Digital Commons Network^™

An Exploration Of The Lived Experiences Of Individuals Living With Hiv/Aids In Rural Uganda, Godfrey Ddungu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV/AIDS is the most stigmatized health condition globally, yet there are limited studies that have examined the needs of rural Ugandans diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. At a time when Ugandan voices could assist in the development and implementation of prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the spread of the virus, these voices remain unheard and silenced. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of HIV-positive men and women in rural Uganda. A transcendental phenomenological approach provided the framework and design. This research used eight participants who were attending an AIDS health care center in Uganda. In-depth …

Staff Education To Promote Probiotic Breastfeeding Therapy, José Diaz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in children under 5. In addition, there are 22 million babies born underweight each year which also contributes to the infant mortality rate. Some reasons for the inability to thrive and survive are the infants' immature system, allostatic load inadaptability, and undiversified and underdeveloped microbiota. Human breast milk (HBM) provides lifesaving nutrients, which prevents necrotizing enterocolitis and mortality. In addition, probiotic supplementation helps reduce late-onset sepsis, morbidities, and mortality. A literature review provided substantial evidence that HBM and probiotics can improve an infant's microbiota, thus improving thrivability and survivability. Probiotics offset the …

Community College Management Strategies For Balancing The Budgets, Rachel Ann Sullivan Dodson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During declining revenue, community college leaders may be unable to balance their budgets effectively. Community college managers who fail to balance budgets negatively impact a college’s financial sustainability. Grounded in Burn’s transactional leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies community college managers use to balance their budgets in an environment of declining revenue. Data were collected from eight semistructured community college manager interviews and company documents: enrollment data, budget data, performance-based funding model data, and the strategic plan. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Four themes emerged: (a) budget alignment with …

Perceptions Of Female Naval Officers On Combat Role Policy And Career Advancement, Cheryl Dudley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women were officially allowed to serve in combat positions when the 1993 Combat Exclusion Policy was lifted in 2013. There was little research to date on how these changes may have influenced the recruitment, retention, and promotion of female naval officers. The purpose of this study was to explore female naval officers' perceptions on how lifting the combat exclusion policy impacted the factors of recruitment, retention, and promotion within the military. A generic qualitative study supported exploring perceptions of female naval officers who experienced combat duty regarding these issues. Using feminist security studies as the conceptual framework, this study focused …

Vicarious Trauma And Elementary School Counselors, Erin M. Duduit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Vicarious trauma has been a focus of scholars for many years and demonstrates that vicarious trauma effects professional behaviorally, personally, and physiologically. This quantitative cross-sectional study explored the relationship between vicarious trauma and occupational exposure (caseload size) disrupting the cognitive structures of empathy, control, and esteem. The theoretical framework for this study was the constructivist self-development theory, which described how helping professionals develop vicarious trauma after exposure to traumatic stories. The social cognitive theory was also used for this study, explaining how elementary school counselors can increase their capacity for empathizing through modeling and experiencing empathy from others. The study …

Homophobia In Jamaica And Its Impact On The Victimization Of Homosexual Adult Males In Montego Bay, St. James, Dr. Shahila D. Edwards-Grey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractJamaica has been listed among the most unfriendly nations for homosexual males. Previous research indicated that due to the biopolitical and sociocultural norms of the Jamaican society, homosexual males continued to be targets of various forms of discrimination based on their sexual orientation. However, research reflecting the lived experiences of homosexual males in Jamaica is sparse. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to provide details on the encounters of victimization due to homophobia of adult homosexual males in the parish of St. James, Jamaica. Data were collected through observations and in-depth interviews with eight men who identified as …

Workplace Bullying On Human Resources Management Performance In Correctional Facilities, Oliver Onyeka Ehiahuruike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWorkplace bullying, as part of a hostile work environment, impacts human resources management (HRM) work outcome metrics, employees' attitudes toward their job, organization, and behavioral intentions that collectively affect organizational goals. Addressed in this study are the problems of workplace bullying of corrections employees, which negatively affect HRM outcome measures of turnover intention, organizational commitment, and employee job satisfaction. The purpose of this quantitative correlational research study was to determine the relationship between workplace bullying and turnover intention, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction among corrections employees in Texas. Homans's social exchange and Bourdieu's social capital theories were used in this …

College Students’ Psychosocial Functioning 2 To 5 Years After Death Of A Parent, Carla C. Elbel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship regarding a loss of parent during adolescence with psychosocial development into early college years (18 through 22 years of age) as measured by the Modified Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory (MEPSI). A sample of 15 young college students, ages 18 to 22, completed the MEPSI and a second sample of young college students 18 to 22, who lost a parent, completed the MEPSI. No significant difference was found in the variance of the means; therefore, the null hypothesis was retained. A small sample t test analysis was used to compare the …

