Digital Commons Network^™

Influence Of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Policy On Army Families' Food Insecurity, Kathleen Anne Van Voorhis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Food insecurity (not having continuing access to nutritious food to maintain health) is common in the United States, especially in working poor households. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a well-documented safety net for individuals and families struggling with food insecurity. Little is known about the effect of SNAP policy on food insecurity in working poor military households. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the lived experiences of food-insecure Army families and the perceived influence of SNAP policy on their food-insecurity. The theoretical framework was policy feedback theory. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with …

A Study Of Rural Nonprofit Board Communication And Collaboration, Angela-Janine C. Crawford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This case study explored the perceptions, experiences, and significant internal communication and collaboration problem(s) faced by a rural nonprofit board of directors experiencing a growth transition. Specifically, this study addressed (a) how a rural nonprofit's board members perceived their communication and collaboration skills and practices, and (b) the training needed to improve board communication and collaboration policies and practices. Ten rural area study participants shared their experiences and made recommendations for board communication and collaboration training. Exploring the perceptions, understandings, and capacities of the rural nonprofit board members revealed how specific communication and collaboration policies and practices affected their organization's …

Coping Methods Of Caregivers Dealing With Patients Suffering From Geriatric Dementia, Blessing Baridakara Deemua

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dementia is a neurological disorder primarily diagnosed in the geriatric population. A problem for paid caregivers of patients diagnosed with stage-4 dementia is that they may experience caregiving stress while rendering care. However, there was no research that described the lived experiences of paid caregivers. Caregiving stress can be accompanied by behaviors or comorbid conditions and specific symptoms of stress can have a differential wellness impact. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of paid caregivers of patients with dementia through Vroom's expectancy theory. Data were gathered through interpretative interviews from a sample of 10 to 15 purposefully selected nursing …

Multicase Historic Studies Of Innovative Work Behavior Among Intellectually Gifted Adults, Karen Denise Gaskins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

ABSTRACT

This qualitative research study was conducted to examine whether investing in innovation and gifted intelligence would improve America's economic well-being. The investment issue became a problem because educational researchers researched innovation as creativity rather than as productive behavior. Moreover, in the literature, adult giftedness was perceived as negative development rather than as alternate normative behavior. The purpose of this research study was to generate new knowledge about innovation and adult giftedness. WICS (wisdom, intelligence, creativity, synthesized) theory of intelligence provided the theoretical framework because intelligence is a measure of human productivity potential. The neuropsychological conceptual framework facilitated a cognitive …

Effect Of Health Information On Food Addiction Among Obese And Overweight Women, Kirsten Elyse Grant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on obesity, weight loss, and food addiction (FA) suggested a strong relationship between use of food additives and the brain's addictive response to food. Previous researchers have examined (FA) and have identified certain food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as contributors to food addiction and overeating. Social cognitive theory (SCT) has also been effective in addressing addictive behaviors such as drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and smoking cessation (Bricker et al., 2010). However, researchers had not examined food addiction, social cognitive theory, and obesity in the same study. The purpose of this quantitative, …

Leadership Strategies To Sustain Small Fitness Businesses, Jacqueline Renee Robertson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The development and sustainability of small businesses impact the U.S. economy. Owners of small businesses created 65.9% of new jobs between 2000 and 2017. Over 99.9% of known U.S. firms were small businesses. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the leadership strategies small fitness business owners implemented to sustain their businesses for longer than 5 years. The conceptual framework for this study was the servant leadership theory. The population for the study included 5 owners of small fitness businesses in the southeastern region of the U.S. who used leadership strategies to sustain their businesses for longer …

Assessment Of Cancer-Related Fatigue In Breast Cancer Survivors, Meagan Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a persistent and debilitating problem for many breast cancer survivors. Although many CRF measurement tools are available, no consensus exists on the most appropriate tool to use for breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this project was to identify the best method of assessing CRF in breast cancer survivors. The practice-focused question inquired about the most appropriate way to assess fatigue in breast cancer survivors. The central concepts of the project were CRF and cancer survivorship. This project was informed by the theory of health as expanding consciousness and Mishel's theory of uncertainty in illness. The …

