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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Providers’ Perspectives On Barriers Associated With Repeat Teen Pregnancies In Rural Southeastern United States, Vanessa Iheoma Iheanachor Jan 2022

Providers’ Perspectives On Barriers Associated With Repeat Teen Pregnancies In Rural Southeastern United States, Vanessa Iheoma Iheanachor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teen (or adolescent) pregnancy remains a significant public health problem in the United States. Rapid repeat pregnancy, defined as any pregnancy that occurs within 24 months of a previous birth, has been linked to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to understand the perceptions of health care providers (HCPs) regarding barriers that influence repeat pregnancies among adolescents in rural southeastern United States. The theoretical framework that guided this study was Urie Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological model. A survey instrument was developed and disseminated to HCPs using Qualtrics, an online survey platform. Data (n=32) were …


Spirituality-Based Programs For African American Women, Sophelia Predom Kelly Jan 2022

Spirituality-Based Programs For African American Women, Sophelia Predom Kelly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Because spirituality or personal value conflicts might arise between social workers and their clients, the purpose of the study was to understand personal and spirituality value conflicts. The theoretical framework for this study was adult transformative learning theory. The research questions examined how the participants described personal and spirituality value conflicts. Data were collected from interviews with two groups from Houston, Texas; Group 1 represented homeless or previously homeless African American women who self-identified as spiritual but nonreligious, and Group 2 represented White licensed master social workers. Researcher responses to the same interview questions were also recorded. Thematic data analysis …


Hospital Readmission Reduction Penalties And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Readmissions, Anthony Aduro Jan 2022

Hospital Readmission Reduction Penalties And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Readmissions, Anthony Aduro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious disease that affects the respiratory system, creating poor patient outcomes. Additionally, persons with COPD have higher hospital readmission rates than other patient populations. Not only is hospital readmission indicative of poor patient outcomes, but hospital readmissions are costly to healthcare organizations as well. High readmission rates are associated with wasted resources and money, and negatively impact organizational performance. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) implemented the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) to reduce the rate of avoidable hospital readmissions for diseases including COPD. However, how HRRP penalties have impacted readmission …


Readiness Of Adolescent And Young Sickle Cell Patients To Transition From Pediatric To Adult Care, Tanisha D. Belton Jan 2022

Readiness Of Adolescent And Young Sickle Cell Patients To Transition From Pediatric To Adult Care, Tanisha D. Belton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) face many challenges as they enter adulthood; therefore, preparing for the transition to adult care is crucial. Assessing the knowledge and skills adolescents and young adults (AYAs) possess before transitioning to adult care can aid in the success of their transition. However, a gap exists regarding factors attributed to guiding patients’ sense of readiness. The purpose of this quantitative study, driven by the theory of self-care management of SCD, was to examine the self-perceived readiness of SCD patients as they prepare to transition to adult care. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 68 sickle …


The Impact Of Electronic Cigarettes Use On Traditional Cigarette Uses Among U.S. Adolescents, Ismail Mensah Dwumfour-Poku Jan 2022

The Impact Of Electronic Cigarettes Use On Traditional Cigarette Uses Among U.S. Adolescents, Ismail Mensah Dwumfour-Poku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increased usage of e-cigarettes among adolescents in the United States (U.S.) is a major public health concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nicotine, an active ingredient in e-cigarettes, is the most addictive drug in use today. The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationship between smoking of e- cigarettes and the risk of smoking traditional cigarettes among middle and high school students in Grades 6 through 12 in the U.S., and to determine if demographic factors contribute to this predisposition. This, quantitative cross-sectional study used the social ecological model as the …


The Risk Factors For Hiv In African American Transgender Women In Connecticut, Oliver Kunda Jan 2022

The Risk Factors For Hiv In African American Transgender Women In Connecticut, Oliver Kunda

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence rate is 70 times higher for African American transgender women than in the general population. Despite decades of outreach and intervention effort to reduce HIV incidence in the transgender community by the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transexual, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) community and public health organizations, the HIV prevalence rate for transgender women remains high at 38%. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to gain insights into how attitude, subjective social norms, and perceived behavioral control influence HIV risk behaviors of African American transgender women in Connecticut. Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior provided …


An Evidenced-Based Nursing Education Discharge Plan For Prescription Opioids, Josephine J. Messelmani Jan 2022

