Digital Commons Network^™

Digitally Immigrant Social Work Faculty: Technology Self-Efficacy And Practice Outcomes, Ellen M. Belluomini

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the lack of a model for technology integration in social work education to meet the needs of graduate social workers in the field. Extant research has focused on the efficacy of online or blended learning, but not on social work educators' technology literacy. The purpose of this study was to explore social work educators' self efficacy related to technology use in curriculum and pedagogy. Digitally immigrant educators, defined as those over the age of 35, were studied since this group struggles in adjustment to technology, commonly used by younger students. The conceptual framework …

The Association Of Smoking With Low Back Pain In Adult Americans: Analysis Of The 2012 National Health Interview Survey, Bart Green

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Back pain is a chronic disease epidemic and the most common chronic painful condition in Americans. It is associated with human suffering and enormous financial and social burdens. Smoking is a prevalent and harmful health behavior and is the greatest modifiable risk factor for many chronic diseases. Cigarette smoking is associated with back pain, but there is little research on this relationship among adults in the United States. Using biopsychosocial theory, this study examined (a) the prevalence of back pain (dependent variable) among smokers, former smokers, and never smokers (independent variable), and (b) the influence of age, sex, race, body …

Academic Success For The 21st Century Learner: Intrapersonal Intelligence And Resilience, Juanita Lynn Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Internal and personal strengths are associated with positive academic outcomes in the higher educational setting and are particularly relevant to the 21st century learner in the modern complex and global society. There is limited research addressing the connection between intrapersonal intelligence, resilience, and academic success. This information is important to better assist students in developing qualities that foster academic success and sustainability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between intrapersonal intelligence, as measured by the Multiple Intelligences Development Assessment Scales (MIDAS); resilience, as measured by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC); and academic success, as measured by …

Diagnosing Fibromyalgia: Using A Diagnostic Screening Tool In Primary Care, Lilo Fink

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Fibromyalgia (FMS) goes undiagnosed in as many as 3 out of 4 people who have the disease. Primary care providers (PCPs) are the first to evaluate patients; therefore, PCPs need to be able to recognize FMS, implement initial treatment, and refer for further consultation. The Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Screening Tool (FDST), a validated instrument to identify FMS, can improve the speed and accuracy of FMS diagnosis. The purpose of this project was to familiarize PCPS with the FDST, evaluate their receptiveness to the tool, and train them in its use. The Leventhal, Diefenbach, and Levanthal, common sense model of illness provided …

Socioeconomic Responsibility And Its Effect On Hypertension Among West African Immigrants In The United States, Chryss Arekhandia Okonofua

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Native-born African Americans (NBAA) bear a disproportionate burden of the effect of hypertension (HTN) in comparison to other racial groups in the United States. West African immigrants (Foreign-born African Americans) appear to carry a heavier burden than the NBAA in the United States. Using the social support theory as a guide, this study examined the association between the need to meet socioeconomic responsibility of financial and familial obligations (SERFFO) and perceived stress and the increased likelihood of HTN among West African immigrants, aged 25-54 years, in the United States. In this quantitative, cross-sectional design, self-reported data were collected from a …

African American Clergy's Attitude Toward Professional Mental Health Services, Ebony Gaffney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evaluating the attitude of African American clergy toward parishioners seeking professional mental health services for mental illness has important treatment implications. Religion and spirituality are equally important determinants of mental health and can affect African American clergy's attitudes toward professional care for mental illness. Utilizing the health belief model (HBM), this quantitative study examined the role of theological beliefs, education, and personal experience with mental illness as they correlated with clergy's attitudes toward seeking professional mental illness services. Approximately 98 African American Protestant Clergy in the states of Georgia and South Carolina participated in this study. Data were collected using …

Preschool Educators' Roles In Creating Supportive Spaces For Gender Exploration And Expression, Shaun-Adrian Choflã¡

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children begin to develop their understanding of gender in preschool, yet there is a dearth of research focused on understanding how preschool teachers affect the gender identity development of young children. Guided by Rokeach's belief systems theory, this qualitative case study explored the pedagogical strategies and perceptions of 4 Sacramento County, California preschool educators related to the gender identity development of young children. Interview data were collected and coded to derive 12 participant-specific themes and 3 common intersecting themes, which showed that teachers' perspectives on gender identity development were influenced by social rules, biases, and a lack of pedagogical knowledge …

Using International Property Law As A Lever To Evolve Toward Integrative Ocean Governance, Rachael E. Salcido

