Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Patient’S Journey: Navigating Life With Type 1 Diabetes, Maram Dalab

Patient Experience Journal

We are all patients. This article represents my views from my personal experience with type 1 diabetes for 25 years, in combination with my professional experience over the past 10 years as I have worked in patient support, health promotion and improving the patients’ experience. I aim to provide an outlook on the patient perspective, how the physician encounter translates to them and finally, what are some gaps that need to be filled in order to have a better experience and better health outcomes as a result. As I wrote the article, I shared my perspective building on my personal …

Informative Material For Patient Empowerment In Sensitive Situations, Iris Reychav, Lin Zhu, Avi Parush, Roger Mchaney, Daphne R. Raban, Amy Lauren Shapira, Rami Moshonov

Patient Experience Journal

Women diagnosed with HPV face a hard-to-understand disease that may impact their psychological and physical health and may pose challenges communicating with healthcare providers in sensitive settings. We posit patient empowerment through targeted educational materials can improve sensitive communication and lead to better health outcomes. This study measured the impact of a patient-empowerment process used in a gynecology clinic for HPV patients to improve sensitive communication during medical-related meetings and on subsequent patient empowerment outcomes. The empowerment process was based on expert-vetted informative material made accessible in the physician’s waiting room on tablet devices. Communication between physicians and patients was …

Community Perceptions Of Syringe Service Programs In Charleston, West Virginia: A Qualitative Socioecological Perspective, Kenya M. Burton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In rural areas of the United States, people who inject drugs (PWID) experience an array of obstacles to accessing adequate healthcare. Locations with high rates of drug use normally offer more healthcare options, including needle exchange programs but, in some communities, there is resistance to providing this kind of care. This increases mortality, morbidity, cost, and adds to the stigma experienced by this vulnerable group. The experiences of people with substance dependency, including PWID, has been widely explored throughout studies that reflect a need for increased support. However, the perspectives of the community, especially in rural areas, though equally important, …

A Novel Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy: Preservice Teachers' Perceptions Of A Sun Safety Intervention And Experiences In Schools, Joseph J. Scott, Robyn S. Johnston, Jill Darby, Sally Blane, Mark Strickland, Bronwen M. Mcnoe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Issue addressed:

Teachers play a vital role in developing children's sun protection routines however upskilling preservice teachers (PSTs) while at university has not yet been trialled as a targeted skin cancer prevention strategy. Hence, this study investigated PSTs perceptions and experiences of sun safety following a brief pilot intervention and placement in primary schools in Western Australia.

Methods:

This study used a triangulation mixed methods design. Participants (n = 161) completed a post intervention survey which was analysed quantitatively. A random sub-sample was invited to participate in focus groups (three groups, n = 21) and one-on-one interviews (n = 4). …

Diabetes Self-Management Education And Support: Understanding Knowledge And The Impact, Christina Dietz

All Dissertations

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. To address this, many organizations employ diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programs to aid in managing the impact of increasing prevalence. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the impact of two Upstate South Carolina DSMES programs on several process and outcome measures for adults with diabetes, while also identifying current primary care provider DSMES knowledge and perceptions in an Upstate South Carolina health system.

This dissertation found inconclusive results on the impact of DSMES on PCP utilization, retinal exam screening, nephropathy attention, HDL, LDL, TC, and TG. DSME …

Perceived Barriers To Health Care Access And Delivery Among Arkansas Medicaid Beneficiaries, Kimbra D. Butler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Arkansas has historically been one of the lowest ranking states in the United States in education, economy, opportunity, crime and corrections, and health care. Though more than 3 million Arkansans live in the state, nearly 1 million receive Medicaid-funded health insurance. This phenomenological study employed a constructivist paradigm and focused on the perceptions of underserved Arkansans regarding their health and their access to health care; additionally, within this study, the Health Belief Model shifted the study’s focus to individuals’ perspectives, perceptions, experiences, and opinions through interview responses. The research was intended to identify factors that may relate to the higher …

Parents' And Caregivers' Attitudes About Child Passenger Safety, Latoya Wider

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of childhood injury and death in the United States. Many car seats are installed incorrectly, and many children under the age of 6 are seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between age of child, age of parent/caregiver, attitudes, and behaviors of child passenger safety among parents and caregivers in South Carolina. The influence of age and attitude on consistent car seat use was also examined. The study was based on the theory of planned behavior. A survey design featuring questions …

Australian Teachers’ Perceptions And Experiences Of Food And Nutrition Education In Primary Schools: A Qualitative Study, Gozde Aydin, Claire Margerison, Anthony Worsley, Alison Booth

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Teacher delivered food and nutrition education (FNE) can be effective in improving children’s food literacy and eating habits. However, teachers are known to face some barriers to the delivery of FNE globally. To obtain a deeper understanding of Australian primary school teachers’ experiences and views, 17 teachers were interviewed. The results of the thematic analysis showed that teachers acknowledged the importance of FNE and were willing to include more FNE content into their teaching. We also identified the FNE topics taught, resources used, their teaching partners, and barriers encountered. The discussion presents strategies to overcome these barriers.

