nurses can lead to negative patient outcomes and lower the quality of life in federal healthcare facilities. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative correlational study was to identify the factors that influence nurses’ ethical decision-making processes in U.S. federal healthcare facilities. The theoretical framework was based on Beauchamp and Childress’ ethical system of principlism. Three research questions addressed the nature and extent of the relationship between nurses’ Ethical Behavior …


Demographic, Lifestyle, And Psychosocial Predictors Of Obesity Among Nigerian Igbo Immigrants, Ahamefula Arthur Duru Jan 2020

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 …


Clinical Practice Patient Education Guideline For Elective Induction Of Labor, Allison Keleske Jan 2020

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 …


Need To Belong, Fear Of Missing Out, And Social Media Use: Predictors Of Perceived Social Rejection, Linda K. Perna Jan 2020

Need To Belong, Fear Of Missing Out, And Social Media Use: Predictors Of Perceived Social Rejection, Linda K. Perna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The decline in mental health among U.S. college students is a significant concern. Research suggests that social media use may contribute to this decline. Heavy reliance on social media has been linked to feelings of loneliness and disconnection, psychological distress, and a fear of missing out on rewarding social experiences, which may ultimately trigger feelings of social rejection. Using a foundation of need to belong theory, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine individual differences in the need to belong, fear of missing out, and social media use as predictors of emotional and behavioral reactions to ambiguous social …


African-American Fathers’ Perspectives Of Their Sons’ Diagnosis And Treatment Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Renee Von Raub Jan 2020

African-American Fathers’ Perspectives Of Their Sons’ Diagnosis And Treatment Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Renee Von Raub

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parents’ perspectives about children’s Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and treatment are crucial in managing their children’s ADHD. While research existed on mothers’ perspectives of ADHD treatment, there was little research on the perspectives of African American fathers about their sons’ ADHD. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore African Americans fathers’ perspectives of their sons’ diagnosis and treatment for ADHD. Family systems theory served as the conceptual framework. The research question was designed to explore African American fathers' perspectives and lived experience related to their sons' diagnosis of and treatment for ADHD. Ten biological fathers …


Compassion Fatigue And Organizational Factors Among Paraprofessionals In Inpatient Psychiatric Centers, Sephiratu Raji Wahab Jan 2020

Compassion Fatigue And Organizational Factors Among Paraprofessionals In Inpatient Psychiatric Centers, Sephiratu Raji Wahab

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Compassion fatigue negatively affects the emotional and professional lives of human service workers; however, limited research has examined the underlying factors contributing to compassion fatigue among mental health paraprofessionals in inpatient psychiatric settings. This study applied the constructivist self-development theory and etiological model to examine three organizational factors including work demand, work organization and content, and interpersonal relations and leadership as predictors of compassion fatigue among 153 paraprofessionals working at inpatient psychiatric centers in Upstate New York. A cross-sectional design involved convenience sampling was employed to recruit 153 paraprofessionals to complete the Compassion Fatigue Short-Scale and Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, and …


Successful Balanced Scorecard Implementation Strategies For A Manufacturing Organization, Timothy J. Zorek Jan 2020

Successful Balanced Scorecard Implementation Strategies For A Manufacturing Organization, Timothy J. Zorek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Up to 90% of businesses fail to execute their business strategies. Still, the effective implementation of a performance measurement system like the balanced scorecard (BSC) often leads to the implement a more successful execution of a business strategy. The purpose of this qualitative single case study sought to explore the successful strategies used by business leaders to implement a BSC effectively. Change theory was the conceptual framework for the study. Participants consisted of 3 business leaders of a manufacturing organization in Southeast Wisconsin, who successfully implemented the balanced scorecard within their business. Data were collected from face-to-face, semistructured interviews, and …


Effects Of Full Practice Authority On Chronic Disease Outcomes And Costs, Nichole Marie Alegria Jan 2020

Effects Of Full Practice Authority On Chronic Disease Outcomes And Costs, Nichole Marie Alegria

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rising medical costs and increasing shortage of qualified primary care providers has left hundreds of thousands of Texans with limited or no access to primary care services. One way to bridge the gap is to use advanced practice registered nurses who function as nurse practitioners (NPs). Current evidence indicates that by expanding the scope of practice (SOP) of NPs, access to care and patient outcomes improve. The aim of this DNP project was to analyze the current health care policy and examine the relationship and impact SOP has on patient outcomes and health care costs associated with hypertension and diabetes. …


Examining Family Hierarchy Through The Eyes Of Former Mac Baller Gang Members, Jerome Lee Rice Jan 2020

Examining Family Hierarchy Through The Eyes Of Former Mac Baller Gang Members, Jerome Lee Rice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Criminal gang membership is growing, which corresponds to a continued breakdown of the family unit in the United States. Most of the young people who form gangs come from broken families or single-parent-headed households. This study explored the role of family hierarchy on gang membership. A qualitative case study approach was used to gather information on what motivates young people to join criminal gangs. A random sampling technique was used to recruit former members of the Mac Baller Brim gang. Ethical concerns were addressed to minimize the risks to the participants. The collected data from interviews were analyzed using an …


