Digital Commons Network^™

African American Women’S Body Image Perceptions And The Built Environment, Andrea Denise Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American (AA) women have a 54.8% overall obesity rate in the United States. This quantitative cross-sectional study’s aim was to determine what factors may have an impact on body image perceptions of AA women in Alabama and New Jersey. A gap in research this study addressed is sociodemographic and geographic differences that may impact obesity rates among AA women. The theoretical framework used for this study was the social cognitive theory. Secondary data were obtained from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Linear regression (LR) analyses results showed that none of the sociodemographic variables (education level, employment status, …

Relationship Between Capital Structure And Financial Performance Of U.S. Retail Bank, Nelson Jonah Usoro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe decision to fund the operations of a company through debt or equity has implications for the long-term sustainability of the organization. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to evaluate the impact of capital structure on the financial performance of U.S. retail banks and to observe the behavior of the banks during a time of crisis to determine whether capital structuring decisions could support the bank in surviving financial distress. The research questions focused on the effects of capital structure, including common stock equity with preferred stock compared to common stock equity with secured debt, on earnings, profitability, …

Retention Of Female Single Parents After The First Year Of Higher Education, Victoria Vannest

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem this study addressed is that undergraduate, female, single parent students are less likely than other groups of women to complete college. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore perceived challenges of persistence to degree completion of undergraduate, female, single parent students in a Southern state, at a suburban community college. The research question used in this basic qualitative study determined what perceived challenges undergraduate female single parents in higher education face during their first year as a student in a community college regarding persistence to degree completion. Using Tinto’s theory of student integration as a …

Health Educators’ Perspectives On Black And Latin@ College Students’ Health Literacy, Desiree Williams Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEmerging adulthood is a critical life stage when participation in higher education can facilitate the transition of young individuals into adulthood and independence. The barriers associated with low health literacy levels are higher among racial or ethnic groups facing health inequalities, including those enrolled in higher education institutions. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how health educators promoted the health literacy of Black and Latino emerging adult college students. The theoretical framework was based on Bandura’s social cognitive theory. Eight health professionals who served to promote health literacy across diverse college campuses and different states in …

Capacity-Building Strategies Leaders Of Nonprofit Organizations Use To Improve Performance, Ashley Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Capacity-building strategies to improve nonprofit organizational performance are essential, as 60% of nonprofit organizations are experiencing increased service demands while struggling to maintain adequate operational funds and fulfill their mission. Leaders of nonprofit organizations who fail to implement capacity-building strategies risk their organization’s ability to adapt, maintain solvency and relevance. Grounded in the strategic agility framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies leaders of nonprofit organizations implemented to build capacity and positively impact organizational performance. The participants comprised four leaders of nonprofit organizations in Texas who successfully used strategies to improve growth, capacity, and …

Effects Of Perpetrator Types And Gender-Based Violence On Condom Use Among Tanzanian Female Sex Workers, Lashonda Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV status among female sex workers (FSWs) continues to be a significant public health concern. Condom use is associated with HIV cases among FSWs. Gender-based violence (GBV) plays a role in FSWs HIV status. While studies have investigated the relationship between GBV and condom use, little is known about the impact of factors such as perpetrator type and substance use. I aimed to examine whether perpetrator type and substance use affect the relationship between GBV and condom use among FSWs in Tanzania. Secondary data analysis was performed on 1,502 FSWs extracted from the 2020 Tanzanian, John Hopkins Program for International …

Business Strategies Towards Financial Stability For Community College Administrators: A Qualitative Study, Lauren Holubec

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nationwide, community college administrators are attempting to maintain financial stability amid extreme budget challenges. The problem that was addressed through this study is that some community college administrators at a large Northeastern state lack strategies to sustain financial stability, which threatens the 14 institutions’ ability to continue to operate as a viable educational choice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the strategies that community college administrators at multiple institutions of varying financial stability use. The conceptual framework that grounded the study was Porter’s five forces framework. Research questions focused on what strategies are used, why these strategies are …

Correlational Study: Relationship Between Religiosity/Spirituality, Work Engagement, And Job Satisfaction., Peninah Kavengi Kyengo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEmployees desire self-fulfillment through meaningful work and look for ways to express their religiosity and spirituality experiences enhances their work engagement and job satisfaction. The problem is that limited understanding of these relationships prevents leaders and managers from implementing policies and procedures that develop or sustain an organizational culture to support employees' religiosity and spirituality. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between religiosity and spirituality (predictor variables) and employees' work engagement and job satisfaction (criterion variables); the research questions addressed these relationships. The theories of religiosity and spirituality formed the framework. The sample included 110 U.S. working adults recruited …