An Evidenced-Based Nursing Education Discharge Plan For Prescription Opioids, Josephine J. Messelmani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The reported number of prescription opioid overdoses justifies the need for providing patients with opioid discharge information and follow-up care as recommended. To prevent any misuse of prescription opioid drugs, it was critical for patients to receive a thorough review of their medications prior to being discharged. The purpose of the project was designed to educate nurses on the importance of delivering essential information to patients prescribed opioids. Implementation of an opioid discharge plan integrated with the teach back method increased patients’ understanding of how to properly take prescription opioids compared to the patients who did not receive opioid education …


Use Of The Hester Davis Falls Risk Assessment Scale In Medical-Surgical Patients, Gideon M. Nyakundi Jan 2022

Use Of The Hester Davis Falls Risk Assessment Scale In Medical-Surgical Patients, Gideon M. Nyakundi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIdentifying and containing patient falls before they happen, reporting fall occurrence, and analyzing fall causes could increase patient safety to achieve the triple aim of improved quality, reduced cost, and accessibility in healthcare. Patient falls within the medical-surgical population continue to present challenges to patients, families, hospitals, and society, despite the use of fall-related predictive analysis tools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the extent to which the overall score on the Hester Davis Falls Risk Assessment Scale (HDS), comprised of patient-related factors such as medications, volume/electrolyte status, age, last known fall date, mobility, toileting needs, communication/sensory …


Knowledge And Experiences Of African American Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Kristy L. Vance Jan 2022

Knowledge And Experiences Of African American Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Kristy L. Vance

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a nationwide phenomenon, African American or Black women often have little to no information on the education and support available to manage the condition. PCOS is one of the most poorly understood disorders among patients which has led to limited resources and management. The lack of education could contribute to increased risks to many health issues for African American women with PCOS. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore and examine the level of health knowledge related to PCOS among African American women living in or around the Northern Region of …


Effects Of Socioeconomic Status, Demographic Characteristics, And Education On Sarcopenic Obesity, Moruf Oladele Olaleye Jan 2022

Effects Of Socioeconomic Status, Demographic Characteristics, And Education On Sarcopenic Obesity, Moruf Oladele Olaleye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The general problem is that although the body of research about obesity is robust, there is a lack of research addressing the problem of sarcopenic obesity. Specifically, there is a lack of research examining the statistical significance of the relationship between the independent variables of socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, and education and the dependent variable of sarcopenic obesity. This research may advance practice and policy by lending support for developing interventions to address factors that have a statistically significant relationship with sarcopenic obesity. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to identify independent variables among socioeconomic, demographic, and education …


Experiences Of Critical Care Nurse Managers In Addressing Nurses' Work-Related Stress, Mariana Tsucuneli Jan 2022

Experiences Of Critical Care Nurse Managers In Addressing Nurses' Work-Related Stress, Mariana Tsucuneli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNurses who work in the critical care unit are more likely to experience work-related stress, fatigue, understaffing, undesirable performance outcomes, and compromised workplace safety than general care nurses. Nurse managers in these units possess insights into nurses' stress-inducing challenges, in addition to managerial and administrative perspectives. Yet there is a lack of available knowledge about the experiences of critical care nurse managers in addressing nurses' work-related stress. The purpose of this study was to explore critical care nurse managers’ experiences of potential strategies to effectively address work-related stress among nurses. The job-demand resource model was the theoretical framework for the …


Relationship Between Patients Of Low Socioeconomic Status With Multiple Sclerosis And Health Care Providers, Jennifer N. Rhoads Jan 2022

Relationship Between Patients Of Low Socioeconomic Status With Multiple Sclerosis And Health Care Providers, Jennifer N. Rhoads

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many health care initiatives seek to improve patient–provider experiences and relationships to support patient satisfaction rates and health outcomes. However, a small amount of published research has examined the perceptions of low socioeconomic status (SES) patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) regarding their relationship with their health care provider and how these perceptions affect patient outcomes. Prioritizing communication and approachability between the health care provider and a patient can be instrumental in creating and fostering an authentic relationship. The research question for this study was designed to understand the relationship between participants of low SES who had been diagnosed with …


Spirituality, Hiv And Black/African American Women, Shawanna D. Brun Jan 2022

Spirituality, Hiv And Black/African American Women, Shawanna D. Brun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the surmounting prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among Black women, few studies have been conducted to examine culturally appropriate prevention methods to reduce the occurrence of the disease. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore how religion/spirituality affects the attitudes, beliefs, and self-perceptions of HIV/AIDS among 151 Black/African women, ages 25-44, in Florida, and to investigate the impact of HIV-related stigma on the attitudes, beliefs, and self-perceptions of HIV/AIDS within this population. Social cognitive theory was the framework of the study. Multiple linear regression and hierarchical regression were used to analyze the survey data. Results revealed …


