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Evaluation Of Math Block-Scheduling For Low Performing At-Risk And Economically- Disadvantaged Students, Toni Trice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research shows a math achievement gap for at-risk and economically-disadvantaged students in the United States. To address this issue, a Texas school district implemented a 90-minute math block-scheduling program with 8th grade students. Shaped by the academic learning time and social justice theories, the purpose of this quantitative program evaluation was to determine if students in 3 key subgroups (low performing, low performing and at-risk, and low performing and economically-disadvantaged) who participated on the 90-minute block-schedule performed significantly better on the math state standardized assessment than did students in the same subgroups who remained on the traditional schedule. This retrospective …

The Effect Of Two Modes Of Aerobic Assessment On Fifth Grade Students' Self Efficacy, Debra Roth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Declining youth physical activity levels and lack of aerobic fitness have been well documented with a corresponding rise in obesity levels and health issues. Based on Bandura's social cognitive theory, healthy physical activity levels and aerobic fitness are strongly connected to positive physical activity self-efficacy beliefs. This study examined whether student physical activity self-efficacy, motivation, and effort were different for the FitnessGram-® (FG) 1-Mile Run when compared to the 15-minute Aerobic Assessment Based on Improvement (AABI). A concurrent mixed method quasi-experimental approach measured 5th grade students' physical activity self-efficacy beliefs through a pretest and posttest survey while aerobic assessment scores …

Vitamin D And Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Mandy Hemphill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in individuals aged 50 years and older and is estimated to affect as many as 11 million individuals in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between vitamin D and AMD disease progression. The life course epidemiology framework model was used to explore how vitamin D level as a risk factor may have an association to AMD disease through time. Data in the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database were collected on vitamin D levels and identified stages of AMD …

Consequences Of Community Water Fluoridation Cessation For Medicaid Eligible Children And Adolescents, Jennifer Meyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Oral health impacts general health and well-being throughout the lifespan. Recent trends in the United States towards cessation of community water fluoridation (CWF) may increase disparities in oral health. The purpose of this quantitative retrospective cohort study was to analyze Medicaid dental claims records for caries related procedures among 0 to18-year-old patients during an optimal CWF year 2003 (n = 854) and compare them to claims records from 2012 (n = 1,053), 5 years after CWF was ceased. The theoretical framework of this study was the diffusion of innovations theory. Statistically significant results included higher mean number of caries related …

Postpartum Mothers' Attitudes Toward Breastfeeding, Jackie Denise Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast milk is the optimal source of nourishment for babies, providing positive nutritional and psychosocial benefits for infants' growth and development. Rates for initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months in the United States are well below the target rates for the Healthy People 2020 Maternal, Infant, and Children's Health objectives. Using Ajzen's theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this project was to ascertain how knowledge and attitudes influenced a mother's intent to breastfeed during her hospital stay and the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding continuing after discharge. A convenience sample of 68 postpartum mothers was recruited from …

Effectiveness Of A Medication Administration Protocol On Medication Errors And Inpatient Falls, Avril Dolly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effectiveness of a Medication Administration Protocol on Medication Errors and Inpatient Falls

By

Avril Dolly

MS, University of the West Indies, 2010

BS, University of the West Indies, 2009

Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Walden University

November 2017

Adverse events such as medication errors and inpatient falls have been reported as the leading cause of safety incidences at the acute care facility in Trinidad and Tobago where this project was conducted. These mishaps aroused concerns about patient safety and led to a quality improvement (QI) initiative at the hospital. …

Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy And Prenatal Care Attendance In Abuja, Nigeria., Dorothy Ijeoma Ezekwe-Anya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among women poses a significant threat to maternal mortality during pregnancy in Nigeria with a prevalence rate of 14% in the southern region versus 43% in the northern region. Early and adequate prenatal care is essential for improving pregnancy outcomes and the reduction of the maternal mortality rate. Previous studies in several countries have demonstrated a unique barrier to healthcare access among women exposed to IPV. This study assessed the association between IPV during pregnancy and prenatal clinic attendance, using a cross-sectional quantitative study design guided by the social learning theory. The modified Conflict Tactile Scale …

Effects Of Lifestyle Changes On The Health Of African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes, Charles Duro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans are adversely affected by Type 2 diabetes at a greater rate than their European American counterparts; however, research on the effects of Type 2 diabetes on African Americans is limited. Lifestyle modifications that include the incorporation of physical activity and dietary changes can help patients with Type 2 diabetes better manage their disease and improve their overall quality of health. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of African Americans with Type 2 diabetes who incorporated these self-management behaviors, discerning if they had improved health and quality of life. The self-efficacy framework was applied …