McGeorge School of Law Scholarly Articles

TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 254 II. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................... 255 A. Brief Primer on Ocean Jurisdiction ...................................................... 256 B. Dispute Resolution and International Governance ............................... 257 C. The Power of Property .......................................................................... 259 D. Ocean Governance Support for an International Property Law Thesis ..................................................................................................... 260 III. STATE OF OCEAN HEALTH ........................................................................... 261 A. Overfishing ............................................................................................ 262 B. Climate Change ..................................................................................... 263 C. Pollution ................................................................................................ 264 1. Traditional Pollution ...................................................................... 264 2. Special Growing Plastic Pollution Problem ................................... 265 D. Industrialization .................................................................................... 265 1. Marine Renewable Energy .............................................................. 266 2. Aquaculture ..................................................................................... 268 3. Offshore Oil and Gas ...................................................................... 268 …

Ditching Our Innocence: The Clean Water Act In The Age Of The Anthropocene, Rachael Salcido, Karrigan Bork

McGeorge School of Law Scholarly Articles

Humanity has entered the Age of the Anthropocene, a geologic era marked by the emergence of human activity as the single most dominant influence on Earth’s environment. Every ecosystem shows

signs of anthropogenic influence, and the environments we experience everyday are often shaped almost entirely by human actions and decisions. The new discipline of reconciliation ecology recognizes this

reality and suggests that we must manage the new habitats we create in order to protect species diversity and ecosystem services. But the 2015 rule defining the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act explicitly excludes

many manmade environments, including many artificial lakes, …

Awareness Of Clinical Laboratory Sciences And Shortage Of Clinical Laboratory Scientists In The 21st Century, Cynthia Funnye Doby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Retiring baby boomers and the lack of interest and awareness among college students to enroll in an accredited Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) program have created a shortage of CLS professionals in the 21st century. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 18,000 CLS vacancies by 2018. However, only about 5,000 students graduate from accredited CLS programs each year. The purpose of this study was to explore students' perceptions of allied health professions and factors that influenced students and CLS professionals to select CLS as a profession. Bandura's social cognitive career theory served as the theoretical framework for this phenomenological study. …

Understanding A School's Response To Childhood Obesity, April Dawn Goins-Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity has become a national epidemic. Although many of the consequences of childhood obesity are known, such as physical, social, emotional, and academic effects on a student's development, there is a lack of literature on the topic of childhood obesity in Native American tribes. The purpose of this case study was to explore how school personnel address the effects of obesity on students' social, emotional, academic, and physical development in an elementary school in the southwest United States where 90% of the students are Native Americans. Bronfenbrenner's socioecological model served as the theoretical foundation. The research questions explored strategies …

Effect Of Violent And Nonviolent Risk Factors On Depression In Postpartum Mothers, Brandi Reliance Spaulding

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study was to analyze and explore the predictors for postpartum depression (PPD) and the strength of these predictors using a secondary data set from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study from Princeton, Pennsylvania State, and Columbia Universities. By incorporating the biopsychosocial model and feminist theory as the theoretical frameworks for this research, PPD was conceptualized as a serious, multidimensional psychological condition. Using logistic regression, many predictors were identified as etiological for PPD, including subjective attitudes about ideal and introjected characteristics ascribed to women as primary caretakers. These beliefs prevent the extension and acceptance …

Transcriptome Analysis Of Vaccine Responses To Francisella Tularensis Or Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus, Rebecca Ann Erwin-Cohen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of vaccines for emerging and re-emerging diseases highlights technical gaps and indicates a need for innovative approaches to produce new vaccines. Vaccines may be improved by knowledge of host responses to vaccination, disease pathogenesis, and the effect of age and genetics on vaccine outcome. This study's purpose was to quantitatively assess the molecular epidemiology of Francisella tularensis (Ft) and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV). Study results support the Epidemiology Nexus model which holds that association of changes in gene expression to vaccination facilitate understanding the mechanisms of immune development and link public health and disease epidemiology. My research …

System Genetic Analysis Of Mechanisms Underlying Excessive Alcohol Consumption, Maren L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Increased alcohol consumption over time is one of the characteristic symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The molecular mechanisms underlying this escalation in intake is still the subject of study. However, the mesocortical and mesolimbic dopamine pathways, and the extended amygdala, because of their involvement in reward and reinforcement are believed to play key roles in these behavioral changes. Multiple gene expression studies have shown that alcohol affects the expression of thousands of genes in the brain. The studies discussed in this document use the systems biology technique of co-expression network analysis to attempt to find

patterns within genome-wide expression …

Prevalence, Incremental Cost And Resource Utilization Associated With Opioid Overdoses, Batul Electricwala

Theses and Dissertations

Background –

An increase in opioid prescribing has led to an increase in opioid overdoses.^1,2 No study has estimated the incremental costs subsequent to an opioid overdose event in prescription opioid users, or the prevalence and costs of overdose events in family members of prescription opioid users and in overdose victims with no identifiable source of prescription opioid. The latter group will be referred to as “others”.