Enhancing The Competitive Advantage Of U.S. Corporations By Incorporating A Foreign Trade Zones Strategy, Dino Adolfo Scott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some leaders of U.S. companies fail to implement proper decision-making strategies to enact and execute strategies to realize the benefits provided by a foreign trade zone (FTZ). The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and to identify the proper decision-making strategies used in successfully implementing a FTZ. The target population consisted of 5 leaders, including a senior leader, a supply chain manager, and 3 department managers of a company located in the midwestern region of the United States that successfully implemented a FTZ. Porter's competitive advantage theory was the conceptual framework used for the study. Semistructured interviews …

The Role Of Advanced Practice Nurses In Advanced Care Planning For Cancer Patients, Sincere Mcmillan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, more than 75% of people will spend their last months of life in a health care facility. A key role for clinicians is to discuss care goals with the patients as part of a process called advanced care planning (ACP). As part of the oncology care team, advanced practice nurses (APNs) could help to increase the frequency of ACP discussions. The purpose of this project was to assess the knowledge and practice experiences of APNs regarding ACP at a National Cancer Institute designated cancer care hospital. Carper's patterns of knowing was the theoretical framework of this …

Weight Management Toolkit For Patients On Methadone, Bolaji Olugboja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Methadone is a mu-opioid agonist used in the treatment of patients with an opioid use disorder in an outpatient addiction treatment clinic. A recognized knowledge gap exists among nurses managing overweight and obese patients in an outpatient methadone treatment center in the northeastern United States. The goal of this project was to develop a weight management toolkit to assist nurses in the identification, evaluation, and management of overweight and obese patients receiving methadone treatment at the center. The evidence-based weight management toolkit incorporated practice guidelines from the American Heart Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, America College of Cardiology, and …

Hypertension Experience Of Foreign-Born West African Immigrant Women In The United States, Assumpta Onyinye Ude

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Foreign-born African immigrants (FBAI) have a high rate of severe hypertension (HTN) and psychosocial-cultural factors have underlying roles in this, as in other chronic diseases. Literature lacks studies on FBAI women living with HTN. This study explored the HTN experience of FBAI women in the Washington Metropolitan area. This qualitative phenomenological study, was guided by a theoretical framework that included the Health Belief Model, Patient Centered Access to Health Care and the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. Highly educated health care professional of 15 women participated in in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Key findings included …

Social Support, Health Status, And Personality Factors In Coping Styles Of Gay Men, Mary Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Personality factors and coping styles may affect how individuals will respond to the lack of social support. The purpose of this descriptive design was to examine the relationship between social support and health risk implications in gay men, which is a population that is under-represented in the research literature in regard to this topic. The theoretical framework guiding this study was the social stress model, which posits that stress and support are related to mental health outcomes. A sample of 76 gay men were recruited from Craigslist ad to participate in this study. They completed self -report questionnaires anonymously online, …

Smoking And Surgical Site Infection In Orthopedic Patients' Lower Extremity Arthroplasty, Alicia Y. Mingo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cigarette smoking has been a public health concern for many years, and the possible impact of smoking on surgical site infection (SSI) has been studied broadly. However, a gap in understanding has persisted concerning whether there is an association between smoking tobacco and the development of SSI among patients who undergo lower extremity surgery, specifically total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to examine the association between smoking and lower extremity SSI. Andersen's behavioral model (BM) was used to understand the risk factors relevant to the interaction between smoking and SSI. Application of the BM categories of …

Controlling Hypertension Among Young Black Men In America: A Prescription Medication Alternative, Winston Charles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the evident improvements in the awareness of hypertension among the adult population in the United States, disparities remain in the burden of the disease, its treatment efficacy, and its control when data are compared along age, gender, and race. The purpose of this study was to determine the strength of the relationship between blood pressure control and prescription medication and lifestyle modification (smoking cessation, changes in eating habits, and weight loss). The target population were adult young Black men, and the control variables were age, low socioeconomic status (SES), and disparities in health care. A convenience sample of Black …