Cost-Containment Strategies Used By Hospital Business Leaders For Pharmaceutical Inventory, Julie Carlene Mccaughan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective strategies to contain the costs of medical supply inventory can result in financial loss and are a significant challenge for hospital leaders. Grounded in complex adaptive systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the cost-containment strategies that private hospital business leaders use to reduce the expense of pharmaceutical inventory. The participants comprised six private hospital business leaders in one healthcare organization in Myanmar. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, internal company documents, and publicly available annual reports. Four themes emerged from Yin’s five-step data analysis method: (a) management controls, (b) specialist engagement and …

Perspectives Of Law Enforcement Officers In A Suburban Community On Use Of Body Cameras, Todd Samuel Nagbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

As law enforcement in the United States struggles to improve relationships with the communities they serve, especially in the wake of unprecedented police use of deadly force incidents, police community relations continue to deteriorate. With advancements in technology and the creation and introduction of the Internet, footage of police misconduct including the use of deadly force has been shared on social media in real time. This has made situations between the community and police fragile to a point where it sometimes results in rioting and other public disturbances. Many have asked if the introduction of police worn-body camera systems …

Pharmacists’ Responses To Medication Management Following Disasters, Rellamichelle W. Tyree

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disasters, both natural and human made, can cause emerging health threats in the United States and the Caribbean. The disasters that pharmacists experienced and reported for this study included hurricanes, snowstorms, ice storms, flooding, and a pandemic. The purpose of this research was to investigate the challenges and outcomes associated with pharmacists’ medication management practices during and following disasters. This generic qualitative study focused on pharmacists’ experiences and their responses to disaster planning and medication management activities. The ecological model of disaster management was the conceptual framework used to investigate the pharmacists and their responses and actions used to address …

Rehabilitation Counselor Competency When Working With Sci And Physical Disabilities, Denise M. Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to address the gap in knowledge of the perceived competency of rehabilitation counselors when working with patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and/or a physical disability. The factors that influence the mental health needs of person with SCI and the understanding of how rehabilitation counselors view their competency levels with supporting this population were explored. Selection criteria included licensed or certified rehabilitation counselors actively providing care for persons with SCI and/or a physical disability applying a theoretical framework. A qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach was used to address the central research question …

The Effect Of Female Leadership On Organizational Effectiveness In The Nigerian Oil And Gas Sector, Kadilo Badom

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractFemale participation in economic production remains a vital discourse in the public space irrespective of the type of activity or economic jurisdiction. The Nigerian economy is not left out as successive governments in the country have continued to encourage the participation of women in governance, public institutions, and private sector firms. These targeted efforts notwithstanding, there are still sectors where male dominance remains a major issue. Prior research shows that among the reasons for not promoting females to leadership positions include specific organizational stereotypes, ideologies, lack of female motivation-to-lead, and societal values, and lack of role-models. Within the Nigerian oil …

Increasing Knowledge Of A Weekend Staffing Policy Among Nurses Working Weekends, Fatima Bah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

The relationship between adequate nurse staffing and patient outcomes is well documented. The local organization identified a concern with appropriate weekend staffing due to repeated callouts by nurses. The purpose of this DNP project was to determine whether an educational intervention on the relationship between adequate staffing and positive patient outcomes, coupled with a review of the organization’s policy regarding weekend staffing, increases knowledge and awareness among nurses working weekends. Benner’s novice to expert theory and systems theory were used to ground this project. Following an invitational email, 20 individuals participated in the educational intervention. Most participants (n = …

Strategies For Succession Planning And Sustained Business Profitability For Small Business, Icy Mae Barton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Baby boomers are retiring rapidly and vacating prominent small business positions, leaving no one to replace them, which may result in business failure. When a small business fails, all stakeholders, including small business owners (SBOs), investors, employees, customers, and the community, suffer emotional and financial distress. Grounded in Argyris and Schön's organizational learning theory and Burns's transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies SBOs use to develop an effective succession plan. The participants were seven SBOs in the Washington, DC/Baltimore, MD metropolitan area who had been in business for more than 5 …