Objectives –

The first objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of opioid overdoses in aforementioned groups. The second objective was to estimate the incremental costs and resource utilization associated …

A Pipeline For Creation Of Genome-Scale Metabolic Reconstructions, Shaun W. Norris

Theses and Dissertations

The decreasing costs of next generation sequencing technologies and the increasing speeds at which they work have lead to an abundance of 'omic datasets. The need for tools and methods to analyze, annotate, and model these datasets to better understand biological systems is growing. Here we present a novel software pipeline to reconstruct the metabolic model of an organism in silico starting from its genome sequence and a novel compilation of biological databases to better serve the generation of metabolic models. We validate these methods using five Gardnerella vaginalis strains and compare the gene annotation results to NCBI and the …

Parental Perceptions Of Childhood Overweight And Obesity In Four-Year-Olds In Northeastern North Carolina, Crystal Keyes Terry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity has increased due to factors such as more television time, less outside play, parents' lack of education about nutritious meals, and eating more fast food versus home cooked meals. Research has been performed on many school-aged children; however, there is a gap in research as it pertains to preschool children. Preschool age learning is when children are most receptive to habit-forming activities. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to assess the parental perceptions of 11 preschool parents in rural Northeastern North Carolina of 4-year-old children who have been told by a health care professional that their …

Assessment Of Detroit Hospital Preparedness For Response To An Improvised Nuclear Attack, Sharri Suesette Andersen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An improvised nuclear device (IND) is considered by the DHS to be the most catastrophic terrorist incident that could befall the United States, causing severe economic damage, extensive property damage, and enormous loss of life. Effective response to an IND is best accomplished with preparation including emergency operations plans (EOP) specific to an IND and training for staff on how to respond. The literature documents several areas of weakness in U.S. health services' preparation that affects entire communities and puts lives at risk. The purpose of this study was to assess the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in Detroit, Michigan hospitals' …

Policemoms: Perceptions Of Motherhood And Policy In Ohio Police Organizations, Lacy Kristine Ellis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police organizations have a problem retaining female police officers, especially those who are mothers. Women leave the policing profession at higher rates during childbearing and child-rearing years than during any other time in their career. Using feminist theory as a foundation, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of policewomen who are mothers and identify factors that contribute to poor retention rates during childbearing and child-rearing years. Data were collected through 11 interviews with policewomen, who were also mothers, in Ohio. These data were analyzed using Saldana's 2-cycle coding procedure followed …

Time To Diagnosis Of Second Primary Cancers Among Patients With Breast Cancer, Edward Okezie Irobi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many breast cancer diagnoses and second cancers are associated with BRCA gene mutations. Early detection of cancer is necessary to improve health outcomes, particularly with second cancers. Little is known about the influence of risk factors on time to diagnosis of second primary cancers after diagnosis with BRCA-related breast cancer. The purpose of this cohort study was to examine the risk of diagnosis of second primary cancers among women diagnosed with breast cancer after adjusting for BRCA status, age, and ethnicity. The study was guided by the empirical evidence supporting the mechanism of action in the mutation of BRCA leading …

Clergy Characteristics As Predictors Of Mental Health Literacy, Jodi Vermaas Vermaas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The mental health literacy (MHL) rates of Christian clergy in the United States remains underinvestigated in the current literature. This gap of knowledge is problematic for the large numbers of individuals with mental illness who seek assistance from clergy and may receive inadequate care for their concerns. As theoretically designated by the behavioral models of health care and MHL research, denomination-type, educational variables, and demographic characteristics were investigated as potential predictors of MHL. A sample of 238 Christian clergy from throughout the United States completed the web-based Mental Health Literacy Scale and demographic questionnaire. Results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) …

Emotional Dysregulation And Adaptive Skills Among Siblings Of Bipolar Children, Nikki Marie Woller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to understand the effects of pediatric bipolar disorder on child siblings. A quantitative quasi-experimental research design was used. According to family systems theory, which was used in the formation of this study, all family members are interconnected and affect each other in a variety of ways. The research questions investigated whether children demonstrated more emotional dysregulation and fewer adaptive skills when a bipolar sibling was living in the home than when there was no bipolar sibling. The matched comparison study used 2 groups of children: those with bipolar siblings and those without bipolar siblings. …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Beliefs About Preconception Care Among American Adolescent Females, Lynette Collins Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite an initiative to provide preconception care (PCC) and reproductive life planning (RLP) for all women of childbearing age, many women, especially those with low incomes, are not receiving it. As a result, there continues to be a high rate of infant morbidity and mortality in this population. Furthermore, low income adolescent females have not been adequately studied regarding this phenomenon. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore low income adolescent females' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about PCC and RLP in order to serve them more effectively. Five low income adolescent females, aged 18 to 21, were recruited …

