Digital Commons Network^™

The Association Between Provider Cultural Competence And Type 2 Diabetes Health Behaviors, Bernadette Joyce Mejia-Tran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Provider cultural competence is poorly understood in relation to the outcome of Type 2 diabetes patient health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between provider cultural competence and diabetes patient health behaviors. The chronic care model provided the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions were designed to determine whether 5 measures of provider cultural competence play a role in diabetes patient health behavior change. The research design of the study was a quantitative cross-sectional survey using the 2017 National Health Interview Survey. The 2,342 participants included in the study represent a national sample …

Prevention Practices And West Nile Virus Infection Among Ethnic Minorities, Texas, Bayabel Debebe Mengistu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV) is a major public health problem and the cause of nearly 25% of the world's economic burden of disease. While the risk factors for developing West Nile fever and West Nile disease from WNV infection have been identified, it is not known how knowledge, attitude, behavior (KAB), access to health care (AHC), and comorbidities are associated with prevention practices of WNV infection among ethnic minorities. The aim of this study was to examine the association between KAB, AHC, comorbidities, and prevention practices of WNV infection among ethnic minorities in Texas. KAB, AHC. Comorbidities were used …

Female Small Business Owners: Strategies For Success, Betsy J. Peterson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2015, 30.2 million small businesses existed in the United States; the Small Business Administration predicted that only half would survive beyond 5 years. Female business owners who do not establish practices to gain a competitive advantage in the small business marketplace may experience poor business performance. Grounded in trait theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the business strategies female small business owners use to succeed in a small business beyond 5 years. Participants included 3 female owners of successful small businesses in Northern California who have been in continual operation for more than …

Fidelity Of Implementation Of Arts Integration In Middle School English Language Arts, Barbara A. Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An urban middle school in the southern U.S. introduced an arts integration (AI) program, however, student achievement in the English language arts (ELA) has not improved. Therefore, the problem to be investigated through this study is that it has not been determined if AI was implemented into ELA classrooms with fidelity. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ and administrators’ perceptions of the fidelity of implementation (FOI) of the AI program in the ELA classrooms, as well as school documents and artifacts, to determine whether the delivery of instruction replicated the original instructional design. Guided by Rogers’s FOI …

Childhood Religious Stress As A Predictor Of Adult Substance Use Disorders Among Sexual Minorities, Jennifer A. Schindler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have taken considerable interest in the relationship between religious stress in childhood and substance use disorders in adulthood among sexual minorities because more individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, and bi/pansexual have a substance use disorder compared to heterosexuals. However, researchers have not yet completed an integrated analysis of religious stress, mental health, and age of awareness among sexual minorities. This study was important now because the societal climate has shifted to more extremes of intolerance and less acceptance for sexual minorities. The purpose of this study was to examine religious stress as a predictor variable for substance use …

Tupumenu Women’S Persistence In Namibia's National Adult Literacy Program, Mathilde Shihako

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Ministry of Education implemented the Namibia National Adult Literacy Program (NNALP) in 1992 to provide adults with the skills necessary for earning a living through employment or self-employment in Namibia’s modern economy. There has been growing concern that women in Namibia’s Tupumenu district were dropping out of the otherwise successful national literacy program. The study investigated how NNALP alumni overcame such barriers as of lack of time, husband refusing to allow their wives to work outside the home, and the death of male breadwinners to avoid dropping out of the program. A qualitative phenomenological research design drew data from …

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

Burden And Coping Strategies Of Caregivers Of Persons With Alzheimer's Disease, Annette Laverne Tucker Osborne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) currently presents a huge burden to individuals and families, a burden that is increasing in incidence with the aging of the baby boomer generation. Caring for a spouse diagnosed with AD holds potentially severe negative consequences for the caregiver’s physical and psychological well-being. The current study used secondary data from the 2017 New York State Department of Health/Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System to identify a relationship, if any, between the time and activities a caregiver spends with the AD person and the caregiver’s self-reported level of general and mental health. A logistic regression was used for RQ1 …

