Digital Commons Network^™

Job Satisfaction Strategies To Improve Performance Of Small Businesses, Akram Abubaha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business leaders continually face challenges due to limited resources and lack of employees' engagement. Only 78% of new small businesses survive 1 year after establishment, and half of those fail within the next 4 years. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies small business leaders used to increase employees' overall job satisfaction in Alberta, Canada. The conceptual framework for the study was transformational leadership theory. The targeted population was 10 purposefully sampled leaders of small businesses from different industries located in Alberta. Member checking and methodological triangulation were used to validate the data gathered through …

Does The Catechism Of The Catholic Church Possess An Educational Function As A Formative Tool For Catholic Educators?, Marlon De La Torre

Theses

With the initial formal promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church by St. John Paul II (1992) the entire Christian world exercised a call to hope and at the same time despair. Hope in the continual fruitful understanding of Church doctrine presented in a clear and definitive way, a living resource that would provide the faithful since the development of the Roman Catechism a deeper understanding of the Mysteries of Christ and His Church. In concert with this is a clear systematic exposition of the faith rooted in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition bringing to light the importance of …

"Taming The Beast": Exploring The Lived Experience Of Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Using A Life History Approach, Therese Burke

Theses

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex neurological disease affecting the central nervous system and is driven by a complex autoimmune cascade. The peak age of onset is between the ages of 20 and 40 years and shows a female preponderance of 3:1. The most common form of the disease affecting 85% of people living with the illness is called relapsing remitting MS (RRMS), and is characterised by unpredictable relapses or exacerbations which usually last a few weeks before returning to baseline function. There is the possibility of disease progression and non-reversible disability after many years. RRMS is also characterised by …

Digital Information Technology Use And Patient Preferences For Internet-Based Health Education Modalities: Cross-Sectional Survey Study Of Middle-Aged And Older Adults With Chronic Health Conditions, Nancy P. Gordon, Elizabeth L. Crouch

Faculty Publications

Background: Health information, patient education, and self-management (health information and advice, HIA) tools are increasingly being made available to adults with chronic health conditions through internet-based health and mobile health (mHealth) digital information technologies. However, there is limited information about patient preferences for using specific types of health information and advice resources and how preferences and usage differ by age group and education.

Objective:The objective of this study was to examine how use of digital information technologies and preferred methods for obtaining health information and advice varies by age group and education among middle-aged and older adults with chronic …

Prevalence And Factors Influencing Use Of Internet And Electronic Health Resources By Middle-Aged And Older Adults In A Us Health Plan Population: Cross-Sectional Survey Study, Elizabeth L. Crouch, Nancy P. Gordon

Faculty Publications

Background: Health care organizations are increasingly using electronic health (eHealth) platforms to provide and exchange health information and advice (HIA). There is limited information about how factors beyond internet access affect use of eHealth resources by middle-aged and older adults.

Objective: We aimed to estimate prevalence of use of the internet, health plan patient portal, and Web-based HIA among middle-aged and older adults; investigate whether similar sociodemographic-related disparities in eHealth resource use are found among middle-aged and older adults; and examine how sociodemographic and internet access factors drive disparities in eHealth resource use among adults who use the internet.

Methods: …

“Turning Mirrors Into Windows”: A Study Of Participatory Dynamic Simulation Modelling To Inform Health Policy Decisions, Louise Freebairn

Theses

Introduction: Achieving evidence-based public health policy is challenging. There is increasing recognition that more sophisticated, system-science, analytic methods, such as dynamic simulation modelling (DSM), are needed to better understand the dynamic, interacting and interrelated elements within complex public health systems. This thesis explored the implementation, feasibility and value of a novel participatory DSM approach as a tool for knowledge mobilisation and decision support in Australian health policy settings. An indepth case study of participatory modelling of Diabetes in Pregnancy (DIP) in the Australian Capital Territory (2016-2018) was conducted. Two additional modelling case studies focusing on prevention of childhood overweight and …

Improving Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity Knowledge In Convenient Care Clinics: A Toolkit And Competency Training For Caregivers, Elizabeth M. Gallagher

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

It is well documented that transgender individuals experience higher rates of discrimination than non-transgender, also known as cis-gender, individuals (Scandurra, Amodeo, Valerio, Bochicchio, & Frost, 2017). This discrimination extends into the healthcare system, a place where all individuals should be treated with dignity and respect (Bauer, Scheim, Deutsch, & Massarella, 2014). Over the last few decades, cultural humility has been promoted in health care professional training (Fisher-Borne, Cain, & Martin, 2015; Tervalon & Murray-Garcia, 1998). However, transgender care is rarely included. This lack of training can lead to a decreased confidence in providing care to transgender individuals and poor experiences …

Hemodynamic Interference Of Serial Stenoses And Its Impact On Ffr And Ifr Measurements, Siyeong Ju, Linxia Gu

