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Examining The Factors That Lead To Latinas Stopping Breastfeeding Across The United States, Dulce Ruelas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breastfeeding is the optimal nutrition for an infant, yet only 25.4% of women in the United States decide to breastfeed. A Latina's choice for infant feeding must be made with accurate information as breastfeeding may reduce infant mortality and decrease chronic conditions such as obesity, depression, and diabetes. The study's purpose was to examine if Latinas are influenced by suggestions to not breastfeed by family members and health care providers or by events that may have happened at the hospital. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, this study reviewed if social influences, marital status, and maternal education link to …

Pharmacological Management Of The Diabetic Patient: A Staff Education Project, Wilantha Silva

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to health complications that impact quality of life, increase healthcare costs, and create a negative impact on communities. Pharmacological management of diabetes was identified by stakeholders as a gap in practice at a clinic in the southeastern United States. The purpose of this project was to develop staff education based on American Diabetes Association (ADA) and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) standards of care, deliver education to primary care nurse practitioners (NPs), and evaluate their learning and confidence levels. The primary framework for this project was the chronic care model. An expert panel, including …

A Phenomenological Study Of First-Year Elementary Teachers Managing Disruptive Behaviors, Lucina Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research consistently reflects novice teachers' feelings of inadequacy in effectively responding to students disruptive classroom behaviors. Some teachers may quickly default to disciplinary write-ups or make behavior-related referrals to special education. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the perspectives of first-year elementary general education teachers about their competency and their tolerance for managing problem behaviors; to identify supports that will strengthen their ability to acquire and use effective behavior management skills, and thus reduce referrals. Social constructionism was the guiding conceptual framework. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted via telephone and analyzed using Moustakas' adaptation of the Van …

Evidence-Based Strategies Used By Primary Care Providers In Early Hospice Referrals, May Tanay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite scientific evidence suggesting that hospice care improves quality of life (QOL) at end of life (EOL), terminally ill patients are being referred to hospice too late. A considerable number of terminally ill patients are referred directly from the inpatient unit. Often, these patients have not had a goal-of-care conversation (GOC) with their primary care provider (PCP) nor have they been offered hospice care until hospitalization. It is imperative that PCPs, advocate and support patients and families during all stages of life including EOL. This doctoral project was completed for the purpose of identifying strategies used by PCPs that enhance …

Social Determinants Of Type 2 Diabetes And Health In Caribbean Women, Kathleen Tuitt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 2 diabetes is a pressing public health issue for women in the Caribbean. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of prediabetes, overweight/obesity, and Type 2 diabetes and the predictive relationship of social determinants, weight status, physical activity, and race/ethnicity on Type 2 diabetes diagnosis of women in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Further research was needed to understand why Caribbean women are at such high risk for Type 2 diabetes and obesity. A quantitative, nonexperimental design, involving the analysis of secondary data published by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System at the Centers …

Social Determinants Of Health And Health Behaviors Of Hispanics, Suheily Valderrama

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mexican Americans experience higher morbidity and mortality than non-Hispanic whites, a problem known as health disparities, which is often explained by differences in social determinants of health (SDH). SDH are social and economic conditions that influence health-related behaviors. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between SDH (income, education, neighborhood safety, and health care access), and health behaviors (diet, sleep, and physical activity) of Hispanics. The cumulative inequality (CI) theory was used to inform this study. A secondary data analysis of 37078 Hispanic adults who completed the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey was conducted. …

Qualitative Examination Of Noncustodial African American Fathers' Involvement In Their Children's Education, Christy Ann Wallace

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractParent involvement in children's school experience has been shown to be important to academic success. Although African American parents approach their parenting in culturally unique ways, these have not been adequately explored or described. Many African American children grow up in a household with a single mother and an involved but nonresident father; the purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of these fathers with their grade school children's schools and education. Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory underpinned the research. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, data was collected from a sample of 10 nonresident African American fathers using …

Previously Incarcerated Individuals' Perception Of Job Acquisition Post Transitional Program Participation, Arbutas Antinet Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractTransitional programs prepare previously incarcerated individuals (PIIs) to re-enter society and acquire employment. However, many such programs have failed to offset the effects of prisonization, a process that affects the social skills needed for the job interview process and employment acquisition. The purpose of this generic qualitative research study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of PIIs after participation in a transitional program and a job interview. The theoretical foundation for the study included the theories of prisonization and self-efficacy. The research question concerned experiences and perceptions of 23 to 39-year-old PIIs regarding the job interview process after serving …