Beliefs About Food Education And Healthy Food Consumption In Food Insecure Areas, Eboni Drummond Jan 2022

Beliefs About Food Education And Healthy Food Consumption In Food Insecure Areas, Eboni Drummond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many food desert residents suffer from food insecurity as a result of residing in communities where access to affordable, healthy foods is limited. This limited access can make it difficult for these residents to consume healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, on a consistent basis. To increase access to healthy foods, interventions such as the building of supermarkets, the introduction of mobile farmers markets or mobile produce markets, and the conversion of local corner stores into healthy corner stores are often introduced to food desert communities. However, these intervention efforts fail to focus on non-physical factors, such as the …


Effects Of Socioeconomic Status, Demographic Characteristics, And Education On Sarcopenic Obesity, Moruf Oladele Olaleye Jan 2022

Effects Of Socioeconomic Status, Demographic Characteristics, And Education On Sarcopenic Obesity, Moruf Oladele Olaleye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The general problem is that although the body of research about obesity is robust, there is a lack of research addressing the problem of sarcopenic obesity. Specifically, there is a lack of research examining the statistical significance of the relationship between the independent variables of socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, and education and the dependent variable of sarcopenic obesity. This research may advance practice and policy by lending support for developing interventions to address factors that have a statistically significant relationship with sarcopenic obesity. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to identify independent variables among socioeconomic, demographic, and education …


The Role Of Health And Diet In The Development Of Metabolic Syndrome Stratified By Race, Sex, And Age, Michael D. Harada Jan 2022

The Role Of Health And Diet In The Development Of Metabolic Syndrome Stratified By Race, Sex, And Age, Michael D. Harada

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is now recognized as a disease in need of treatment by the medical profession and is associated with other chronic diseases including hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, insulin-resistance, and reduced levels of high density lipoproteins. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) occurs when a combination of at least three of these chronic conditions are comorbid with each other. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to find significant health and nutritional predictors of MetS status across race, sex, and age. The evolutionary mismatch hypothesis and health belief model provided the framework for this study. Data were collected from 2,303 participants from the 2015-2016 …


Lead Toxicity, Attention–Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, And Gun Violence Among Young African American Men, Gwendolyn Hooker-Mcintosh Jan 2022

Lead Toxicity, Attention–Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, And Gun Violence Among Young African American Men, Gwendolyn Hooker-Mcintosh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Violence among adolescents and young adults is a major public health concern in the United States, but it disproportionally affects African Americans. This racial disparity is especially concerning in New Orleans, Louisiana, where fatal and nonfatal shootings have been consistent since 2010 for young African American men. Also, Louisiana ranks third in the nation in prevalence of attention–deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children. African Americans in New Orleans have lived in areas known to have greater concentrations of lead in the soil, and African American children and their parents have a lower level of awareness of lead toxicity. The purpose …


Exploring African American Single Mothers’ Experiences With Child Welfare System, Paul J. Melbourne Jan 2022

Exploring African American Single Mothers’ Experiences With Child Welfare System, Paul J. Melbourne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans are overrepresented in the child welfare system in New York City (NYC). They face racial and ethnic bias, complex procedures, and policies that govern child welfare. The main research question for this study explored the experiences of African American single mothers with the child welfare system. This qualitative study was guided by policy feedback theory; data were gathered from 10 African American single mothers who have had experiences with child welfare investigation within the past 10 years. Participants were interviewed using semistructured questions designed to capture their experiences with the child welfare system. The data were coded for …


Cognition, Neurocognitive Disorder, Psychotropic Group Of Medication, And Fall Among Canadians Aged 65+ Years, Victoria Elaki Momoh Jan 2022