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The hemodynamic interference of serial stenoses poses challenges for identifying the functional severity using the fractional flow reserve (FFR) method. The instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR), i.e., the distal-to-proximal pressure ratio at 75% of diastole, was recently proposed to overcome the disadvantages of the FFR. However, the underlying mechanism remained ambiguous due to the lack of quantitative definition of hemodynamic interference. The objective of this study is to quantitatively define the hemodynamic interference and then examine its role on the FFR and iFR measurements. Pressure distributions, velocity fields, and Q-criterion which identifies vortices, were obtained through the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) …

The Journey To Missionary Ceo: An Ex Post Facto Review & Reflection Of Service & Decision Making, William F. Colwell Jr

Doctor of Leadership Projects

As a capstone “deliverable”, this document’s purpose is to assist the reader in understanding cross-cultural decision making. I am doing this through a retrospective (“post facto”) review of my service in Cameroon. Every project has boundaries. First the identification of time boundaries. Dates for the project are December 2, 2009 (my arrival) to June 30, 2014 (the end of my service). This is the period during which I was the Chief of Centre of the Seventh-day Adventist Health Centre in Buea, Cameroon. For purposes of context, data from before and after the project time frame is included. The key purpose …

Concentration-Dependent Effects Of A Dietary Ketone Ester On Components Of Energy Balance In Mice, Sarah E. Deemer, Rachel A. Davis, Barbara A. Gower, Andrew P. Koutnik, Angela M. Poff, Stephanie L. Dickinson, David B. Allison, Dominic P. D'Agostino, Eric P. Plaisance

Faculty Publications

Exogenous ketones may provide therapeutic benefit in treatment of obesity. Administration of the ketone ester (KE) R,S-1,3-butanediol acetoacetate diester (BD-AcAc) decreases body weight in mice, but effects on energy balance have not been extensively characterized. The purpose of this investigation was to explore concentration-dependent effects of BD-AcAc on energy intake and expenditure in mice. Forty-two male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to one of seven isocaloric diets ( = 6 per group): (1) Control (CON, 0% KE by kcals); (2) KE5 (5% KE); (3) KE10 (10% KE); (4) KE15 (15% KE); (5) KE20 (20% KE); (6) KE25 (25% KE); and …

Evaluation Of The Effect Of Milner-Fenwick Video-Based Education And Teach-Back On Knowledge Acquisition In Atrial Fibrillation Patients, Melissa Czarapata

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate if video education impacts knowledge acquisition and health literacy in patients with atrial fibrillation. METHODS: This study employed a descriptive, pretest-posttest single site comparative design. Baseline health literacy was assessed before video education was completed using the Atrial Fibrillation Knowledge scale. Health literacy regarding atrial fibrillation was again assessed for the same participants immediately after video education was completed and again in 7 to 10 days through the use of the Atrial Fibrillation Knowledge scale and teach-back questions. RESULTS: There was no statistical significance found when comparing scores before and after …

The Effect Of Narrative Medicine Combined With Medication Assisted Treatment On Decreasing The Desire To Use Intravenous Substances In Hospitalized Patients With Infective Endocarditis, Paula Works

DNP Projects

Substance abuse is a significant problem that spans the nation. Of particular concern is the growing population of patients at UK HealthCare who have endocarditis as a complication from IV substance abuse.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were

1. To assess the effect of narrative medicine combined with MAT, compared to MAT alone, on desire to use in hospitalized patients with a history of IV substance use
2. To examine the changes in quality of life before and after the introduction of narrative medicine in hospitalized patients with a history of IV substance abuse using The Quality of Life Scale (QOLS). …

The Effect Of An Educational Workshop On Relational Aggression In An Acute Care Nursing Unit, Jennifer M. Dorsey

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention on relational aggression in an acute care unit using a pre and post questionnaire. The questionnaire was used to examine changes in Relational Aggression (RA) self-awareness before and after an educational video and to determine the effectiveness of an educational video compared to no educational materials on self-awareness of RA behaviors.

METHODS: This study was single site, quasi-experimental non-equivalent pretest posttest study at the University of Kentucky. Sample size for the pre-survey was 15 acute care nurses on the control and experimental units, completed between …

Evaluating Pre-Procedural Anxiety In Adults Undergoing Interventional Radiology Procedures, Rebecca Doll

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate pre-procedural anxiety with the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) in the adult population of the Interventional Radiology department at University of Kentucky Medical Center. The objective is to provide meaningful data to providers in this clinical area that could potentially facilitate better departmental workflow and also promote quality patient outcomes.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review, using a pre/post design, was used to evaluate the departmental implementation of APAIS. Case logs for the department were observed from January 2018 to June 2018 and then again, following APAIS implementation, from July …

Gun Violence Screening In The Adolescent Setting, Amy Burnett

DNP Projects

Objective: The purpose of this project was to implement a routine gun violence screening tool into practice in order to assess the need for this type of screening in the Adolescent Medicine Clinic at the University of Kentucky.

Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental one group posttest design to examine the impact of the implementation of a gun violence screening tool on the proportion of patients screened and the proportion of patients referred for intervention that screen positive.

Results: There were 44 adolescent patients that participated in this study (n=44). Twelve out of 44 participants screened positive, which means they …

The Effect Of A Provider-Based Educational Program On Knowledge, Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, And Order Rates Of Cologuard® In A Primary Care Clinic, Cassilly B. Besten

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers, particularly in persons greater than 50 years of age. Most colorectal malignancies are slow-growing, making regular screening increasingly important to decrease morbidity, mortality, and cost of treatment. Cologuard® serves as an effective and non-invasive colorectal cancer screening modality for average-risk adults.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a provider-based educational intervention on the knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and ordering rates of Cologuard® among primary care providers.

METHODS: This study was a single-center, pre/post implementation study of the effectiveness of a provider-based educational intervention …

Barriers To Screening For Intimate Partner Violence Among Aprns In Kentucky, Kathryn L. Strait

DNP Projects

Abstract

Purpose:Intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs in at least one in every four females and one in nine men across the United States (Smith et al., 2017). While the prevalence of IPV is considerably high, the screening rates for IPV in primary care specifically average less than 12% (United States Preventative Services Task Force, 2013). Methods: In order to identify how to overcome the barriers to screening including time, knowledge of IPV, access to community resources, gender identity/sexual orientation, accuracy and availability of screening tools, and reimbursement for advanced practice nurses in Kentucky, a survey was sent to …

The Effect Of A Child's Guardian's Health Literacy On Asthma Knowledge In Pediatric Patients, Sylvan Ryder

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is to determine if there is a correlation between a guardian’s health literacy and their knowledge of their child’s asthma management.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the University of Kentucky Pediatric Pulmonology Clinic in Lexington, Kentucky. The analysis focused on how a parent’s health literacy level effected their asthma knowledge. The Rapid Estimation of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Short Form was used to measure health literacy. An asthma knowledge questionnaire with a Likert-scale design was used to measure asthma knowledge. The sample included eight parents of children with an asthma diagnosis collected …

The Effect Of A Focused Education Session On Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (Crrt) Troubleshooting To Increase Knowledge And Self-Confidence In Icu Nurses., Lauren Nance

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if education focusing on continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) troubleshooting was effective at improving ICU nurses’ knowledge and self-confidence levels. It was hopeful that, following the educational intervention, ICU nurses would have an increase in knowledge and report higher self-confidence levels regarding troubleshooting CRRT.

METHODS: This study involved the use of a pre-post-test and questionnaire to evaluate the efficacy of an educational intervention on ICU nurses’ knowledge and self-confidence levels at Saint Joseph Hospital. The pre-post-test was used to evaluate knowledge levels, while the pre-post questionnaire was used to evaluate self-reported …

Evaluation Of An Online Lgbtq Patient Care Education Module For Primary Care Providers, Anthony C. Carney

DNP Projects

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an online educational module about LGBTQ healthcare topics for primary care providers in Kentucky. The study focused on the changes in knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy in topics related to LGBTQ patients.

METHODS:

This study was a one-group pre/post intervention design to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and self- efficacy of providers regarding primary care topics for the LGBTQ community before and after completing a training module on LGBTQ healthcare topics. Subjects were recruited via the KCNPNM Listserv over a 2-week period to participate in the interactive, online audio/visual …

Evaluating Depression Management In Primary Care, Danica Amos

DNP Projects

Background: Within primary care patients identified with depression often do not receive appropriate care (43%). Guidelines recommend combining pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy when possible and establishing follow up with patients to improve their response to treatment According to the APA, only 10% of patients receive combination therapy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate depression management practices in a primary care clinic, describe providers’ attitudes and skills related to depression treatment, and work with the healthcare team to identify strategies to improve depression management within the clinic.

Methods: A single site, descriptive study utilized a retrospective chart review of …

Evaluation Of A Diabetic Point Of Care Education In Primary Care, Mary Cho

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Diabetes education is the cornerstone of managing diabetes. The education can be delivered in group or individual sessions. Given that group classes are not always well received, a brief five-minute point of care education was developed and incorporated into patients’ routine diabetic appointment. The effectiveness of the method is yet to be determined.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of a recently implemented diabetes point of care education as compared to patients’ usual care in an urban primary care clinic.