Principals' Leadership Style As A Predictor Of School Climate In Urban High Schools In Baltimore, Kelly Alicia Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To improve student achievement in urban public schools with high poverty, it is important to address specific leadership styles (i.e., transformational, transactional, and passive-avoidant leadership styles) in relationship to their school climate. The purpose of this multivariate correlational study, framed by leadership theory, was to investigate the relationship between principals' leadership and school climate as perceived by high school teachers in an urban school district. The relationship between three predictor variables (average class size, years of experience of the teacher, and leadership style) and one criterion variable (school climate) was examined. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire was used to measure leadership …

Adults With Asd Perceptions Of Inclusion Education, Susan Mary Weiss

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAdults with ASD Perceptions of Inclusion Education by Susan M. Weiss

MA, Adelphi University, 1989BS, Hofstra University, 1987

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Education Special Education

Walden UniversityFebruary 2021

AbstractThe perspectives and experiences of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not included in the body of educational research on inclusion education. Because students with ASD are academically capable, they are placed in inclusive education environments. The perspectives of adults with ASD about their inclusion experiences could offer valuable information to educational practitioners and parents of students with ASD. Using …

The Impact Of Media Representation Of Police Use Of Force On Minority Students' Intentions To Pursue Criminal Justice Degrees, Stacey Shawn White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In recent years, reports of police use of force incidents have proliferated across traditional and social media. The extent and nature of the impact of these reports on the relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve have received significant attention from scholars and researchers. In addition, a growing body of literature examining the impact of the media on communities of color and their relationships with and perspectives on law enforcement also exists. However, there is a gap in the research on the effect of media coverage of police use of force incidents on minority criminal justice students. In …

Developing A Presimulation Protocol For Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy, Jennifer Wieworka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inadequate preparation of prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) can damage healthy tissue and cause long-term complications. Proper setup can reduce side effects. Currently, there are no standardized guidelines to help prepare patients for prostate radiation. Guidelines will help nurses coordinate care and manage symptoms for these patients. The purpose of this doctoral project was to address the gap in practice of the lack of a standardized process for implementing presimulation interventions for patients with prostate cancer undergoing RT by developing an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG). The practice question for this project focused on the best practices contributing …

Hospitality Industry Employee Turnover, Ericka Dolores Willie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover is detrimental to organizational performance, productivity, and profitability. Decreasing employee turnover is important for hospitality leaders to increase employee productivity, raise customer satisfaction and increase organizational profits. Grounded in Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between employee perceptions of work experience, supervisory practices, employee compensation, and employee turnover. The participants were 100 employees who worked in the hospitality industry on the island of St. Croix. The Employee Turnover Survey was the instrument used in this study and was conducted via Survey Monkey. The results of the multiple linear regression …

Relationship Between Attending Stem Extracurricular Programs And Aspiration Toward Stem Careers, Rani Mohammad Altoum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Enhancing students’ aspiration toward STEM-related careers is of a great importance for many communities that seeks the transformation to the knowledge-based economy. The problem this study explored was the literature gap in the relationship between Qatar students’ attendance in STEM-related extracurricular programs and their aspiration to pursue STEM-related specializations and careers. The purpose of this quantitative, pre-experimental study was to investigate the relationship between attending STEM extracurricular programs and change in students’ aspiration toward STEM careers. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate if the change in students’ aspiration depends on students’ gender and age group. Social cognitive career theory framed …

Understanding Successful Strategies Human Service First-Level Managers Utilize When Addressing Workplace Incivility, Mary Elizabeth Barlow

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The social problem of workplace incivility is a well-researched issue that impacts employees, work groups, and organizations across the nation. The purpose of this study was to understand how first-level human service managers describe employee turnover in relation to workplace incivility and what first-level human service managers view as successful strategies they have used to address workplace incivility. The theoretical framework utilized for this study was incivility spiral theory, as described by Andersson and Pearson. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to gain an understanding of successful strategies that first-level human service managers utilize when addressing workplace incivility …

The Exploration Of Clinical Supervision For Substance Abuse Social Workers In Bermuda, Steva Aria Bean