Helmintos Transmitidos Por El Suelo En Ecuador; La Respuesta Comunitaria Y Las Percepciones A Ellos En Baños Y Puyo, Audrey Chesney

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This investigation was a qualitative study focused on soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in Baños and Puyo, Ecuador. The perceptions of the communities regarding STHs and the community response to STH and STH infections was studied. The objectives of this study aimed to discover and learn about the perceptions of STHs from the affected communities, to comprehend the barriers that are present against better treatment for STH infections, and to learn about the community action taking place to improve the situation of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in the community. Soil transmitted helminths are intestinal worms that are transmitted through the contamination of the …

A Convergent Parallel Study On Knowledge, Perceptions, And Attitudes Of Mainstream Workers During Covid-19, Farhan Alshammari, Romeo Mostoles Jr, Eddieson Pasay-An, Sultan Alshammari

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study explores and assesses the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of mainstream workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Ha’il Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Using convergent parallel mixed-methods design, 502 frontline workers were enlisted via snowball and purposive sampling. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively.

Results: There is a well-prepared response to COVID-19, namely, a commendable knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) gap documented in reliable information concerning the virus, specifically, awareness that COVID-19 can be a potentially fatal disease (100%); that droplets from infected people …

Perceptions, Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, And Behaviors Of Mouthguard Use Among Collegiate Athletes, Heather Prosser

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

With the high risk of dental trauma in contact sports, it is important that all athletes have a strong foundation of how to prevent such injuries. Properly fitted mouthguards are the best available protective equipment to prevent orofacial trauma; however, previous research has found them underutilized, with the need for evidence-based interventions to promote mouthguard use among athletes. This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational research design, focusing on studying collegiate athletes at one large, Midwestern university, to determine their current attitudes, perceptions, self-efficacy, and behaviors of mouthguard use during participation in a contact sport. A convenience sampling technique was …

Body Weight Self-Perceptions And Experiences Of Nigerian Women Immigrants, Fatimah Binta Ali

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low-income immigrants in the United States experience declining health with increasing length of stay in the country. Their declining health over time has been associated with increased smoking, obesity prevalence, and higher risk for developing diabetes and heart disease. How immigrants perceive their body weight and size, influenced by social interaction, culture, gender, and acculturation is also significant to healthy weight maintenance. Not knowing one's healthy weight could result in body weight misperception and resistance to attaining a healthy weight. The aim of this qualitative study, based on the social constructivist framework, was to understand Nigerian women immigrants' (NWI's) body …

Perceptions Of Economic, Health, And Environmental Effects Of Hydraulic Fracturing In Indiana, Juliana Bayowa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effects of hydraulic fracturing (HF) have become a controversial public health issue in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore community members' perceptions of economic, health, and environmental effects of HF in Gibson County, Indiana. The conceptual framework was adapted from the health belief model and was named the HF health impact belief model (HFHIBM). Data were collected from stratified purposeful non-randomly selected 32 Gibson community members, using semi structured questionnaires, complete observations, and existing documents. Stratification was based on factors influencing perception, such as, gender, race, level of education, age or technology exposure, …

The Influence Of Food Choices, Eating Habits, And Body Image Of African American Mothers On Childhood Obesity, Debrua Perniece Coleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The food decisions, dietary patterns, physical activity, and weight-related convictions of African American mothers are affected by their self-perceptions and views of body weight. The gap in the literature regarding the impact of these perceptions on children's food choices, eating habits, and body image is significant. Using the health belief model as the theoretical foundation and a cross-sectional survey as the research design, this study assessed the potential relationship between mothers' and children's eating habits and whether mothers' perceptions of their children's body image were reliable indicators of childhood obesity. Eighty-six mothers provided demographic information and completed the Child Feeding …

A Framework For Conceptualizing How Narratives From Health-Care Consumers Might Improve Or Impede The Use Of Information About Provider Quality, Melissa L. Finucane, Steven C. Martino, Andrew M. Parker, Mark Schlesinger, Rachel Grob, Jennifer L. Cerully, Lise Rybowski, Dale Shaller

Patient Experience Journal

Consumers choosing a health-care provider have access to diverse information including narratives by patients about their prior experiences. However, little research has examined how narratives might improve or impede the use of information about the quality of providers’ performance. This paper describes a conceptual framework for examining mechanisms by which narrative information might influence consumer judgments and decisions about providers. We conducted a conceptual review of risk communication and behavioral decision research. We synthesized the literature to form the foundation of a conceptual framework for assessing how narrative information about provider quality impacts consumer decisions about providers. We identified four …