Telehealth Efforts To Reduce Hospital Readmissions Of Congestive Heart Failure Patients, Sirfornia L. Deasfernandes Jan 2020

Telehealth Efforts To Reduce Hospital Readmissions Of Congestive Heart Failure Patients, Sirfornia L. Deasfernandes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition that affects millions of individuals in the United States. There is no cure for CHF, but medical interventions can help treat the symptoms and improve health outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if telehealth services help to reduce the readmission status of patients diagnosed with CHF. The theoretical framework used in this study was the individual and family self-management theory to help focus on self-management behaviors that contribute to improving the patients' health outcomes. The research questions were focused on addressing CHF patients receiving telehealth services and whether …


Public Librarians' Adoption Of Technology In Two Southeastern States, Ashley Ea Dowdy Jan 2020

Public Librarians' Adoption Of Technology In Two Southeastern States, Ashley Ea Dowdy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public libraries have become community hubs of technology, changing the responsibilities of public librarians. The problem is a gap between public library technology needs, the skills librarians have with technologies, and the strategies they use to acquire skills. The purpose of this predictive, sequential, explanatory mixed method study was to examine public librarians' attitudes about learning new technology and their behavioral intention to adopt it. Two frameworks guided this study: the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model and the diffusion of innovations theory. Quantitative data (N= 202) were collected by survey and analyzed through multiple linear regression …


User Perception Of The U.S. Open Government Data Success Factors, Joy Alatta Jan 2020

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 Jan 2020

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 Jan 2020

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 …


Compensation Strategies That Support Commercial Banks’ Effective Risk Management Practices, Elias Kagumya Jan 2020

Compensation Strategies That Support Commercial Banks’ Effective Risk Management Practices, Elias Kagumya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Compensation structures with relatively high levels of contingent pay encouraged managers to engage in excessive risk-taking behavior at financial institutions, which contributed to the global financial crisis of 2008. The purpose of this study, guided by the theory of the firm, was to explore compensation strategies that some executives in Uganda used to support effective risk-management practices. This multiple case study was an in-depth inquiry into compensation strategies that encouraged prudent risk-taking behavior. The target population comprised 5 risk-management executives from 5 separate commercial banks who had successfully implemented compensation strategies that supported risk management practices. Data were collected through …


Potential Impacts Of Artificial Intelligence On Spine Imaging Interpretation And Diagnosis, David Howard Durrant Jan 2020

Potential Impacts Of Artificial Intelligence On Spine Imaging Interpretation And Diagnosis, David Howard Durrant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Spine and related disorders represent one of the most common causes of pain and disability in the United States. Imaging represents an important diagnostic procedure in spine care. Imaging studies contain actionable data and insights undetectable through routine visual analysis. Convergent advances in imaging, artificial intelligence (AI), and radiomic methods has revealed the potential of multiscale in vivo interrogation to improve the assessment and monitoring of pathology. AI offers various types of decision support through the analysis of structured and unstructured data. The primary purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to identify the potential impacts of AI solutions …


Dsm-5, Asperger's Syndrome Diagnosis, And Mothers' Experiences With Mental Health Services, Pamela G. Riley Jan 2019

Dsm-5, Asperger's Syndrome Diagnosis, And Mothers' Experiences With Mental Health Services, Pamela G. Riley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mothers who have children with a previous Asperger's syndrome diagnosis had to go through a process to maintain or obtain services for their child when the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5) removed the diagnosis. Prior to and since the release of the DSM-5 in 2013, there has been an expression of concern in the literature about how this diagnostic change would affect services for children with a previous Asperger's syndrome diagnosis. Current research has not sufficiently explored the experiences mothers have had with this process. The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study …


Faculty And Student Perspectives Of Nursing Student Completers In A Community College, Rachael Farrell Jan 2019

Faculty And Student Perspectives Of Nursing Student Completers In A Community College, Rachael Farrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research about retention of nursing students has focused on either specific student characteristics or on nursing students at the university level. A problem experienced by a community college nursing program in Maryland is low completion rates, which can affect the institution and the nursing profession. This qualitative case study explored faculty-related factors leading to success of students in the nursing program at this school, so the low completion rate can be addressed. The conceptual foundations for this study were Tinto's theory of student retention and Jeffreys' nursing undergraduate retention and success model. The research questions addressed how faculty-related factors affected …


Nursing Education Workflows In Ehr Training, Liezel Granada Jan 2019

Nursing Education Workflows In Ehr Training, Liezel Granada

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A need for improvement in nursing education regarding inpatient workflows and informatics skills was identified at this project site. Upon hire, nurses were required to complete a 4-hour basic class on the electronic health record (EHR) system, but this class did not include inpatient-nursing workflows needed to provide and facilitate care for patients. This project addressed the lack of EHR education on inpatient nursing workflows. The focus of this staff education project was an education class on inpatient nursing workflow provided to a nurse residency class. Sources of evidence were obtained through a literature search and pretest/post test data analysis. …