The Effect Of A Constructivist-Based Approach On Fifth Grade Reading Achievement, Lori Mcgough Harkness

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated in this quantitative study was that schools in a small, rural East Texas town were falling below acceptable ratings in reading on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) and the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Researchers have found that constructive-based learning environments (CBLEs) can improve student achievement. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between length of time enrolled in a CBLE and reading achievement. Based on the framework of constructivism, 2 research questions were examined. To answer Research Question 1, an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) calculated the difference …

Delaying First Pregnancies: Canadian Women's Knowledge And Perception Of The Consequences, Deborah Haynes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many women aged 20-30 are postponing their first pregnancies until their mid 30s and beyond, which has resulted in compressed childbearing years and/or infertility. Little is known about the knowledge and understanding that Canadian women of advanced age (age 35-45) possess of their reproductive capacity. This phenomenological study sought to explore these women's knowledge and perception of their reproductive capacity in relation to the timing of first pregnancy. Research questions using the constructs of Ajzen's theory of planned behavior were developed to explore how the behavioral, normative, and control beliefs of women's childbearing behaviors were based on their perceptions of …

Disparities In Arkansas Mandated Immunization Coverage Among Natural Home And Foster-Care Adolescents, Jerome Essono Ngundue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Anecdotal evidence indicated vaccine coverage disparities among foster-care (FCA) and natural-home adolescents (NHA). Arkansas laws require 5 vaccines for school entry (FVSE) to prevent 9 common childhood diseases. The study problem was that Pulaski County, Arkansas adolescent birth cohort (PCABC) immunization rates were low compared to U.S. adolescents for these FVSE. This study examined the extent to which (1) PCABC immunization rates were significantly different from those estimated for U.S. adolescents in 2006–2008, (2) NHA and FCA immunization rates were different in 2003– 2008; (3) sociodemographic variables mediate associations between home of residence (HOR), NHA or FCA, and up to …

The Effect Of Federal Reporting Regulations On Hospital Investment In Community Building, Dorothy Magasis Escobar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The role of hospitals as partners in community health improvement is changing, especially for nonprofit hospitals receiving tax exemptions in exchange for providing benefits to the community. There are examples of reported health improvement activities funded through hospitals' charitable donations, but there's a gap in the literature on the effect of policy and legislation on hospitals' investments in community building activities that address the social determinants of health. Grounded in eco-social theory, this quantitative, correlational study compared secondary data from CA's nonprofit hospitals' annual 2009 and 2012 reports to determine what, if any, changes have occurred in the hospitals' investments …

Risk Factors For Hypertension Among African-Born Immigrants In The United States, John Ojih

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Essential hypertension (HTN) has been and continues to be a serious public health problem across the globe, particularly among Black races, with an estimated morbidity rate of over 1 billion people and an estimated mortality rate of 9.4 million people worldwide. Essential HTN can lead to a host of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, myocardial infarction, brain damage, kidney failure, and retinopathy. The main purpose of this quantitative, descriptive, nonexperimental study was to investigate the association of physical inactivity, length of stay in the United States, immigrants' health status, and food security as risk indicators in the development …

A Qualitative Study Of The Growth Strategies Of Mature Small Businesses, Racquel Thompson-Elliott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some small businesses have slower growth as they age and have limited strategies to maximize profit, productivity, and job creation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the strategies small business managers use to capitalize on growth opportunities. Area small business managers and support program stakeholders could gain new knowledge to develop effective support for mature small businesses. Twenty managers participated in this case study. These managers were from small businesses operating in the state of Florida for more than 5 years with less than 500 employees. The data collection approach included purposeful sampling and semistructured interviews with …

Using Auditory Modalities To Develop Rhythmic Competency In Children's Fundamental Movement Skills, Sally Suzanne Severy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical education classrooms often have low levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity levels. This is a problem since many young elementary students are not building a foundation of fundamental movement skills necessary to be lifelong participants in physical activities. This study investigated how elementary physical education teachers used auditory modalities in their classrooms. The research question explored the emergence of rhythmic competency in fundamental movement skills to increase overall moderate to vigorous activity levels. This concurrent, mixed-methods, multiple case study used a constructivist paradigm using the schema and dynamic system theories as the underlying motor system theoretical framework. Two …