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As specialists who bridge the gap between the social work and substance abuse treatment fields, substance abuse social workers are expected to develop themselves as social workers by designation, substance abuse counselors by occupation, and deliver competent therapeutic services that align both professions seamlessly. As documented in the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, their support in achieving this feat is clinical supervision. Despite this documentation, a review of the social work literature revealed an absence of information on clinical supervision between the social work and substance abuse fields, their supervisory alliance, and outcomes. Accordingly, this project was …

Perceptions Of Effectiveness Of Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing Treatment Intervention From Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence, Laurinda Cumming

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a national health care problem. This violence affects 10 million people on average in the United States every year. This research focused on the treatment resistance for PTSD, a severe and disabling condition. This qualitative descriptive study provided a purposeful sampling of female survivors’ lived experiences and perceived effectiveness of EMDR in treating PTSD symptoms as a result of IPV. Study participants were 7 females, 18 years or older, residing in the Southwestern United States. The theoretical framework of the self-efficacy model was used to look at how posttraumatic symptoms can be so severe from …

Cultural Appropriateness Of The Modified Checklist For Autism For Screening Autism In Ghana, Eric Amoako Darquah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in toddlers. The prevalence of this disorder continues to increase, necessitating an early screening tool to support early diagnosis and intervention. Although the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers Revised (M-CHAT-R) has been cross-culturally effective for screening ASD, little research has been done on early screening for ASD characteristics in Ghana. In the current study, the M-CHAT-R was completed by parents (N = 90) of ASD and non-ASD children between the ages of 16 to 60 months at selected special schools and hospitals in Ghana to determine its sensitivity and specificity to …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Campus Law Enforcement Sexual Assault Response, David Alan Ferber

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual assault violence affects many college students regardless of ethnicity, age, gender, race, or socio-economic background. There is a problem with reporting sexual assaults on college campuses to campus law enforcement officials. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to utilize the theory of andragogy and social theory to identify the factors that contribute to effective campus law enforcement training as it relates to responding to sexual assaults. The research questions addressing the existing gap in the literature examined whether campus law enforcement officers were receiving adequate training to assist a sexual assault victim and the strategies that are …

University Students’ Low Participation Of The Emergency Text Alert Systems, Charyl Marie Ramsey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Text alert systems can help save lives by alerting individuals to dangers in the area, allowing them to react appropriately to the threat. For example, text alerts can give an individual the time to either run, hide, or fight during an active shooter incident. Conversely, when an individual does not receive an alert, they cannot respond to a threat and may be vulnerable to potential risk. Because no research had been completed on why individuals choose not to enroll in text alert programs, this qualitative study explored why students did not enroll in the text alert programs at their higher …

A Phenomenological Study Of First-Year Elementary Teachers Managing Disruptive Behaviors, Lucina Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research consistently reflects novice teachers’ feelings of inadequacy in effectively responding to students’ disruptive classroom behaviors. Some teachers may quickly default to disciplinary write-ups or make behavior-related referrals to special education. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the perspectives of first-year elementary general education teachers about their competency and their tolerance for managing problem behaviors; to identify supports that will strengthen their ability to acquire and use effective behavior management skills, and thus reduce referrals. Social constructionism was the guiding conceptual framework. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted via telephone and analyzed using Moustakas’ adaptation of the Van …

Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Impacts Bone Densitometry, And Fall Fractures In Primary Care, Ifeoma Ude-Okoro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

In the United States, approximately 10 million adults 50 years and older are plagued by osteoporosis; this number has been projected to climb to 14 million by 2020. Osteoporosis is a debilitating disorder characterized by significant loss of bone mass and mineral density. Without proper screening and diagnosis, patients may not receive the appropriate medical treatments to avoid worsening of their condition and its associated complications. Nurses can help identify patients at risk for osteoporosis by administering osteoporosis screening during routine office visits. The practice-focused question asked whether the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) increased the proportion of bone …

Coaches' And Athletic Directors' Inclusion Practices For High School Student-Athletes With Disabilities, Jason Alan Carrera

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem that drove this study was the need to improve the inclusive practices for high school student athletes with disabilities in a large, diverse school district. The purpose of this study was to examine how high school coaches and athletic directors provide accommodations for students with disabilities (SWD) and the perceived needs of the coaches and athletic directors to improve inclusion for SWD. The conceptual framework was based on the universal design for learning, an instructional model for students of diverse learning abilities. Research questions were used to explore the perceptions and experiences of high school coaches and athletic …