Tobacco Treatment Education Module For Nurses Working In The Inpatient Psychiatric Setting, Marchell Rene Spielmann Jan 2019

Tobacco Treatment Education Module For Nurses Working In The Inpatient Psychiatric Setting, Marchell Rene Spielmann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tobacco use among people with mental illness remain a significant problem in the western United States. At the project site, there is widespread tobacco use among patients with mental illness and lack of training for nurses to address the issue. The purpose of this project was to educate nurses working in the acute psychiatric setting about evidence-based tobacco treatment interventions. The practice-focused question addressed whether a tobacco education program would increase nurses' knowledge, confidence, and skills to provide tobacco treatment interventions to patients with a mental illness. Self-determination theory and the transtheoretical model of change provided the theoretical framework for …


Influence Of Implicit-Bias Training On The Cultural Competency Of Police Officers, Marvin Whitfield Jan 2019

Influence Of Implicit-Bias Training On The Cultural Competency Of Police Officers, Marvin Whitfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Highly publicized media events involving African American men and the use of deadly force by police officers have occurred between 2013 and 2014. These events have emphasized the need to examine the influence of implicit bias training on police officers' decision-making processes. During the past two decades, Community Oriented Policing Services has invested several billion dollars in training programs designed to eliminate racial bias within the law enforcement community. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how implicit-bias training influences the decision-making processes of police officers. More specifically, this study examined the perceptions of police officers regarding the …


Increasing Daily Exercise Adherence In Women By Examining Motivational Factors, Victoria Wozniak Jan 2019

Increasing Daily Exercise Adherence In Women By Examining Motivational Factors, Victoria Wozniak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women ages 20–39 years old have seen the most dramatic increase in obesity levels in the United States over the last 2 decades. Researchers have indicated the need for studies to increase motivation in women to promote daily exercise. There is a gap in the literature about what motivational factors are most effective with increasing exercise in daily life. Using the transtheoretical model of change (TM) as the grounding theory, this study measured daily exercise adherence. A selective sampling of women ages 20–39 years old in the United States were recruited to complete an online survey. The online survey included …


The Effect Of Veteran Student Support Services On Veteran Students' Academic Achievement, Justin Michael Zickar Jan 2019

The Effect Of Veteran Student Support Services On Veteran Students' Academic Achievement, Justin Michael Zickar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the introduction of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, veteran student support services have expanded in higher education in response to the growing veteran student population and to improve the academic achievement of veteran students. The problem addressed in this study was a lack of knowledge regarding the effect of veteran students' participation in veteran student support services on veterans' academic achievement at selected colleges in Maryland. Using a theoretical foundation of Pascarella and Terenzini's within-college framework, the research question examined the effects of veteran students' participation in veteran student support services on their academic achievement as measured by their grade …


Increasing The Efficacy Of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy For Fear-Of-Flying, Chad Macmillan Jan 2019

Increasing The Efficacy Of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy For Fear-Of-Flying, Chad Macmillan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is a treatment often used to treat fear-of-flying (FOF), which research shows is effective for treating this phobia. Researchers have identified that the realism of the virtual environment is an important component in the efficacy of VRET and increased realism is likely to increase the efficacy of VRET. Guided by cognitive theory, emotional processing theory, and behaviorism, the purpose of this quantitative study was to demonstrate if a new generational technique called true reality-virtual reality exposure therapy (TR-VRET) is at least as efficacious as traditional VRET for treating the fear and anxiety associated with FOF. …


Preinfection Risk Perceptions Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Homosexual And Bisexual Men, Benjamin Singer Jan 2019

Preinfection Risk Perceptions Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Homosexual And Bisexual Men, Benjamin Singer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2017, there were 4,949 persons diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 116,944 persons living with HIV, and 2,044 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases in Florida. Of the 4,972 new HIV diagnoses in Florida, 60% were related to male-to-male sexual contact, 4% from intravenous drug use, 2% from male-to-male sexual contact and intravenous drug use, 33% from heterosexual sexual contact, and 1% from other sources. Guided by the health belief model (HBM), this qualitative study sought to understand the lived experiences of HIV positive adult men who have sex with men (MSM) living in Florida, regarding their preinfection perceptions of …


Developing Staff Education Regarding Colorectal Cancer Screening Practice Guidelines, Ruth Airiohuomo Aboiralor Jan 2019

Developing Staff Education Regarding Colorectal Cancer Screening Practice Guidelines, Ruth Airiohuomo Aboiralor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colorectal rectal cancer (CRC) is the 3rd most common cancer in men, the 2nd most common cancer in women, and the 4th leading cause of cancer death. Lack of screening or delayed screening for CRC is the major cause of undiagnosed cancers that become malignant and eventually become fatal. Nurses at the project site are not in compliance with CRC screening guidelines due to inadequate knowledge of the screening guidelines recommended by the American Cancer Society, which creates a gap in practice. The purpose of this project was to develop staff education on CRC screening guidelines. The practice focused question …