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California School Psychologists’ Advocacy Efforts Related To Contractual Caseloads, Tess A. Melendrez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the evolving role of school psychologists, policies have failed to address the high student-to-school psychologist ratios. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictability of contractual caseload advocacy among California school psychologists and their use of resources to engage in policy-oriented learning strategies. A quantitative research design was used, and data were collected from school psychologists in California (N = 138) who completed an online questionnaire. The theoretical foundation was Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith’s advocacy coalition framework. Ordinal logistic regression indicated that school psychologists’ location and job were not statistically significant predictive factors for advocacy for contractual caseloads. …

A Staff Education Program For Early Fall Detection And Fall Prevention In A Nursing Home Population, Andrew Akueteh Mensah-Sowah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden UniversityCollege of Nursing This is to certify that the doctoral study by Andrew Mensah-Sowah has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Cheryl Holly, Committee Chairperson, Nursing Faculty Dr. Edna Hull, Committee Member, Nursing Faculty Dr. Tracy Andrews, University Reviewer, Nursing Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2023

A Staff Education Program for Early Fall Detection and Fall Prevention in a Nursing Home Population

by

Andrew Akueteh Mensah-Sowah

MS, Walden University, 2017

BS, Mountain …

Adaptive And Maladaptive Coping As Mediators Of The Relationship Between Impostor Phenomenon And Help Seeking Intention, Victor Mosconi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The modern workplace and public media have reported on the influence of the impostor phenomenon (IP) on leadership mental health and workplace effectiveness. The choice of coping strategy may influence leaders’ intentions to seek psychological help. Guided by the impostor cycle model, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the extent to which adaptive and maladaptive coping mediates the relationship between IP and help-seeking intention in a convenience sample of 162 participants in leadership positions. The Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale assessed strength of IP, the Brief COPE measure assessed adaptive and maladaptive coping, and the Beliefs About Psychological …

The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Factors And Obesity In Adults (25-54 Years) In Guam In 2020, Perinne O'Brien

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Guam, a United States Pacific Island territory, the rate of obesity in adults continues to rise. Relationships between obesity and six socioeconomic factors (health care coverage, education level, employment status, home ownership, household income, and marital status) in adults 25 to 54 years of age living in Guam in 2020 were explored. Because obesity may be affected at multiple levels of influence, the socioecological model grounded this research. Secondary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used to carry out a quantitative, cross-sectional study. Complex samples binary logistic regression analyses were …

Employee Retention Strategies In Selected Small And Medium Enterprises In Nigeria, Ijeoma Omeoga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe lack of employee retention strategies in Nigeria’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can have adverse business outcomes. Business leaders are concerned about employee retention strategies since they can help reduce turnover and retain experienced employees. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies business leaders use to retain their experienced employees. The participants were four business leaders of four SMEs in Nigeria who successfully implemented strategies that helped retain their experienced employees. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of organization policy documents. Through thematic analysis, four …

Relationship Between Childhood Trauma, ,Adverse Childhood Experiences, And Self-Management Of Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes, Deserie J. Otoole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPoorly controlled diabetes is the result of lack of self-care, which contributes to complications, ill quality in life, the rise in health care costs, and early death. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study was to examine the extent to which diabetes type (Type 1 and Type 2), childhood trauma, and adverse childhood experiences predict diabetes self-management (glucose management, dietary control, physical activity, health care use, total self-management). Contemporary trauma theory suggests that early childhood trauma results in negative health-related consequences in adulthood. Standard multiple regression analyses showed that (a) higher levels of physical neglect and emotional abuse predicted poorer …

Providing Health Care To Patients With Intellectual And Developmental Disability During Covid-19, Pauline Andrea Park-Maxwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThis project sought to enhance the care offered in a local clinic to individuals with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals with IDD are faced with the challenges of coping with some social conditions. Mainly waiting for extended periods in a doctor’s office can be challenging. To reduce this population’s waiting time, a staff education program was developed to address this concern. Currently, this local clinic did not have a prescreening exercise that would meet the needs of this population. This DNP project aimed to develop a staff education program for staff in a primary …

College Experiences Of Female Students With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Cleo Patrick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThis study, using feminist trauma theory as the conceptual framework, addressed a gap in the literature about female university students’ experiences with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to the academic and social supports needed for college success and degree completion. Nearly 30% of college students will drop out during their 1st year in school. Research suggests that personal histories of simple and complex traumas may be influential factors contributing to dropout rates. There are limited programs or resources in colleges and universities to address the needs of students struggling with past traumas aside from routine student counseling. The purpose of …