Impact Of District-Wide Free Lunch On Third-Grade Students’ Reading Comprehension, Rita A. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poverty has an enormous impact on children and their success in school. Children with low economic status often perform poorly in math and reading. Poor reading skills often lead to truancy, low rates of high school graduation, low-paying jobs, and cycles of illiteracy in generations of families. The fundamental cause theory was the theoretical lens used for this study. The purpose of this quantitative, comparative ANOVA quartile split study was to examine the impact of universal free and reduced lunch (FRL) policy changes on third grade reading normal curve equivalent (NCE) scores. The research design included data analysis for examining …

African American Men's Perceptions Of Colorism, Naeemah A. Young-Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colorism bias related to skin complexion is a persistent phenomenon within the African American community and often shapes the family dynamics and results in noteworthy adverse psychosocial impacts for African Americans. Researchers have examined colorism or the preference for lighter skin over darker skin primarily as it pertained to women, but little research existed regarding men. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American men with respect to their attitudes toward skin complexion and how those attitudes inform their dating habits and self-esteem. Understanding how this group of men managed living this phenomenon …

Relationships Between Characterizations Of Military Service: Bad Discharge And Veteran Homelessness, Ronnie Fairley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Given the current global war on terror, there was concern that the influx of servicemen and women returning from the war with less than honorable discharge would increase veteran homelessness in the United States. Using Castro and Kintzle's military transition theory, the purpose of this nonexperimental correlational design was to determine relationships between military characterizations of service and veteran homelessness. The correlational research design was used to determine the relationship between military discharge and veteran homelessness. Data were acquired from archival data regarding separated American servicemen and women who served in the military from the Defense Manpower Data Center and …

Exploring Fathers' Perception Of Their Reading And Math Skills And Paternal Involvement, Vielka C. Massenburg

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many children in the U.S. public education system at the elementary and secondary levels are below proficiency in reading and math. Parental involvement within the home and school context is important to children's overall and academic success. The purpose of this basic, qualitative study was to explore fathers' perception about their self-efficacy, reading and math skills, knowledge of and accessibility to educational and community resources, and their involvement in the academic lives of their elementary school-age children. Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory provided the theoretical framework of social interrelatedness. Semistructured interviews were conducted to collect the data from 7 fathers with …

An Exploration Of The Lived Experience Of Transgender Individuals In Prison, Allison Radice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences and challenges of transgender inmates through a Department of Corrections (DOC) in the Midwestern United States. These individuals are at a higher risk for self-harm actions and assault by other inmates. There are a unique set of issues and needs that current policies and procedures fail to address for transgender inmates. Participants were invited to tell their experiences of incarceration which provided a description of their transgender identity and their lived experience through DOC. The 11 participants described their lived experiences in DOC along with their thoughts, feelings, and themes as they related …

Factors Of Black Transgender Ex-Offender Women That Contribute To Recidivism, Brittany Shakir

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black female transgender ex-offender recidivism rates continue to rise at a higher percentage than males. This has resulted in transgender female ex-offender unemployment and homelessness, which in turn creates opportunities to commit crimes. However, there are no programs that advocate for creating resources to ensure successful reentry of transgender ex-offenders into their communities. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand contributing factors to recidivism among Black transgender women ex-offenders while addressing an under-researched group of people, the transgender community. The theoretical framework for this study was McGuire's inoculation theory. The research question focused on what experiences affected …

Experiences Of A Loss Of A Parent To Aids During Adolescence On Young Adults, Angela Thorpe-Moss

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) continues to be a major healthcare issue for many countries, including the United States. Millions of adolescent children under the age of 18 have lost 1 or both parents to AIDS-related complications. The death of a parent to AIDS-related complications is severe; however, limited data describes how this type of death affects adolescents after they have become young adults. It is important to determine how these adolescents are affected by exploring their lived experiences of losing a parent to AIDS-related complications. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences associated with …