Public Health Implications Of Retailer Resale Of Returned Textile Clothing Merchandise, Antonette M. A. Francis-Shearer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, 18th century anecdotal accounts of the decimation of several tribes of U.S. of the Native American population by trading of infected textile blankets alludes to the role of retail in the transmission of infectious disease. This study explores implications of the modern day retail organization practice of reselling returned clothing textiles from a public health infectious disease perspective. A qualitative multi-case study, utilized responses from 20 open-ended, unstructured interviews of retail employees assigned to the returns process. Additionally, several informal observations of select U.S.based, top-ranked clothing retail organizations, identified by the National Retail Federation were completed. Select federal, state, …

Obesity Epidemic In The Military: Implications For Veterans, Tracy Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of overweight and obesity on veterans' careers. Obesity, once thought unproblematic for the military, is being recognized as a health concern that has expansive implications for the health and readiness of service men and women, as well as for veterans. There is an abundance of information on obesity within the general population, but research on the impact of obesity on military careers is limited. This quantitative, cross-sectional research study investigated how obesity is a challenge throughout a veteran's career, from enlistment to retirement, using an online survey to gather data …

Effects Of Increased Indoor Cycling Activity On Exercise Motivation, Body Image And Health Perception In The Adult Female Population, S. Latrice Totsch

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to implement a program over an eight-week period that increased cardiovascular exercise, specifically indoor cycling, by at least 45 minutes a week to analyze the relationship between an increase in activity and exercise motivation, health perception, and body image within the female population. Background and Significance: Obesity is strongly linked to medical conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, cardiovascular accidents, and diabetes. Research has shown that regular cardiovascular exercise can help prevent these conditions from developing. However, barriers to exercise such as a lack of motivation, body image concerns, and a negative …

Improving Quality Of Life In Menopausal Women Through Lifestyle Management : A Web-Based Health Promotion Project, Dana Essner

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Introduction: The symptoms of menopause affect 2 million women per year. Patient education and health promotion are key components of the primary care well visit. Lifestyle medicine focuses on behavioral changes to improve health and quality of life. One can use lifestyle medicine to promote wellness in menopausal women, thus improving their mental and physical health. Current data suggests that behavioral counseling enhances the patient education experience. A series of behavioral changes in diet, exercise, and mindfulness can be used. Social media is an effective tool to engage the population at large, while small group or individual counseling works on …

“I Want To Feel What They Feel”: Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Emotional Flow In Narrative Health Blogs, Sarah Elizabeth Sheff

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Emotion has long been implemented in persuasive messages and campaigns to influence attitudes and health behavior. Research demonstrates that messages often evoke more than one emotion during and after exposure, and this was previously viewed as an undesirable outcome; however, the literature suggests that the intentional inclusion of multiple emotions, or emotional flow, could positively impact persuasive outcomes, such as attitudes and behavioral intention.

The proposed study employs the concept of emotional flow, the intentional inclusion of more than one discrete emotion, in the context of narrative health blogs addressing mental health topics relevant to college students. The study specifically …

Effects Of Thermal Stress On Amount, Composition, And Antibacterial Properties Of Coral Mucus, Rachel M. Wright, Marie E. Strader, Heather M. Genuise, Mikhail Matz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America ABSTRACT The surface mucus layer of reef-building corals supports feeding, sediment clearing, and protection from pathogenic invaders. As much as half of the fixed carbon supplied by the corals' photosynthetic symbionts is incorporated into expelled mucus. It is therefore reasonable to expect that coral bleaching (disruption of the coralfialgal symbiosis) would affect mucus production. Since coral mucus serves as an important nutrient source for the entire reef community, this could have substantial ecosystemwide consequences. In this study, we examined the effects of heat …

Animal Assisted Therapy In Pediatric Speech-Language Therapy With A Preschool Child With Severe Language Delay: A Single-Subject Design, Heather K. Anderson, Sandra L. Hayes, Julie P. Smith

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: The application of animal assisted therapy (AAT) in provision of services is an emerging area of research in the allied health literature. Prior investigators have called for additional research concerning applications of animal assisted therapy in specific settings and patient populations.

Objectives: to (a) investigate the effect of animal assisted therapy on the quantity of vocalizations in a single child participant with severe speech delay, and (b) identify optimal animal assisted therapy practices in pediatric group speech-language therapy.