Perceptions Of Private Medical Practitioners Towards The Nigerian National Tuberculosis Treatment Guidelines, Chijioke Pius Osakwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in many parts of the world. Nigeria is one of the 30 countries in the world that has the highest burden of TB. Private medical practitioners in Nigeria play an important role in health care delivery. Motivating them to adhere to TB treatment guidelines in managing persons suspected of having TB or diagnosed with the disease is one of the strategies employed by the National Tuberculosis Program to Reduce the Burden of TB. Few studies were identified which used qualitative study approaches to study the perceptions of these practitioners towards the TB …

Perceptions Of Healthcare Workers Toward Influenza Vaccination, Amos Adedokun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Even though influenza vaccinations were provided free to all healthcare workers in the United States, healthcare workers were not 100% compliant. The non-compliance with influenza vaccinations may expose their patients, their families, and the public at large to a high-risk source of influenza infection. This study's research questions included how registered nurses perceived influenza and influenza vaccination; registered nurses' self-reported incidents with influenza vaccination; and factors that contributed to registered nurses' non-compliance with influenza vaccination. Guided by the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this qualitative study was to determine the factors that …

Experiences Of Communication Barriers Between Physicians And Immigrant Patients: A Systematic Review And Thematic Synthesis, Salim Ahmed, Sonya Lee, Nusrat Shommu, Nahid Rumana, Tanvir Turin

Patient Experience Journal

Frequent immigration of peoples from outside often challenges various systems of any country; healthcare sector is the most confronted one. One of the most prominent reasons for this confrontation is communication gap between physicians and immigrant patients. In this systematic narrative review, we studied existing literature on physician-immigrant patient communication. We systematically searched the repositories of literature and followed some criteria to select literature. We selected 32 literatures for information extraction. Three themes emerged from the synthesis: Physicians’ viewpoint about communication barrier with their immigrant patients, Immigrant patients’ viewpoint about the communication barrier with their physicians, and Interpreter as a …

A Secondary Analysis Of Survey Data Evaluating The Lifelines Suicide Prevention Program Among Middle School Students, Nicki Sullivan

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate student feedback of the 2015 Lifelines Suicide Prevention Program at Jessie Clark Middle School. Student feedback was examined by assessing students’ knowledge of suicide, attitudes toward suicide, knowledge of when and from whom to seek help if feeling suicidal or told by a friend that they are suicidal, and impressions of the educational presentation following participation in the Lifelines Suicide Prevention Program.

METHODS: In this secondary analysis, anonymous student responses (N=269) from a 2015 middle school survey were examined by using a mixed method design with the quantitative study measures being …

Patient Organizations And Primary Care Development: Reflections By Patients With Chronic Diseases, Britta E. Berglund, Irene Westerlund

Patient Experience Journal

To explore how patients with chronic diseases, as well as members of patient organizations, perceive primary care and how they think about how to participate in primary care development. Focus group interviews with 28 patients in three regions in Sweden were conducted. We identified four themes: Availability of care, How to be met by professionals, Information needs and Continuity and prevention in care. Important was to meet the same doctor at every visit and to be met with empathy and knowledge about your disease. Suggestions about better use of technical information services, introduction of a coordinator in the waiting room …

Perspectives Of Young Adults Toward Tobacco Use, Caroline Oluwatosin Omoalako-Adesanya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Conditions related to tobacco use constitute the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. Approximately 443,000 U.S. adults die each year from smoking-related illnesses. During young adulthood, social and behavioral changes occur; experimentation with tobacco products such as cigarettes is common and may lead to a habit of smoking. A gap was identified in the literature on the perceived impact of family communication on young adults' decisions regarding smoking. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to address this gap by gathering information on the perspectives of young adults toward tobacco use. Fifteen young adults aged …

African American Single Mothers' Perceptions Of Physical Activity, Sheryl Lynn Richard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Insufficient physical activity detracts from healthy living and has a disparate impact on African American women and their female children. The extensive body of prior research addressing preventable chronic disease and other consequences of insufficient physical activity includes limited information specific to African American single mothers. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of African American single mothers' perceptions of physical activity. Specifically investigated were African American women's familial influences and potential effects of these influences on their children's health behaviors. The health belief model served as the theoretical framework for this study and provided …

Health Hub Program Evaluation, Natalie Macias

Master's Projects and Capstones

This paper examines and evaluates the work of LIFT-Levántate a non-profit organization in San Rafael, California on their school-based nutritional education “health hub,” through health promotion interventions with adolescents. The James B. Davidson Middle School health hub educates students on topics related to nutrition and physical activity with the goal of providing access and increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables while lowering students’ intake of high-fat and sugary processed foods. Through research and observations of the students and families in this community, the data seems to indicate apparent disparities which vary by ethnicity, socioeconomic status and access. Underserved populations, including …

