Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Perspectives Of Type 2 Diabetes Patients On Their Interactions With Providers, Marleen Z. Jones-Pool

Public Health Theses

Effective patient-provider communication has been shown to help achieve optimal health results, particularly in patients with diabetes. While previous studies have identified patient-perceived barriers in communicating with their providers, this study highlights factors in the patient-provider interaction that may contribute to effective health communication. As part of a larger mixed-methods study, 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients with self-reported diabetes at a primary health center. These interviews sought to understand patient-perceived communication factors that influenced their interactions with their providers. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts were then coded and analyzed utilizing a grounded theory approach. Findings …

Geographically Distributed Employees' Perceptions Of Employee Assistance Program Access, Davina Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many investigators have documented high levels of stress in the U.S. workplace and the underutilization of employee assistance programs (EAP). Researchers in other studies have concluded that an employee's perception of a service influences participation and service use. However, the perceptions of geographically distributed employees, who represent a growing population, have not been sufficiently examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate geographically distributed employees' perceptions regarding access to EAP stress management services to address the problem of EAP underutilization. Organizational justice theory served as the theoretical framework. The study design was generic qualitative. A purposeful sample of 15 …

Dive Into The Hunger Pool: Exploring Students’ Experiences, Coping Strategies, And Suggestions Related To Elements Of Food Security At The University Of Kentucky, The Nu Sandar Oo

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Background: College food insecurity (CFI) is a prevalent social justice and public health issue in the U.S. with the prevalence ranging between 15-59%. Though numerous quantitative studies were first conducted in the past decade, little qualitative research was conducted to assess CFI.

Objective: To explore and deeply understand the contexts of CFI at a land-grant university in Kentucky.

Methods: This qualitative study used a validated food insecurity survey tool and hour-long focus groups that were audio recorded and transcribed. Three theoretical models were combined into an adapted model and utilized for the thematic analysis.

Results: Thirty-three students participated in one …

Women's Postpartum Experiences, Courtney Watkins

Online Theses and Dissertations

Current literature explores childbirth options and evidence-based approaches for care of an infant such as kangaroo care and breastfeeding, but there is little to no research on women’s birthing experiences and its impact on daily routines. This paper will reveal themes related to postpartum experiences and the impact on occupations for women who have given birth in the last six months. This qualitative study, using a convenience sample, explores a woman’s birthing experience and the influence it has on her postpartum occupations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017) listed almost four million births that occurred during 2016 in …

An Exploration Of The Critical Success Factors Associated With Implementing A Public Health Plan In Local Governments Within Western Australia, Anne Polley

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Public Health planning in local governments in Western Australia (WA) is a relatively new approach to addressing local health needs. The Western Australian Public Health Act came into effect in 2016. The Public Health Act 2016 encompasses a range of legislative requirements, some of which include the development of Local Public Health Plans. A range of roles within the local government workforce therefore are likely to require support to plan and implement Public Health Plans, which in the past have not directly been a component of their role. There is limited understanding and evidence of the barriers and enablers that …