Relationship Of Acetaminophen And Alcohol To Incipient Renal Insufficiency: The Role Of Race In Estimating Glomerular Filtration Rate, Preston Eledu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are increasing concerns about the incorporation of race in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) prediction equation. which has been used to measure renal function in studies that have shown a relationship between therapeutic dose of acetaminophen and light-moderate alcohol use to incipient renal insufficiency. The purpose of this study was to assess the same relationship, using a redefinition of renal insufficiency based on the chronic kidney disease–epidemiology collaboration creatinine-based eGFR, with and without race, and exploring the potential impact of race in the hypothesized relationship. Data from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed using …

Lived Experiences Of Copd Patients With Exertional Hypoxemia Prescribed Supplemental Oxygen, Sarah Ann Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients with exertional hypoxemia are often prescribed supplemental oxygen therapy to alleviate their symptoms and maintain adequate arterial oxygen saturation; however, little is known about how chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with exertional hypoxemia experience the addition of supplemental oxygen on their lives. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study guided by Roger’s science of unitary human beings was to explore the lived experiences of COPD patients with exertional hypoxemia and who require supplemental oxygen. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants using a query from the electronic medical records to identify patients prescribed supplemental oxygen for exertional, not …

Tuberculosis-Associated Knowledge, Stigma, And Health Seeking Behavior Among Traders In Onitsha Main Market, Anambra State, Nigeria, Benedeth N. Ezeosim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The utilization of tuberculosis (TB) health care services in a Nigerian state has not been optimal. Many residents do not utilize available health care resources when they experience symptoms of TB. Although much is known about the determinants of health seeking behavior (HSB), there is a gap on how TB knowledge and TB related stigma among traders in one main market contribute to HSB. This study examined the effect of TB knowledge and TB related stigma on HSB among traders. The health stigma and discrimination and health belif models served as the theoretical foundation. A quantitative cross-sectional analytical survey design …

The Interrelationship Between Sensorimotor Deficits And Maladaptive Behavior In The Classroom, L B Marie Filion

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mainstreaming special education students has created challenges for teachers, resulting in significant lesson time allocated to classroom disruptions related to maladaptive behavior. This correlational study examined the extent to which specific sensorimotor deficits predict maladaptive behavior among special education students (aged 8-12 years) based on archival data of teacher assessments in New Zealand. Piaget’s cognitive and affective development theory was used as the theoretical foundation. Results from standard multiple regression demonstrated that higher levels of sensorimotor deficits (vision, touch, taste and smell, body awareness, balance and motion) predicted high levels of maladaptive behavior (internalizing, externalizing, and overall maladaptive behavior indices); …

Improving Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Knowledge Of Shingles Management, Kyla Gilbert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractShingles is a viral infection that can adversely impact patients if not promptly treated. In the project facility, a gap in practice was identified when a 6-month facility chart review noted a delay in shingles diagnosis 60% of the time. It is important for the Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) to be knowledgeable regarding diagnoses and best practices for treatment of shingles. However, the local facility had no available education on shingles. The practice-focused question asked whether APRN knowledge of shingles could be improved through staff education. The doctoral project provided shingles education to address the identified knowledge gap. The …

The Relationship Between Customers’ Satisfaction And Trust In The Global Supply Chain And Profitability, Azeal Gilham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The inability to meet customer demands and expectations impacts an organization’s profitability. Understanding and meeting customer needs are critical for the financial success of business owners. Grounded in the theory of constraints, the purpose of this quantitative ex post facto study was to examine the relationships between customers’ satisfaction and trust in the supply chain and profitability. Secondary data (n = 121) were collected from the Elsevier Research Database using archival data collected from an automotive factory. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression, and the results were statistically significant, F (2, 118) = 264.347, p < .001, R2 = .90. In the final model, both predictor variables were significant, customers’ satisfaction: mean wait time (t = 22.991, p < .001, β = 16.23); and customers’ trust: minimum stock level (t = 7.306, p < .001, β = .118). A key recommendation is for business leaders to satisfy customers and gain their trust by creating sufficient inventory stocking levels and improving replenishment timeframes that meet customers’ supply chain demands. The implications for positive social change include the opportunity for supply chain managers to develop an effective supply chain that may contribute to the quality of service that promotes success in regional markets, sustain growth, and allows for social development among the local community workforces.