Moving Physical Activity Beyond The School Classroom: A Social-Ecological Insight For Teachers Of The Facilitators And Barriers To Students' Non-Curricular Physical Activity, Brendon Hyndman, Amanda Telford, Caroline F. Finch, Amanda C. Benson

Dr Brendon P Hyndman

Non-curricular avenues such as active play during school breaks have been established as a major source for children’s physical and cognitive development, yet there is little information for teachers on the influences affecting primary and secondary school students’ non-curricular physical activity. During this study focus groups and drawing were used to explore the broader influences on primary (n=47) and secondary (n=29) school students’ physical activity behaviour beyond the classroom. Barriers and facilitators to children’s physical activity were categorised using a multi-level social-ecological framework incorporating intrapersonal, interpersonal, physical environment and policy factors. Based on the drawings, comparisons between students’ existing play …

Moving Physical Activity Beyond The School Classroom: A Social-Ecological Insight For Teachers Of The Facilitators And Barriers To Students' Non-Curricular Physical Activity, Brendon Hyndman, Amanda Telford, Caroline F. Finch, Amanda C. Benson

Dr Brendon P Hyndman

Non-curricular avenues such as active play during school breaks have been established as a major source for children’s physical and cognitive development, yet there is little information for teachers on the influences affecting primary and secondary school students’ non-curricular physical activity. During this study focus groups and drawing were used to explore the broader influences on primary (n=47) and secondary (n=29) school students’ physical activity behaviour beyond the classroom. Barriers and facilitators to children’s physical activity were categorised using a multi-level social-ecological framework incorporating intrapersonal, interpersonal, physical environment and policy factors. Based on the drawings, comparisons between students’ existing play …

Perceptions Of Potable Water In Rajasthan’S Jodhpur And Barmer Districts, Melissa Spross

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper looks at differences and similarities in various populations’ perceptions of safe drinking water (SDW) within Rajasthan (RJ), India, developing suggestions for future initiatives addressing the movement for safe drinking water for all. For this study, surveys were used; the survey was conducted in RJ, India, both in urban Jodhpur and in surrounding rural villages. To analyze the data, all the responses were entered into Excel format to discover patterns, themes and trends within four subtopics: access, storage, quality and cultural significance. The responses indicate that while a distinct water culture spans the geographic area, each different population retains …

Exploring The Risk Factors That Influence The Parental Dental Deferment Decision, Megan White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When caregivers defer their personal routine dental care (RDC) in order to provide RDC for their children, they risk detrimental consequences in their personal health and the health of their children. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify the risk factors that led to the parental dental deferment decision. The oral health and personal care services conceptual models guided the development of the research questions, facilitated the selection of risk factors on the decision-making process, and provided the basis for the data analysis thematic categories. Ten caregivers who made the decision to defer their personal RDC for …

Plan B Emergency Contraception: Sampled University Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors, Natalie Hazel

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research was to assess and evaluate sampled university students' knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors related to the Plan B emergency contraceptive. To collect data, a 29 item survey was developed and administered to students in sampled classrooms at Minnesota State University, Mankato campus regarding their knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors related to the Plan B emergency contraceptive; as well as demographic information. The findings of the study indicated there were some participants who have much knowledge about the Plan B emergency contraceptive. However, findings also showed that there were a number of participants who lacked knowledge …

Risk Perceptions Of Cardiovascular Disease In College Students, Antonia Kolas

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

College students oftentimes underestimate their risk perception of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study examined undergraduate students' perception of efficacy and perception of threat of cardiovascular disease. A paper survey was distributed to three undergraduate student classes (n = 127; 66.9% female; 33.1% male; 83.5% White/Caucasian; M age = 20.00). This 17-item survey assessed demographics, perception of general health, perception of efficacy of cardiovascular disease, and perception of threat of cardiovascular disease. Analyses included Cronbach's alpha, descriptive, frequencies, and independent sample t-test. College students have a higher perception of efficacy (M = 24.45 out of 30.00; SD = 4.35) and a …

University Students' Perceptions Of The Severity Of Binge Drinking, Lauren Eleanore Stone

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research was to assess university students' perceptions of the severity of binge drinking. To assess university students' perceptions, a survey questionnaire was used. The survey looked at reported binge drinking behaviors by sampled college students and how serious they perceived consequences of binge drinking. A total of 270 students at Minnesota State University, Mankato participated in the research regarding binge drinking during spring semester 2014. The mean age was 19.8 years old, with a majority (70%) being freshmen and sophomores. Around 60% of females reported binge drinking within the last two-weeks of taking the survey, while …