Self-Identified Atheists In 12-Step Substance Use Disorder Treatment And Aftercare, Elizabeth Clare Bayley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Minnesota model is ubiquitous in the United States for the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD). The model uses 12 steps and is centered on a belief in god(s) or a higher power; however, it is anathema to an atheist worldview. Researchers have noted that atheists do not readily become involved with 12-step programs and tend to drop out; however, there had been no qualitative investigations of the lived experiences of atheists in 12-step SUD treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether 12-step SUD treatment was problematic for atheists. An integrated theoretical framework was used. Minority …

Relationships Between Social Bonds And Non-Reoffender Status Among Female Offenders, Tiffinny Beard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe purpose of this quantitative longitudinal correlational study was to examine whether positive social bonds with caring, supportive family, prosocial peers, and spouses/partners were significantly predictive of non-reoffender status using archival data from a sample of female offenders who were under community supervision in the state of Michigan during the years 2011–2014. The study had three interval predictor variables: positive social bonds with family, prosocial peers, and spouse/partner. The dichotomous criterion variable was recidivism (i.e., reoffending within a three-year period). The study sample was 325 female offenders on probation or parole in Michigan during the years of 2011–2014. Most of …

The Influence Of Electronic Health Records Systems On Physicians' Efficiency And Effectiveness, William Everette Bond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractElectronic Health Records (EHR) were introduced into the field of medicine to replace outdated paper files with searchable, and easily transferrable electronic files. The results of numerous research studies have shown that the use of EHR allowed for beneficial outcomes for the physician and the patient. Some of the benefits included a reduction in scheduling and medication prescription errors. Concurrently, some of the negative factors attributed to EHR use included interoperability issues, reductions in facetime with patients, increased physician workload, and an increase in physician burnout. Little research was found that examined the negative factors from the perspective of the …

Survival Strategies For Small And Medium Scale Enterprises In Nigerian Confectionery Industry, Rita Ejelehi Brodie-Mends

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incorrect start-up strategies account for the failure of many small-and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the first 5 years of operation. A lack of business owner entrepreneurial skills and enterprise development contributes to the high mortality rate of SMEs, the failure of which is a significant limitation on global economic growth and job creation. Grounded in the resource-based theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies five SME confectionary business owners in Lagos, Nigeria, used to sustain their businesses beyond the first 5 years of start-up. The participants were owners of SME confectionary businesses who implemented strategies …

The Impact Of Electronic Health Records Meaningful Use On Patient Safety And Satisfaction, Paulette Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) is encouraged because of their potential to improve the quality of care provided. It was unknown to what extent the meaningful use of EHRs would impact patient safety and satisfaction in general and specialty hospitals. The researcher’s purpose for this quantitative correlational research was to examine the impact of meaningful EHR use of EHRs on patient safety and satisfaction outcomes in general and specialty hospitals in Philadelphia (PA). The constructs of the institutional theory guided the study. The hypotheses that guided the study included (a) Meaningful EHR use positively influences patient satisfaction …

Impact Of Healthcare Providers’ Perception On Telehealth Implementation, Misty Leann Cantrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Telehealth has been proven to have a significant impact on patient outcomes; however, the use of telehealth in both rural and urban areas is sporadic and inconsistent. Although researchers have investigated this issue, there is little literature on the understanding of the impact healthcare provider (HCP) perception plays in this sporadic usage. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to understand how perception and behavioral intention of HCPs impacted the use of telehealth in rural and urban areas. The unified theory of acceptance and technology (UTAUT) was used to structure this research to facilitate determining the correlation between perception …

Rural Older Adults’ Wellbeing During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Christina Clevenger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent studies reveal adults 65 and over are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. However, this older generation is often vulnerable to exclusion, marginalization, and discrimination, made worse by the events and circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges and disproportionate threats to the integrity and wellbeing of older adults, especially those living in rural communities. Nonetheless, little is known about the effects the pandemic had on rural older adults’ wellbeing. This generic qualitative study explored rural older adults’ wellbeing during the pandemic, using the theoretical frameworks of Erikson’s stage theory of psychosocial development and Seligman's …