Relationship Between Food Insecurity, Depression, And Race/Ethnicity Among U.S. Adults Aged 60–69 Years, Patrick E. Crandon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Food insecurity (FI) and depression among older populations in the United States are public health concerns. Although FI has declined in the United States, it is a psychosocial stressor prevalent among the growing population of adults over 60. It is unknown to what extent FI contributes to depression among racial/ethnic minorities in this population. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the relationships between FI and race and depression among U.S. adults aged 60–69 years when adjusting for other variables. The social-ecological model was used to understand the interplay between individual and environmental factors that may …

Relationship Between Employee Human Capital, Relational Capital, And Work Engagement, Royelle David Comer Sr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Work engagement is a challenge for information technology leaders in the digital industry because employees with engagement concerns may exhibit decreased commitment and increased workplace incivility towards the organization, thereby impacting business profits. Grounded in the job demands-resource theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between human capital, relational capital, and work engagement initiatives in technology companies in the United States. The participants were 125 supervisors and full-time personnel from the metropolitan region of Atlanta, Georgia, who completed an online-based survey. The results of the multiple linear regression were significant, F (18, 106) = …

Leadership And Spirituality: The Relationship Of Incorporating Spirituality In Ethical Workplace Decision Making, Tiffany D. Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unethical actions such as fraud, corruption, and corporate scandals have led to a global loss of more than $7.1 trillion. The unethical actions concern business leaders because unethical decision-making can lead to business closure. Grounded in Fry's spiritual leadership theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to examine the relationship between spiritual leadership, spiritual well-being, and ethical decision-making. The participants were 102 mid-level managers in the United States who completed the Spiritual Leadership Survey. The results of the multiple linear regression were significant, F(4, 97) = 7.808, p < .001, R2 = .244. In the final model, hope/faith was the only significant predictor (t = 2.079, p = .040, ß = .314). A key recommendation is for organizations' leaders to incorporate hope/faith in their overall decision-making. The implications for positive social change include the potential of leaders enlightening an individual's thinking toward ethical decisions for themselves, their organizations, and personnel within the workplace.

The Impact Of Staffing Level On Patient Care In Behavioral Health Care Settings, Sheuness Cuthbertson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn many behavioral health care organizations, adequate staffing represents a key challenge that can compromise the workforce and cause detrimental outcomes for patients. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how inadequate staffing shapes the environment of one behavioral health care organization. A case study design was used, with the Baldrige Excellence Framework serving as the conceptual guide to understand how the organization's leadership performed and addressed important organizational challenges. The participant, a leader in the organization who oversaw program services, operations, policies, and procedures, answered interview questions about inadequate staffing and its impact on patient care and …

Health Education Practices For Middle Eastern Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Walaa Daffaalla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex women’s health condition that reduces women’s quality of life, leading to health complications, such as menstruation issues, infertility, insulin resistance, risk of type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, emotional stress, being overweight or obese, and more. Research on PCOS has focused on the etiology and complications in women from different ethnicities. But limited research has explored the experiences and perspectives of Middle Eastern (ME) women in the United States with PCOS related to PCOS health education. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of ME women of reproductive …

Influences On Influenza Vaccine Uptake Among Older Lebanese Adults, Doha D'Agostini

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Influenza is a viral infection that is globally transmitted and that increases the risk for infectious diseases, hospitalization, and morbidity and mortality, especially among the older adult population. Although influenza vaccines are recommended in several countries, influenza vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge. In Lebanon, there is minimal research related to older adults’ attitudes and perceptions associated with influenza vaccination. To explore older Lebanese adults’ vaccination experiences and perceptions of the factors that affect their influenza vaccine uptake, a qualitative investigation was conducted. The theory of planned behaviors served as the theoretical framework for the study. A thematic analysis was conducted …

Lived Experiences Of Job-Hopping Millennials During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Dottie Dancy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Millennials, also known as “the job-hopping generation,” are on the brink of becoming the largest generation in the workforce by 2025. In March 2020, a global pandemic was declared due to the spread of the virus known as COVID-19, which led to more than 5.3 million deaths globally. Prior research has been conducted concerning the job-hopping tendencies of Millennials, but previous studies have not incorporated the life-changing event of the global pandemic and how it may have changed the beliefs and attitudes of the Millennial generation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the voluntary job-hopping beliefs and …