Design: A case study was conducted using ABA single-case design. The number of vocalizations produced by the participant was measured …

Thyroid Function Screening & Dysfunction In Patients With Heart Failure: An Examination Of Practice At The University Of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital From 2007-2017, Alexandra Paige Hall

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Introduction: Heart failure constitutes a global pandemic affecting at least 26 million globally (an estimated 5.7 million of which are Americans), and its burden on our healthcare system is projected to increase.[1] As a result, it is imperative that diagnostics and treatment among that population be evidence based in order to contain costs and optimize patient outcomes. Over the last 20 years, thyroid function screening has been recommended for patients upon initial diagnosis of heart failure by the American College of Cardiology and other professional organizations. However, it remains unclear whether this recommendation is followed by practitioners and how much …

A Comparison Of Pediatric Prevention Policies To Pediatric Health Supervision Codes, Rania Burke

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

The number of policy statements from the AAP presents pediatricians with an increasing amount of advice related to prevention, yet the definition of prevention and well-child visits has not changed for outpatient office visits. Outpatient office visits are the primary means by which preventive care is administered. The objective of this study is to quantify and characterize the prevention policy recommendations that pediatricians are expected to provide patients/guardians beyond the well-child visit. Secondarily, an analysis was completed to demonstrate which prevention policies make recommendations that can be coded for reimbursement as part of a well-child prevention visit.

METHODS The author …

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono: 2019 Statistical Report, Lehigh Valley Health Network

Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute

No abstract provided.

Asbury Theological Seminary Academic Catalog : 2019-2020, Asbury Theological Seminary

Academic Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: A Survey To Assess Adults Knowledge, Attitudes, And Consumption Patterns Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Jeff Schafer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have a direct impact on the general health of the country when looking at the rising obesity levels (CDC, 2017a). The USDA’s dietary guidelines suggest that the daily intake of added sugar should be limited to 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men (Hughes, 2017). However, the average American consumes 20 teaspoons of sugar daily (Hughes, 2017). These extra calories are converted into fat and stored in the body. Data collected throughout the years indicates a rise in the number of Americans living with a weight above healthy recommendations, which is termed, obese. Obesity is …

Effect Of Process-Oriented Guided-Inquiry Learning (Pogil) On Preservice Elementary Teachers' Understanding Of Biological Classification, Mackenzie Volz

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study examined preservice elementary teachers’ biological classification conceptions and whether process-oriented guided-inquiry learning (POGIL) or traditional pedagogies affect preservice elementary teachers’ understanding of biological classification conceptions. A literature review was completed to determine common biological classification conceptions that exist among all researched populations, what misconceptions are present regarding biological classification, and whether POGIL was an appropriate pedagogy to use in the experimental study. The findings from the literature review were used to develop a mixed-method research study. Both quantitative and qualitative data was gathered through the use of pre- and posttests and post-instruction clinical interviews. Participants (n = 47) …

Targeting The Inequality In Quality Improvement, Raquel Maria Davis

Public Health Theses

Objective. To use Casalino et al.’s (2007) proposed causal pathways of how pay-for-performance (P4P) can exacerbate racial/ethnic health care disparities as a framework for analyzing the literature and determine the adequacy of the evidence.

Data Sources/Study Setting. Existing literature (gray and peer-reviewed) on pay-for-performance and racial/ethnic health disparities identified from the Ovid Medline database.

Conceptual Framework. Casalino et al.’s four casual pathways include: “Pathway 1: Reduction in income for physicians in poor minority communities,” “Pathway 2: ‘Color-blind’ quality improvement programs,” “Pathway 3: ‘Teaching to the test’ might disproportionately affect minorities,” and “Pathway 4: Avoiding patients perceived as likely to lower …

Olympian’S Medal And Money Exemption: How Congress’S Addition To Internal Revenue Code Section 74 Does Very Little For Very Few, Cody Walls

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

Prize winners face income tax consequences upon receiving their prize. Whether the prize is a plaque, car, trophy, or cash, if it has value, it is generally deemed taxable income by the I.R.S. Congress recently passed legislation, Internal Revenue Code Section 74(d), giving Olympic athletes an exemption from income on their Olympic medals and cash they receive from the Olympic Committee.

This note examines what effect the legislation has on an Olympic athlete’s tax return. Additionally, this note looks at what questions an Olympic athlete might ask themselves when determining what is includible in income or what is deductible as …

Louisiana Agriculture Winter, 2019, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

No abstract provided.