The Experiences Of Successful Formerly Incarcerated African American Males, Bernice Gordon-Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American men are incarcerated at alarming rates and often recidivate at high rates within 3 years. Researchers have demonstrated that recidivism rates last through years 4 and beyond. There is limited qualitative data to provide strategies from formerly incarcerated African American males who have been successful at not recidivating for 10 or more years after their release. The purpose of this Afrocentric-hermeneutic phenomenological study was to bridge the gap in the literature and explore the lived experiences of African American males who were formerly incarcerated and have positively changed their lives to avoid further criminality. A purposeful and snowball …

Sex Offenders’ Risk Assessment Process And Effects On Jurisdiction Transitioning, Lonnie Keith Grabowska

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe Adam Walsh Act created sex offender notification and registration requirements to encourage state compliance toward federal guidelines and assigned threat levels to registered sex offenders using mandated assessment processes. Researchers have pointed out that the transition by states using tiered assessment processes to the federally mandated guidelines has led to operational changes to state registration procedures. The purpose of this quantitative study was to understand the effects and impacts on jurisdictions transitioning the designation of registered sex offenders’ threat assessment levels from a formal risk-based assessment process to the mandated Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act conviction-based assessment tool …

Perceived Factors Of Intimate Partner Violence On Women Diagnosed With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Angela M. Halcovich

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent diagnosis, and many human and social services professionals strive to understand its components, to ensure that they serve the population properly. However, little is known about how PTSD may influence women’s vulnerabilities to and future experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV). Emphasizing relationship coaching, which provides tools to foster healthy relationships, within the therapeutic curricula on rehabilitation for women with PTSD may result in reduced chances to experience IPV as women integrate back into their everyday life after being diagnosed and treated for PTSD. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to …

Relationship Between Maternal Language And Use Of Electronic Cigarettes In Pregnancy, Tara Halpern

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tobacco use has been a long-standing known modifiable risk factor to maternal health. Although there have been many efforts to encourage smoking cessation, use of electronic cigarettes in pregnancy has been increasing over the years. Understanding potential factors that may play a role in the increased use of electronic cigarettes is important to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes. The social ecological model provides the theoretical framework for this study. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a woman’s primary language and pregnancy health care factors (i.e., access to health care 12 months prior to pregnancy, access to …

Successful Digital Marketing Strategies Of Independent Artists, Wendy Renee Hicks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of effective digital marketing strategies can hinder profitability for independent artists. Artists who cannot develop digital marketing strategies are at risk of not sustaining their independent businesses. Based on the foundational principle of marketing mix as its conceptual lens, the purpose of this qualitative, exploratory multiple case study was to explore what digital marketing strategies some independent artists used to achieve and sustain profitability. The participants were nine independent artists on the east coast of the United States who published original music at a profit during the last 5 years. Data were collected from semistructured interviews. Data were …

Strategies For Improving The Interoperability Of Private Practices’ Electronic Health Care Systems, Anasa N. Holden

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCommunication of data exchange is essential for all healthcare service lines to ensure the highest quality of care. For a long time, private practices and small businesses have needed help implementing electronic healthcare systems interoperability. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies private practices and small businesses use to sustain electronic healthcare systems with interoperability effectively. The participants were six CEOs, managers, and leaders of private practices and small businesses in Detroit, Michigan, with direct healthcare service lines that effectively sustained electronic healthcare systems with interoperability. Data were collected …

Beliefs Of Higher Education Online Faculty Regarding The Integration Of Multimedia, Kimberly Diane Hoyt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Integration of multimedia resources in higher education curricula continues to be a concern for today’s teachers, especially in identifying effective, efficient, and engaging resources that provide individualized instruction and meet a variety of learning needs. However, there was a gap in the literature regarding teachers' beliefs about multimedia integration within the context of adult learning in online higher education. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the benefits and challenges higher education online teachers experienced when integrating multimedia resources into their courses. The research question explored the beliefs of higher education online instructors about their experiences when …

An Examination Of Chronic Homelessness From The Perspective Of Counseling Professionals In Southeast Florida, Tonia Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homelessness continues to be a serious social problem in the United States. Despite the public and private resources expended to address homelessness, the crisis still exists. This phenomenological study was framed in Maslow’s human needs approach. Maslow created a list of basic five human needs to gain a better understanding of human behavior and motivation. The human behavior theory can also be applied to homelessness to provide a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. The research question addressed the strongest factors that counseling professionals consider to be related with chronic homelessness in Southeast Florida. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews of …

Resilience Characteristics In Law Enforcement Officers, Jocelyn Grace Jameson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Resilience characteristics in law enforcement officers have been a focus of scholars for several decades. Repetitive trauma requires officers to establish coping mechanisms and manufacture varying resilience factors. Researchers have demonstrated that interventions to improve resilience may result in a higher demand for psychoeducation, training and well-being, and stress management. Researchers have yet to establish what shared characteristics are among law enforcement officers that promote resilience. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of law enforcement officers’ experiences, beliefs, and knowledge about their exposure to repetitive traumatic events. The resilience theory supported the research. A qualitative, …