Risk Factors Of Human Papillomavirus Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer In Men, Kentress Davison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading domestic and global sexually transmitted disease. The purpose of this secondary quantitative, cross-sectional study is to investigate if there is an relationship between the rate of oral HPV-oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and race, exposure to smoking cigarettes (tobacco), risky sexual behavior, and participation in oral sex of male-to-male contact vs. male-to-female contact. The social cognitive theory grounded this study. The University of Alabama at Birmingham cancer database population supplied the study’s sample size of 337 males greater than 18 years of age with a diagnosis of OPSCC. I conducted descriptive analyses using …

Strategic Leadership Steps For New Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, Keisha Stacy-Ann Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

States grapple with how to address the opioid epidemic and the growing need for behavioral health (BH) services. Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs) are a new industry solution to address the need for integrated and coordinated physical and BH care. New CCBHCs are funded by the Federal 223 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) grant. However, they must be certified by states to meet the SAMHSA criteria for continued funding. This qualitative study presents a single-case study of a Southern state’s behavioral health department’s (SSBHD) leadership strategy for certifying the CCBHCs in its state and creating a …

Identifying And Examining Key Themes Emanating From The U.S. Legislative Tobacco Policy Subsystem, Arnon Dayak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Americans’ continuously increasing tobacco use in the form of smoking presents an ongoing and rising negative health impact on this leading cause of preventable death. Despite existing U.S. federal level tobacco regulation through the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA), U.S. tobacco use remains ubiquitous demonstrating existent ineffectiveness of tobacco control legislation. Unknown underlying attributing factors present critical information gaps which, when exposed, could improve tobacco regulation. Using a case study approach, the question, “What key themes are aligned with legislative subsystem actors when voting on the FSPTCA” was examined. Multi-source data streams using existing secondary datasets including …

Elementary Administrators' Perspectives And Experiences Of Supporting Students Through Nature-Based Learning, Amanda Marie Shelley Degoede

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although nature-based learning (NBL) contributes to the development of students, itsinclusion in elementary schools is inconsistent. Researchers have established the benefits of nature to learning and child development, yet there is a gap in the literature on elementary administrators’ perspectives of and experiences with NBL. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore elementary administrators’ perspectives of and experiences with NBL, its support of elementary student development, and its inclusion in elementary schools’ curricula and design. The research questions addressed elementary administrators’ perspectives of and experiences with NBL, how NBL supports student development, and how NBL is included in …

Student Physical Therapy Supervision And Physical Therapy Productivity In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Dionne Degrande

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical therapy (PT) educational programs are faced with the problem of securing thenecessary clinical experiences for their students, particularly in long-term care settings. Student physical therapists (SPTs) must complete clinical education requirements to graduate and transition from learner to entry-level practitioner. Clinical instructors (CIs) provide SPT supervision and are responsible for meeting industry-standard productivity expectations. There is the notion that SPTs negatively impact PT productivity, creating a reluctance for organizations to host SPTs for clinical experiences. This quantitative pilot study aimed to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between PT productivity with and without SPTs in skilled nursing …

Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies To Enhance The Profitability Of Firms, Franklin Alexander De La Rosa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies can negatively impact a company’s competitive advantage. A lack of competitive advantage may lead a business leader to experience poor performance and lost profits. Grounded in the stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies some commercial banking, loan, and savings association leaders used to ensure successful CSR programs to enhance profitability. Participants comprised four leaders in Puerto Rico who successfully established CSR strategies to improve organizational profitability. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and banking websites. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Three themes emerged: …

Resiliency Perceptions Of Women In Organizational Management, Brandi Dehart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Exploring the perceptions of women managers involving effective strategies to remain within their roles is essential to further understand resiliency. A literature gap exists regarding the resilience strategies of women managers to stay in leadership roles. The purpose of this qualitative single case study with embedded units was to explore perceptions of women managers with at least five years of experience in management regarding how they remained resilient throughout their careers. The overarching research question was developed to address the purpose of this qualitative single case study with embedded units. Qualitative data were collected from semistructured interviews with nine women …

A Leadership Perspective On Preventing Counselor Burnout In A Behavioral Health Setting During Covid-19, Claudia P. De La Torre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a high need for mental health services, which resulted in a shortage of mental health clinicians. This shortage of mental health clinicians then resulted in a high burnout rate due to client intake. This doctoral case study was grounded in the Baldrige Excellence Framework and focused on how a behavioral health organization in South Texas managed burnout in clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to help behavioral health leaders find a solution to preventing burnout during a high demand pandemic. This doctoral study had several data sources, including semistructured interviews with three …