METHODS: An outcome evaluation using a retrospective …

Current Assessment And Intervention Strategies For Childhood Obesity Used By Pediatric Care Providers, Jennifer Bivins

DNP Projects

Childhood obesity rates in the United States have tripled since the 1970s in the U.S. (CDC, 2018). Due to the persistent rise in obesity rate sin children and the possible health risks associated with obesity, it is important for pediatric providers to appropriately assess and treat childhood obesity. There is limited data on what pediatric providers in the primary care setting are doing to address this growing health problem. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine current assessment and intervention strategies for childhood obesity used by pediatric health care providers at the University of Kentucky, General Pediatric clinic. …

The Effect Of Long Acting Injectable Psychotropic Medication Provider Education On Advanced Practice Provider Knowledge, Andrew Makowski

DNP Projects

Schizophrenia is a debilitating disease that affects approximately 21 million people worldwide (APA, 2013). The gold standard of treatment of schizophrenia is antipsychotic medications. Unfortunately, approximately 50% of patients become non-compliant with their prescribed medications (Sadock, Sadock & Ruiz, 2015). The purpose of this DNP project was to determine the effect of implementing an education intervention regarding long acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics on the knowledge of advanced practice providers working at a state psychiatric hospital. The advanced practice providers that participated in this DNP project completed a pre-education assessment, attended a brief educational session regarding LAI antipsychotics, and completed a …

The Effect Of A Patient Navigator Strategy On Colorectal Cancer Screening Completion In A Women’S Health Clinic, Martha Rosenthal

DNP Projects

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in the US. Kentucky has one of the highest rates of the disease. Approximately 1/3 of the population has not completed screening for colon cancer as recommended by guidelines. Patient navigation is a strategy proposed to increase completion of screening in the primary care setting.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this quality improvement pilot project was to provide preliminary data on the impact of a patient navigation strategy to improve colon cancer screening completion in low risk individuals.

METHODS: Colon cancer screening completion using Colonoscopy or Cologuard testing …

An Evaluation Of Depression In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Elleanor Gray

DNP Projects

Depression can significantly affect how adolescents with T1DM self-manage their disease. The combination of depression and diabetes is closely linked to reduction in self-care behaviors, poor treatment adherence, and sub-optimal metabolic control.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate current screening for depression in adolescents with T1DM and determine the need for additional support or services to improve the quality of routine, follow-up diabetes care.

METHODS: A cross-sectional, retrospective review of electronic medical records was used to evaluate current practice of depression screening for adolescents with T1DM (11-21years) bring followed at a local pediatric diabetes center between April …

The Effect Of A School Nurse Intervention Program On Student Absenteeism In Jefferson County Public Schools: A Pilot Study, Eva Stone

DNP Projects

Background: School attendance has a significant impact on student achievement. In early grades, students who miss 10% or more of school are considered chronically absent and at risk to be behind in reading. High school students with similar attendance patterns are less likely to enroll and stay in college after graduation. Evidence shows that the presence of school nurses can result in improved school attendance.
Purpose: The purpose of this pilot project was to implement a targeted school nurse intervention at an elementary, middle and high school in Jefferson County. The intervention included assessment by a registered nurse for children …

Emergency Room Services Used By Pediatric Patients Who Have An Established Primary Care, Rebecca J. Cooksey

DNP Projects

Background: The use of emergency room services for primary care issues is an ongoing problem. The incidence is higher in the Medicaid population and is associated with emergency room overcrowding and excessive medical costs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the extent of and the details surrounding non-acute emergency room visits in a pediatric population within an urban primary care clinic.

Methods: This was a two-part descriptive study with both quantitative and qualitative components. A retrospective chart review of this facility’s ER data constituted the quantitative descriptive part of the study. The qualitative arm of the study …

The Effect Of An Educational Video On Device-Related Concerns In A Single-Center Left Ventricular Assist Device Population, Devan Costelle

DNP Projects

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of various concerns among left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients and evaluate the effect of an educational video intervention on reducing those concerns in a single-center adult LVAD population.

METHODS:A 15-point LVAD Concerns Scale was created to evaluate the prevalence of specific device-related concerns. An educational video was created to address the concerns presented in the LVAD Concerns Scale. Data collection took place from November 2018 to February 2019. A cross-sectional, pre- post-test implementation study design was used to both identify various device-related concerns that exist among LVAD patients and …

Evaluation Of An Intervention To Improve Screening For Substance Misuse Among 12-21 Year-Old Patients In A Rural Emergency Department, Peyton Blanton

DNP Projects

Background: In 2014, over two million children between the ages of 12-17 years of age admitted to using illicit drugs (2.3 million) and alcohol (2.9 million) in the past month. The younger a person begins misusing substances the more likely they are to have serious health consequences. It is imperative that we screen, detect, and intervene early to decrease the burden of substance misuse and addiction. Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based strategy used to identify adolescents who misuse substances. The CRAFFT tool is recommended for screening adolescents for substance misuse.

Purpose: The goal of …