Administrators And Teachers' Perceptions Of Instructional Leadership Practices To Increase Student Achievement, Keyna Crawford Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe lack of achievement in public schools has been a concern globally and has negatively affected the growth of communities and the economy. School principals have a central role in implementing effective instructional practices and creating a positive teaching and learning environment that fosters student achievement. The problem addressed was a lack of instructional leadership in a British territory. The conceptual framework for this research was the instructional leadership model of Hallinger and Murphy, which defines three main dimensions of instructional leadership: (a) defining the school's mission, (b) managing the instructional program, and (c) promoting a positive school learning climate. …

Perceptions Of Alternative High School Teenage Mothers Regarding Their College Success, Chanda Castañeda Daggs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women who have children during high school are at-risk for poor educational and economic outcomes. Literature lacks information regarding college readiness among pregnant and mothering teens (PMTs) who graduated from alternative education (AE) programs. Teen mothers who receive college preparation in high school may go on to earn degrees, improving their chances at more stable and secure financial futures. A basic qualitative approach and purposive sampling was used to locate 10 former PMTs who graduated from AE programs and college and shared their stories via one-on-one semistructured in-depth interviews regarding their experiences in AE programs and how they prepared them …

Role Of Social Media In Adolescent-Parent Relationships Among At-Risk Youths, Jennifer Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social media has been linked to online crimes and cyberbullying among 88% of teens. The purpose of this study was to understand the role of adolescent and parent social media use on adolescents reported at-risk behaviors, as well as the role of social media among at-risk youths and their parents using the attachment theory. An interpretive phenomenological analysis design was used in this study to describe relationships between adolescents and their parents involving social media use and reported at-risk behaviors. Semi-structured interviews were performed with a total of six pairs of individuals resulting in 12 total participants. There were four …

Undergraduate Nontraditional Adult Students’ And University Administrator Perceptions Of Supports For Program Completion, Sarah Franchesca Ellison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated by this study is the low completion rates of nontraditional undergraduate adult students attending a 4-year university located in the West coast region of the United States. In 2020, the program completion rate was less than 44% at the study site and 45.8% for nontraditional undergraduate adult students nationally. The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study was to explore undergraduate nontraditional adult students’ and university administrators’ perceptions and experiences of supports needed for success as it relates to retention, persistence, and program completion. Using Knowles’s andragogy and Tinto’s persistence theories as the conceptual framework, research questions …

Educational Tool Kit For Mental Health Nurses To Combat Compassion Fatigue, Cleopatra Enakhena

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health care professionals, such as mental health nurses, use the two essential tenets of compassion and empathy when caring for their patients. But constant exposure to traumatized patients under a nurse’s care can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue (CF), which affects the nurse’s provision of adequate patient care. Mental health nurses’ lack of education and awareness on CF has led to diminished provision of safe, effective, and quality care to their patients. Therefore, the purpose of this scholarly doctoral of nursing project was to develop an educational tool kit that might help mental health nurses combat CF within their …

Digital Strategies To Manage And Transform Maritime Business Operation In Lagos, Nigeria, Charles Ikechi Emelogu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Studies have shown that the maritime sector creates socioeconomic opportunities and contributes significantly to the gross domestic product of Lagos state and Nigeria, but it misses digital opportunities for transformation. A literature gap existed on digital strategies to manage and transform maritime business operations in Lagos. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory multiple case study was to explore digital strategies that business leaders and managers may use to transform maritime business operations in Lagos. The digital business transformation (DBT) concept by Wade and an integrated DBT process concept framed this study. Data from purposefully sampled business leaders and managers in …

Relationship Between Early Years’ Activities Of Daily Living And Alzheimer’S Disease Onset, Linyi Fan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A few promising studies have indicated that activities of daily life (ADL) may be a useful way of predicting Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, the existing cross-sectional studies fail to show how ADLs in early years predict AD, and how social factors influence health either in addition to or in interaction with individual risk factors. Using a social epidemiology framework, this study examined the relationship between early years’ ADL and the development of AD in later years. This quantitative study included 4,526 participants derived from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) dataset. The dependent variable was whether the participant has been …

Prekindergarten Teachers’ Perspectives Regarding Kindergarten Readiness And Challenges To Readiness Achievement, Felicia Nicole Chapman Farr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem that was the focus of this study is that only half of the students entering kindergarten in the United States are considered kindergarten ready. This problem is important because children who are successful in kindergarten are more likely to continue to be successful in elementary school. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of prekindergarten teachers regarding lack of kindergarten readiness in students who completed a district-approved prekindergarten program and the challenges the teachers believe affected the level of kindergarten readiness. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the need for …