Provider Perspectives Of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy For Social Skills, Rachel Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Animal assisted therapy has been used for years and has been researched primarily for autism but researchers have not focused specifically on the experiences of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and their social skills after involvement in animal assisted therapy. Children with ADHD frequently struggle expressing their emotions and communicating effectively, primarily in social settings, which can have an extensive impact on their functioning that can extend into adulthood. The theoretical attachment framework from Ainsworth and Bowlby, when applied through the retrospective multiple case study model allowed for a greater understanding of the experiences of children involved in …

Inpatient Stays Involving Mental Illness And Substance Use Disorders, Latonya Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nearly one-third of Americans suffer from a mental illness. Twenty-three million people are affected by substance use or a dependency issue and the length of stay for patients enrolled in treatment services is rising. Mental health issues and substance use are rising within the United States and are associated with increased healthcare costs and the need for healthcare services. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the association between inpatient services, residential, outpatient, age, and payer source on substance use and mental health services using the 2017 Substance Abuse and National Mental Health Services Administration survey. The Donadebian …

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients' Sociological Resilience, Self-Determination, And Decision-Making For Life-Sustaining Treatments, Jeremy Jon Van Tress

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) suffer from a rare, progressive, untreatable, and fatal neuromuscular disease. Their decision-making for life-sustaining treatments may not be fully self-deterministic. While researchers have examined resilience and self-determination in people with mental health problems and chronic illness, none have researched these variables in ALS patients from a socioecological framework. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between people with ALS socioecological resilience, self-determination, and decision-making for life-sustaining treatments. A cross-sectional concurrent mixed-methods design was used, with online surveys completed by 197 people with ALS who were solicited through the National ALS Registry. …

Experiences Of Low Income African American Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, James Agboola Abolarin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractLow-income African American grandparents raising their grandchildren are faced with multiple challenges psychologically, financially, and emotionally. Four out of five African American custodial grandparents live below the poverty line and with mental problems, such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression. The main research question focused on the experiences of low income African American custodial grandparents, living with diagnosed mental health issues while raising their grandchildren, and dealing with a restricted access to mental health counseling services. Bowen family system theory was adopted as the theoretical framework, and a phenomenological-hermeneutic methodology was used. A total of seven low income, custodial …

Area-Level Factors Linked To Obesity In African American And Caucasian Women In Michigan, Marjorie Arrey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a major public health crisis, affecting every segment of the U.S. population. African American women have higher prevalence of obesity than all other subpopulations and are disproportionately burdened by the disease and its comorbidities. Despite this disparity, African American women are often underrepresented in obesity research. This research examined obesity-related risk factors specific to African American women compared to those for Caucasian women. The design was based on the socioecological model and social cognitive theory, both emphasizing the impact of social factors on health outcomes. The data set included only adult Michigan women from the NHANES study. Multiple …

Methamphetamine Screening And Brief Intervention In A Hospital Heart Failure Program, Tamra Chavez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe efficacy of screening, brief, intervention, referral to treatment (SBIRT) in reducing or eliminating methamphetamine use has not been investigated and addressed among patients with heart failure. According to urine toxicology screens at admission at a county hospital, approximately 50% of patients in a heart failure program were positive for illicit substance use, and the majority of these tests (>60%) were for methamphetamine use, one of the most cardiotoxic drugs available. This quantitative study used an existing dataset to test the theory of intentional behavior by examining whether SBIRT intervention increases the patient’s ability to make a behavioral change …

Predicting Behavior To Engage In Fall Prevention Practices: The Role Of Interests And Basic Psychological Needs, Jan Fay Kress

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractA fall is associated with adverse outcomes that include occupational, physical, cognitive, and psychological decline together with economic and caregiving burden. Despite the continued increase in prevalence of falls globally, most studies address the well-known risk factors of falls but exclude the behavioral risk factors associated with human actions, emotions, and everyday choices. Following the theory of self-determination and person object of interest framework, this quantitative, nonexperimental study was conducted using face-to-face and web surveys to examine the relationship between motivational, relational, and sociodemographic/medical conditions to predict engagement in fall prevention practices in a sample of 75 community dwellers, 65 …