Night Shift Work And Weight Gain Among Female Filipino Nurses, Raymundo Mintac Apellido

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The research problem is the increasing numbers of overweight and obese nurses working the night shift. Study on overweight and obesity among female Filipino nurses has not been conducted. It was important to conduct a research study among female Filipino nurses to find out if there are statistically significant associations between night shift work and weight gain. The purpose of this correlational and cross-sectional study was to determine if there are statistically significant associations between insufficient sleep, abnormal eating patterns, working 12-hour shifts, years of working night shift, age, stress, marital status, nursing units, decreased physical activity, and level of …

Alcohol Use Disorder And Withdrawal Syndrome In Correctional Facilities: An Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline To Prevent Alcohol-Related Adverse Events, Wanda Wilma González-Méndez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, one in every 100 adults is confined to a correctional facility. Approximately 60% of inmates have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). When compared to the general population, inmates are twice as likely to have AUD. As they are unable to readily access alcohol, inmates entering a correctional facility with AUD are at high risk for the lethal alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). AWS is preventable and yet correctional nurses process new inmates without an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) to assess for AUD, the prerequisite for AWS. The purpose of this project was to develop an evidence-based …

Factors Affecting Inadequate Growth During Early Childhood In Guyana, South America, Valescia Xenobia John

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children under 5 years of age in Guyana are at an increased risk for inadequate growth. According to the United Nations Development Programme, 1 out of 3 children of preschool age are undernourished globally. This is a major public health concern as undernourishment in children under 5 years can lead to lifelong health complications. The study assessed the relationship between inadequate growth and urban classification in children under 5 years in Guyana, South America, after controlling for the following variables: mother's level of education, mother's age at birth of the child, household size, wealth, and marital status. The study framework …

Quantitative Poverty: Relationship Between Poverty Level And Population Size, Gdp, And Gini Coefficient, Kelly Singleton Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research examines why poverty has been persistent in all regimes that have tried to use public policy to eradicate it with no success. This research begins to examine the economic, fiscal, and current Federal Reserve monetary policy for an understanding of why poverty persists. The purpose of this experimental, cross-sectional design is to test the relationship between poverty level, population size, gross domestic product and the Gini coefficient. The most important outcome of the research is to understand if poverty is an unintended consequence of economic activity and not individual circumstance. In the dissertation, 5 U.S. states are examined …

Teacher Perceptions Of Head Start Preschool Programs In An Urban Public School, Salvador Perez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An initiative to coordinate early learning programs across a major city in the Midwestern United States was undertaken in 2013. The opinions of teachers regarding effects on instruction and children were not included in the development and implementation of the program. This omission is important because multiple scholars have pointed to the benefits and need of including stakeholders' perspectives in program development. The purpose of this study was to explore preschool teachers' experiences and perspectives of this initiative using a qualitative bounded instrumental case study design. Fullan's theory of educational change served as the framework of this study. Nine preschool …

Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal: Reducing Chfrr Through The Get Well Networks Chf Prevention Education Materials, Susan Kay Richmond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, congestive heart failure (CHF) impacts 6.5 million adults and costs about $39 billion year with a projected incidence increasing by 25% by 2030. CHF can be addressed by advancing patient self-care knowledge through interactive patient education. For this project, the Health Beliefs Model guided a strategy to stimulate behavior modification based on perceived benefits of self-care. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an interactive patient education video system, called the Get Well Network, to encourage patient self-care to reduce CHF readmission rates at a veteran's administration hospital. Four evidence-based CHF video order …

Relationship Between Educational Leisure Motivation And Recovery From Mental Illness Among Members Of Clubhouse International, Dianna Rene Pearce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) exhibit low motivation to participate in educational leisure activities at Clubhouses accredited by Clubhouse International (CI). This correlational study examined the relationship between each of 4 motives, intellectual, social, competence-mastery, and stimulus-avoidance, to engage in leisure activities, and the perception of recovery from SMI. Knowles's theory of andragogy supported the concept of informal self-directed learning, which occurs with leisure activities. Literature indicates that participating in leisure activities such as those offered at Clubhouses aids in the recovery from SMI. Quantitative data were collected from a convenience sample of 75 individuals at 4 CI clubhouses …