Neurodiversity And Workplace Social Capital Effects On Employee Attitudes And Intentions, Alice Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Neurodivergent employees have higher turnover rates than their neurotypical peers, andmuch remains unknown about how to improve their workplace experience. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationships between neurodiversity and workplace social capital on job satisfaction and turnover intent. Social cognitive career theory (SCCT) informed the study design. Working adults (N = 1,243) in the United States recruited using convenience sampling and MTurk participated through an anonymous online survey. Data analysis was conducted using three-way ANOVA and mediation. Significant three-way interactions were found between gender, job classification, and likelihood of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) …

Drug-Resistant Neisseria Gonorrhoeae; Identification Of At-Risk Groups In Florida By Regional Variation, Scott August Herber

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been on the rise in the State of Florida since 2013. Florida currently follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for identifying those at-risk for gonorrhea and drug resistant gonorrhea infections. These groups are narrowly defined and do not consider the different population dynamics throughout the State. This study examined the question of who is at-risk for contracting drug resistant strains of gonorrhea in the eight different regions of Florida based on the prescribed use of last-line-of-antibiotic-defense. Florida’s Surveillance Tools and Reporting System provided 12 years of secondary data from 2007 to 2018. The data …

Effective Police Recruitment: Professional Misconduct Risk Regression Analysis For Law Enforcement Officers, Clinton Jenkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police departments are responsible for evaluating applicants to find suitable recruits to join a department’s training program. It was not known how police officer recruits feel about the recruitment and selection process. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine to what extent the 2 M-PULSE scale scores (sexually offensive conduct and racially offensive behavior) account for variance in the MMPI-2RF (anger proneness and behavior/externalizing dysfunctional) subscales scores. Archival data was provided by a private business that conducts these screenings for multiple law enforcement organizations (local and state). Law enforcement candidates (N = 107) were evaluated by a private …

Family-Owned Restaurant Owners' Strategies For Business Sustainability, Vickie Eileen Matson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractRestaurants are competitive, high-risk enterprises and have high failure rates. In this environment, family-owned restaurant business owners need operational strategies to sustain their businesses. Grounded in the balanced scorecard theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the operational strategies used by family-owned restaurant owners to sustain their businesses beyond five years. Five family-owned restaurant business owners from South Texas who successfully implemented sound operational strategies participated in the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents, including training manuals, financial reports, business licenses, permits, press releases, and fictitious business name statements. Thematic analysis …

Implementation Of International Society For Technology In Education Standards In Elementary School Teachers’ Pedagogical Science Practices, Rochelle Anne Mccoy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addressed the problem of whether elementary school teachers are consistently implementing the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards in their pedagogical practices of teaching science. It was evident that half of all teachers in the United States do not consistently implement technology into their instruction. The purpose of this study was to understand elementary school teachers’ perceptions about how teachers are using the three selected ISTE standards during their pedagogical practices when teaching elementary science in order to maximize learning. The technology acceptance model was the conceptual framework used in this study. The research questions focused …

Impact Of New York State Clean Energy Policy Initiative On Renewable Energy Generation, Barry Braimahsaliu Omo-Ikirodah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The New York State renewable portfolio standard program failed to reach its successive targets and did not meet estimated percentage capacity in all program years. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between 6 predictors variables (policy standard and objective, resources and incentive, inter-organizational communication and enforcement activities, characteristics of the implementing agencies,economic,social, and political conditions and disposition of implementers) and implementation performance. Pressman and Wildavsky Implementation theory provided the framework for the study. Data were collected from 251 anonymous participants from the Qualtrics survey audience residents of New York City’s 5 counties. Multiple linear regression …

Parent And Administrator Perspectives Regarding Transportation Availability And Student Enrollment At Charter Schools, Amy Summers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The demand for charter schools has increased during last two decades. Scholarly literature lacked deeper understanding of the perspectives of administrators and parents on transportation availability with respect to equal access to charter schools and how transportation is perceived to affect parental capability or willingness to enroll children in charter schools. This basic qualitative study, with the theory of school choice as the framework, used interviews with 8 parents of students enrolled in charter schools and traditional public schools and 4 administrators of charter schools. Two research questions focused on administrator and parent perspectives about transportation availability with respect to …