Adolescent Suicidal Ideation And Parental Perception, Parenting Style, And Parental Denial, Julie Mann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adolescent suicidal ideation is a substantial health concern in the United States, from both mental and physical perspectives. Parent-child connectedness (PCC) ostensibly plays a considerable role in reducing the problem. Along with parents of youth who are struggling with suicide, mental health care providers and school administrators would appreciate understanding more effective strategies for eliminating adolescent suicidal ideation. This cross-sectional, quantitative study sought a statistically significant relationship between PCC measured as parental perception, parenting style, and parental denial (independent variables) and the dependent variable of adolescent suicidal ideation. Bandura’s social cognitive theory, Baumrind’s parenting style theory, and Mowder’s parent development …

Strategies To Retain Skilled Assistant Project Managers In Construction Industries, Anastasia Persad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 160,000 assistant project managers in the construction industry willingly left the U.S. labor workforce in 2018. The cost of replacing an employee could amount up to 200% of the departing employee's annual salary for construction companies. Grounded in Herzberg's two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to investigate effective organizational strategies business leaders used to retain skilled assistant project managers. Six participants were senior project managers from construction companies in Manhattan, New York, with more than 10 years of experience in the commercial construction industry. Data came from semistructured interviews and a review of company …

Factors That Influence Violence And Homicidal Ideation Among Serial Offenders, Jared Matthew Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many studies have been conducted to identify sources of violence in serial killers, including environmental, biological, and mental disposition factors. However, serial killers’ sexual fantasies had not been explored. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to understand how sexual fantasies influence serial killers’ violent behavior. The theoretical framework consisted of ecological systems theory and social learning theory. Data from previously conducted interviews, serial killers’ manifestos, and historical records were used to conduct a comparative analysis of the behaviors, techniques, and identification signatures of serial killers. Data were coded and categorized to identify the relationship between sexual fantasies …

Service Members With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Who Face Employment Challenges Postdeployment, Donna Scurlark Sargent

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe Iraq War was the longest war in the history of the United States, involving over 2 million service members. Service members who served in Iraq or Afghanistan experienced a high rate of mental health disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and substance abuse as they returned from deployment. Research is lacking in regard to how Army reservists and National Guardsmen function at home, school, work, and in the community upon their return from service. The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of service members with PTSD who experienced challenges with work …

The Impact Of Workplace Bullying On Days Absent Of Registered Nurses, Vitina Rita Speciale-Olmo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace bullying (WPB) among registered nurses (RNs) in all forms has been a continual issue among nurses and healthcare professionals for decades. Among nurses, it is a healthcare administrative issue, as it increases the number of days RNs are absent from work, which, in turn, may result in short staffing and reduce the quality of care. Its psychological effects can lead to higher rates of absenteeism and reduce the quality of care. The purpose of this quantitative study was to use secondary data to inform healthcare administrators on the impact, if any, that WPB has on registered nurses (RN) and …

Attachment And Perceived Infidelity Of Military Spouses During Active-Duty Members’ Deployment, Heather Ann Alvarado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Frequent military deployments have been associated with relationship issues for active-duty members, such as marital conflict and infidelity. Previous research has indicated that attachment, communication, and mental health are associated with military marriages’ stability during deployment. However, there remains an important gap in the current literature on military marriages regarding perceptions of infidelity (emotional and sexual). Proponents of attachment theory postulate that early attachment experiences facilitate the development of self-perception as well as perceptions of others. From this perspective, the attachment of military spouses is associated with their perceptions of their active-duty spouses engaging in infidelity. The purpose of this …

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

Gratitude Among Mothers Raising A Child With Special Health Care Needs, Keli Jean Kleindorfer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For a mother raising a child with special health care needs (CSHCN), maintaining positive feelings of gratitude can become challenging because of the stress associated with caregiving, as well as the consequences of unmanaged stress, which include decreases in both physical and psychological health and well-being. Chronic, unmanaged stress has been associated with various health issues that can be severe and potentially life-threatening. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine how mothers raising a CSHCN experience gratitude. A secondary purpose was to identify possible barriers to experiencing gratitude, which, when implemented as a coping style, may decrease the …