Long-Term Psychological Adaptation Of U.S. Human Resource Personnel In Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Samantha Ann Denson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previous research indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted employee psychological outcomes in various workforce sectors. Although research showed that U.S. human resource (HR) employees experienced unique occupational challenges during the pandemic, the literature did not explore pandemic-related psychological outcomes in this population. This quantitative survey-based study included a purposive sample of 294 U.S. HR professionals to explore the pandemic’s impact on their psychological well-being. The transactional model of stress and coping served as the theoretical framework to understand the independent effects of appraisal, meaning-based coping, and coping efforts on psychological well-being. A mediation analysis was used to understand the …

Call Center Managers’ Strategies To Address Employee Turnover, Kimberly Dickens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover is a threat to call center sustainability. Call center leaders who lack strategies to reduce employee turnover have an increased risk of business failure. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies call center leaders use to reduce employee turnover in insurance call centers. The three participants were call center leaders from three different call centers in Raleigh, North Carolina, who implemented strategies to reduce employee turnover. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and reviews of public documents from participants’ company websites and analyzed using thematic analysis. Two themes emerged: …

Examining The Relationship Between Patient Care Quality, Patient Care Safety, And Socioeconomic Status In Chicago's Acute Care Hospitals, Theresa Ann Doby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEnsuring high quality and safe patient care are among the main goals of all acute care hospitals. This study found that quality of patient care is not consistent across all patient populations, which draws attention to the issue of disparity in access to safe and quality health care. The purpose research questions of this quantitative study examined if patient care quality and safety are related to hospitals’ socioeconomic status (SES) among Chicago’s acute care hospitals. Secondary data were derived from a sample of 20 acute care hospitals (i.e., 10 acute care hospitals of high SES and 10 of low SES) …

Thematic Analysis Of Online Predatory Grooming Behavior Among Male Offenders, Ryan Christopher Dronek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social media sites, gaming platforms, and online communication tools have been integrated into children’s everyday lives. This has created a new avenue for child predators to identify, communicate, and victimize children. Just as the internet and the ability to communicate online have evolved, predatory grooming behavior has evolved as well. This qualitative study aimed to identify predatory grooming themes and the thematic stage progression for online male offenders who target child victims using online chat rooms. O’Connell’s typology of cyber sexploitation and online grooming practices was used to explore online child predators’ grooming themes and stage progression. Nine male Wisconsin …

Disparate Access To Medical Coverage Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Care In Low-Income And Rural Communities In Georgia, Crystal Alexis Symone Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disparate access to diabetes care in rural and low-income communities among older adults has been an ongoing issue among Americans. Type 2 diabetes in low-income and rural communities has continuously burdened many residents due to age, costs of care, income, geographic location, and education levels. Researchers have demonstrated that providing resources and tools to rural and low-income communities would assist in decreasing type 2 diabetes and increase education and awareness. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study using secondary data was to examine the relationship between health insurance status and lack of access to health care resources and delay of …

Effect Of Treatment, Stage Of Lung Cancer, And Socioeconomic Status On Life Expectancy Within Marginalized Communities, Elsadig Ahmed Elsharif

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, and it accounts for 25% of cancer deaths. About 70% of cancer cases are diagnosed during late stages, leading to poor outcomes. An estimated 60% of cancer cases involve underserved and disadvantaged communities. However, there are limited studies had addressed effects of treatment, stage of lung cancer, and socioeconomic status on life expectancy within marginalized communities. Research questions examined effect of treatment, stage of lung cancer, and socioeconomic status on life expectancy of lung cancer patients between 2009 and 2019. This study was grounded in the deductive …

Clinical Social Workers’ Perceptions And Experiences Of Parental Alienation, Martinek Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative research study aimed to explore clinical social workers’ perceptions and experiences of parental alienation (PA). Using Bowen’s family system theory as the framework, the research questions examined the problem from multiple levels of practice, including individual, family, institutional, and systematic. The individual interview approach aligned with the study goal by allowing participants opportunities to share their perspectives and experiences working with PA. The study used a purposive and snowball sampling of eight participants who were licensed social workers in the United States. Individual interview responses were transcribed and coded. Thematic content analysis was also used to analyze the …