Strategies For Reducing The Effects Of Employee Absenteeism On Organizational Profitability, Marjorie D. Waye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee absenteeism is a significant threat to organizational profitability. Finding solutions to mitigate the adverse effects of employee absenteeism on organizational profitability is critical to the success of organizations. The purpose of this case study was to explore the strategies human resource leaders used to mitigate the adverse effects of employee absenteeism on organizational profitability. The conceptual framework was performance prism theory. Data were gathered from in-depth interviews and publicly available organizational documents, including wellbeing program resources and annual investment presentations and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reporting documents. Participants included 4 human resource managers and a third party service …

Initial Findings Of A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Program, Hesper B. Nowatzki

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the emphasis of benefits on preventive health, many older adults are not receiving the recommended age specific, evidence based screenings and vaccinations. The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is designed to address modifiable risk factors with aging adults and close gaps in care not captured in routine office visits. Although a free Medicare benefit to patients, and a reimbursable service to health care providers, participation in the AWV is low nationwide. The purpose of the project is to introduce an AWV program to a rural health clinic in Northwest Illinois that has a population consisting of over 25% of …

Translating Evidence Of Skin-To-Skin And Rooming-In To Practice, Francisca Njoku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The old practice of separating the mother-baby-dyad was without measurable benefits to mothers or their infants. Evidence has shown that skin-to-skin care (SSC) prevents hypothermia and hypoglycemia, decreases crying during painful procedures in newborns, and reduces maternal anxiety, stress, and postpartum depression. Rooming-in care (RIC) has been linked to an increase in the rate of breastfeeding and mother-infant interaction, as well as a decrease in the infant morbidity rate. This project assessed the effect of an educational intervention to increase rates of SSC and RIC in an obstetric unit, in addition to measuring nurses' attitudes and barriers in relation to …

Restaurant Management Strategies To Comply With Food Safety Regulations, Dr. Carlos Juan Calcador

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The recent economic crisis in Puerto Rico has created decreased health department fiscal capabilities, adding more responsibilities to health department officials in charge of restaurant inspections without adding more operational funds, which in turn led to less regulatory capacity. This situation instigated increased food safety regulation violations, and food safety legislation changes, imposing more economic pressure to restaurant owners, which leads to a lack of restaurant sustainability. The purpose of this case study was to explore strategies six business visionaries, smart entrepreneurs, who have positioned themselves as successful restaurateurs, in the restaurant industry in Puerto Rico. They were key factors …

Development Of An Evidence-Based Practice Guideline For Prevention Of Diaper Dermatitis, Nanita Flavier Lim-Sulit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diaper dermatitis, an acute inflammatory reaction of the skin, is one of the most common forms of dermatitis among neonatal and pediatric patients. The problem addressed in this quality improvement project was the absence of an evidence-based practice (EBP) guideline for perineal care which resulted in 4 unexpected cases of diaper dermatitis per 100 hospital days at a non free standing children's hospital. Framed within Rosswurm and Larrabee's model for EBP, the purpose of this project was to develop an educational initiative encompassing an EBP guideline for perineal care, an educational curriculum plan for staff members, and a Power Point …

Assessing Plant-Based Food Lifestyle To Reduce Obesity Risk, Erna Siregar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite an increasing number of healthy lifestyles throughout the country, Americans, including Native Hawaiians, keep gaining weight. Unlike several American lifestyles that have resulted in weight gain within the American population, the vegetarian lifestyle is a scientifically proven method for decreasing body weight and maintaining the weight loss for more than 1 year. This study aimed to compare the lifestyle patterns of 4 vegetarian lifestyles and 1 nonvegetarian lifestyle among Native Hawaiians aged 21 and older using their body mass index (BMI). This quantitative study utilized a correlational design, which is particularly suitable for examining the relationship of BMI to …

Perceptions Among Senior Consumers Regarding Stereotyping In Magazine Advertisements, Greg Milsom

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Marketing decision makers often employ stereotypes in their advertising messages, but constant exposure to negative messages is offensive to older consumers and contributes toward ageism. The general problem is that many senior adults feel dissatisfied with advertising directed toward them and may not purchase products that they could otherwise enjoy. Based on the tenets of social identity theory, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of a group of senior consumers toward the stereotypes used to portray older adult models featured in magazine advertisements by uncovering the factors that influence purchasing decisions and the stereotypes that are …

Childhood Obesity Comorbitities Awareness Hospital-Based Education, Sandra Mcgrath Mcgrath