High Resting Energy Expenditure In Women With Episodic Migraine: Exploring The Use Of Predictive Formulas, Laís Bhering Martins, Jéssica Sales Ribeiro, Ana Maria Dos Santos Rodrigues, Luana Caroline Dos Santos, Antonio Lúcio Teixeira, Adaliene Versiani Matos Ferreira

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Migraine is a common and disabling primary headache, and its pathophysiology is not fully understood. Previous studies have suggested that pain can increase humans' Resting Energy Expenditure (REE). However, no previous study has investigated whether the REE of individuals with migraine differs from the general population. Therefore, this study aims to assess whether the REE of women with migraine differs from that of women without headaches. We also tested the accuracy of REE predictive formulas in the migraine patients.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study involves 131 adult women aged between 18 and 65 years, 83 with migraine and 48 without …

Developing A Governance Framework For A Commercially Successful, Inclusive, And Safe Metaverse, Hamady Dia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study aimed to fill a significant gap in the literature on empirical research on the governance structure of the Metaverse. The purpose of this study was to describe Metaverse strategy and innovation management experts’ views on how business leaders and policymakers may collaborate on shaping a governance structure for the Metaverse. This study used a multiple case study design to collect data from a purposeful sample of eight Metaverse experts using a semistructured interview format. This study was framed by three key concepts: Rogers’s concept of diffusion of innovations, Ball’s concept of the Metaverse, and Fernandez and Hiu’s concept …

Educating Oncology Nurses On Identifying And Managing Cancer-Related Distress, Rosemary Vivella Irish

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractUp to 50% of patients diagnosed with cancer will experience significant levels of distress. Cancer is related to psychological distress and can negatively impact recovery from surgery, increase treatment side effects, and decrease overall quality of life. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommended screening for distress as part of comprehensive cancer care. In the practice setting, there was a need for better assessment of distress in cancer patients. The purpose of this staff education project was to address a gap in practice regarding the lack of knowledge of screening for distress by providing education to oncology nurses on how to …

The Experiences Of Rural School Attorneys: Implications For School Leaders, Daniel A. Decino, Phillip L. Waalkes, Connor Donohoe

The Rural Educator

Rural school leaders encounter an array of complex issues that require legal counsel. Student discipline, contract disputes, employee conduct, special education, and a host of other topics require school boards and superintendents to utilize school attorneys. This descriptive phenomenological study explored the daily experiences of ten school attorneys representing multiple school districts in rural areas. Three salient themes emerged (a) the work of a school attorney, (b) relationships and interactions with school personnel, and (c) insights for others. Themes provide a comprehensive picture regarding school attorneys’ roles, responsibilities, and engagements with school personnel within rural schools. Implications, including the importance …

Mitigating Global Temperature Change Through Industrial Sector Improvements: A Case Study In Automotive Manufacturing, Alec Joseph Ernst

Theses and Dissertations

Manufacturing is an integral part of our country’s flow of products and people and a top contributor to carbon emissions, promoting global temperature rise. During processing, toxic substances are emitted across the value chain. These emissions account for nearly 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and the World. Until 2023, an accessible pathway for manufacturing companies to transition to net-zero emissions hasn’t been made readily available. The current research was conducted to determine if reducing carbon emissions in manufacturing facilities through efficiency improvements, process optimization, and technology advancements can mitigate global temperature change.This quantitative, mixed-method approach …

Educating Oncology Nurses On Identifying And Managing Cancer-Related Distress, Rosemary Vivella Irish

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractUp to 50% of patients diagnosed with cancer will experience significant levels of distress. Cancer is related to psychological distress and can negatively impact recovery from surgery, increase treatment side effects, and decrease overall quality of life. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommended screening for distress as part of comprehensive cancer care. In the practice setting, there was a need for better assessment of distress in cancer patients. The purpose of this staff education project was to address a gap in practice regarding the lack of knowledge of screening for distress by providing education to oncology nurses on how to …

Maternal-Early-Warning-System Education To Improve Registered Nurse Knowledge Of And Appropriate Responses To Triggers, Dawn Marie Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The maternal early warning system (MEWS) is the single most reliable response tool to improve maternal outcomes in obstetrics. Recognition and response by nurses to the MEWS triggers was worrisome at the project site as the MEWS trigger to detect changes in the clinical conditions in obstetric patients was not applied consistently at the bedside. This project was developed to evaluate whether providing an education program on the application of MEWS to nurses in obstetrics at the practicum site would improve registered nurses’ knowledge of and appropriate responses to the MEWS trigger alarms. A literature search targeting the key words …