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As childhood obesity continues to increase, so do the comorbidities and related health issues, putting youth at a greater risk of developing adult-related diseases such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Current literature indicates that healthcare organizations have a significant role in the fight against this epidemic, yet most children's hospitals have no policy to accomplish this task. The purpose of this project was to develop a program proposal for a hospital-based, sustainable obesity program that will aid in improving patient and family awareness of the importance of maintaining an ideal body weight to decrease the incidences of …

Instructional Strategies That Promote Cultural Competence In Nutrition And Dietetics Education, Cecile Adkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Changing demographics in the United States to a minority-majority culture require health care professionals who are culturally competent to provide appropriate care to patients. In a university in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, a gap existed between student education and the culturally competent professional practice of entry-level registered dietitians. Using Freire's notion of social justice and Vygotsky's constructivist theory as the conceptual frameworks, the purpose of this study was to explore educators' instructional strategies that promoted cultural competence in nutrition and dietetics education. The research questions examined how educators described the instructional practices they employed to promote cultural …

Educators' Perceptions Of Best Practices For Increasing Literacy Among High-Poverty Students, Giuseppe Di Monte

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The local problem addressed in this study was the low reading achievement of high-poverty fourth-grade students in a small rural school in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The purpose of this instrumental case study was to examine the perceptions of the campus principal and teachers at a sampled high-poverty and high achieving elementary school to determine best practices for meeting literacy needs of high-poverty students. This knowledge is important because student success in reading achievement contributes to overall academic success. The neo-sociocultural conceptual paradigm of Wertsch, del Rio, and Alverez, which links cognitive and cultural learning processes, was …

Barriers To Switching Patients To Second-Line Antiretroviral Treatment Among Clinicians In Tanzania, Peter Charles Mgosha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor decision making among clinicians to transferring human immune deficiency virus (HIV) patients into second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to an increase in morbidity and mortality to people living with HIV (PLHIV). No clear barriers are known for clinicians not switching their patients. This is a descriptive qualitative research aimed to discover obstacles that influence clinicians' decision making to transferring patients into second-line ART despite higher level resistance to first-line ART. The researcher applied a participatory action research framework to solve the identified barriers with clinicians. Using the research questions the researcher explored reasons, perceived barriers and enabling factors …

Safe Quality Food Certification And Producing Safe And Quality Food Products, Adeniyi Adedayo Odugbemi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The food sector accounts for $1 of every $6 in the U.S. economy, with more than $700 billion in revenue every year. However, incidents of food safety and substandard quality continue to rise. Consumers are beginning to mistrust and have lower confidence in the food supply chain. Food manufacturers need to address this issue to remain profitable. One approach includes the introduction of food policy programs that allow for independent auditing and certifications such as the Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification. The SQF certification was established as a rigorous and credible benchmark for food handlers to enforce food safety and …

Impact Of Plans, Finance, And Zoning Policies On What Developers Choose To Build, Michele Ann Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While there is considerable academic research on the intersection of comprehensive plans, finance policies, zoning policies and how these factors influence real estate developers' choice of what land to develop and what buildings to construct on that land, little is understood about whether these three variables promote or hinder real estate developers' choice of whether to build communities that promote healthy living. Using urban planning theory as the foundation, the purpose of this correlational study was to determine how real estate developers' decisions are made to support healthy New Urbanism development in the United States. Secondary data from the Urban …

School Nurses' Role In The Management Of Children With Type 2 Diabetes, Rosaline Jane Martinez-Culpepper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An estimated 215,000 children and adolescents younger than 20 years old were diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes in 2011. Management of children with Type 2 diabetes requires 24-hour care provided by health care providers, parents, and school nurses. Guided by the health belief model (HBM), the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and describe beliefs, attitudes, and practices of school nurses who manage children with Type 2 diabetes. A pilot study with 2 nurses was conducted to finalize interview guide. Volunteer school nurses were recruited through an e-mail announcement from their school district. Face-to-face, …

The Adequacy And Perceived Impact Of Nigeria's Health Policy, Kennedy Magoma Ongwae

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

From 2004 to 2015, the health sector in Nigeria was substantially underfunded despite the existence of a federal health policy committing 15% of the national budget to health care financing. The purpose of this narrative and phenomenological study was to explore the nature and significance of economic claims made in this policy. The central research question examined the extent to which these economic claims were perceived to be realistic, attainable, and successful in meeting their intended policy objectives and impact. The study's conceptual framework combined Kingdon's ambiguity and multiple streams theory, Roe's narrative policy analysis, and Skocpol's policy feedback theory. …