Cognition, Neurocognitive Disorder, Psychotropic Group Of Medication, And Fall Among Canadians Aged 65+ Years, Victoria Elaki Momoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the high incidence of fall among the elderly in residential care, this problem has been minimally explored and reported. This study examined the association between (cognitive performance, dementia, four groups of psychotropic medication-hypnotics, antidepressants, antianxiety medication, and antipsychotics) and fall among Canadian elderly in residential care. A multi–variate logistic regression was used for the analysis. The Social Cognitive Theory was used to interpret the findings of an analysis on 180,231 Canadian residents from 2018–2019. Cognitive performance at intact level (OR=1.114, p<0.001), cognitive performance at moderate level (OR=1.192, p<0.001), dementia diagnosis (OR=1.075, p<0.001), antipsychotics (OR=2.571, p<0.001), antidepressants (OR =1.486, p<0.001) and antianxiety prescription (OR=3.284, p<0.001) increased the odds ratio of fall. However, cognitive performance at severe level (OR=0.898, p<0.001), no dementia diagnosis (OR=0.001, p<0.001) and hypnotics prescription (OR=0.389, p<0.001) decreased the odds ratio of fall. Findings indicate that cognitive performance at the intact and moderate levels, antianxiety, antipsychotic and antidepressant medications and dementia were strong predictors of fall among the elderly in residential care in Canada. A limitation of the study was that the dataset used captured data from 7 out of 13 Canadian provinces and territories therefore, limiting external validity. The potential positive social change impact of this study is that it would guide caregivers, enhance fall prevention practices and decrease fall occurrence in this population.


Competency-Based E-Learning Module For Nurses In A Multi-Service-Line Surgical Unit, Exequiel P. Naculangan Jan 2022

Competency-Based E-Learning Module For Nurses In A Multi-Service-Line Surgical Unit, Exequiel P. Naculangan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Negative patient outcomes have been attributed to surgery-related complications. A gap was identified in an acute care unit in southern Texas because postoperative surgical complications were above acceptable rates. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to educate staff nurses on the provision of evidence-based postsurgical care. This doctoral project was conducted to determine whether completion of a learning module would increase nurses’ level of knowledge in acute postoperative care. The project was grounded on Knowles’s adult learning theory and the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition. Learning material using competency-based education was developed using the analyze, design, …


Associations Of Fast-Food Zoning Policy And Cardiovascular Disease In African American Communities, Starrlett Pena-Johnson Jan 2022

Associations Of Fast-Food Zoning Policy And Cardiovascular Disease In African American Communities, Starrlett Pena-Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major public health concern, causing one in every four deaths in the United States. Despite availability of effective disease management, African Americans bear the burden of incidence and mortality as CVD prevails as the primary cause of disparities in life expectancy, stroke, and heart failure. This cross-sectional study investigated fast-food restaurant (FFR) availability and socioeconomic status (SES; income, occupation, and education) to predict CVD risk scores in African Americans residing in Jackson, Mississippi. The social construction of target populations theory was used to inform this study. Using hierarchical multiple linear regression, a secondary data analysis …


Health Educator Experience: Recommendations For Physical Activity For Mental Health In Women, Patricia Schneider Jan 2022

Health Educator Experience: Recommendations For Physical Activity For Mental Health In Women, Patricia Schneider

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health issues, specifically anxiety and depression, continue to be a public health crisis in the United States. Despite the established therapies of pharmacology and cognitive behavioral therapy, not all patients seek or find relief using these methods. Therefore, other treatment strategies need to be studied. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the experiences of health educators who use physical activity as a strategy for anxiety and depression management among middle-aged women as well as their own attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral controls. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was leveraged as the theoretical foundation for …


Services For Homeless Veterans: A Study Of Access To Benefits, Sheryl Maddox Williams Jan 2022

Services For Homeless Veterans: A Study Of Access To Benefits, Sheryl Maddox Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHomelessness among veterans in the United States is a multifaceted social and health concern that has continued to increase despite immense efforts to minimize and eliminate this issue. Numerous organizations have dedicated resources; however, many veterans do not use benefits and resources that are available to them, and homelessness remains a health and social concern. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe how individual and interpersonal barriers, community factors, organizational structure, and existing policies for assistance are perceived by support staff that work with veterans with mental disorders who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. …


Factors That Determine Utilization Of The Canadian School-Based Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Programs, Diane Gloria Brown Jan 2022

Factors That Determine Utilization Of The Canadian School-Based Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Programs, Diane Gloria Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world and is the known causative agent of many HPV-associated cancers in both males and females. HPV vaccination rates in Canada are significantly lower than other developed countries and this finding is poorly understood as Canadian adolescents have access to free-of-charge HPV vaccines through school-based vaccination programs. This quantitative descriptive study used an online survey to collect data from 992 eligible respondents. This study identified predisposing, enabling, and need factors characterized by the Andersen behavioral model of health services use which facilitate or impede the use of …


Secondary Data Analysis Of The Association Of Screen Time With Selected Health Behaviors, Kellany Cadogan Noland Jan 2022

Secondary Data Analysis Of The Association Of Screen Time With Selected Health Behaviors, Kellany Cadogan Noland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The noticeable disparity in youth access of preventive healthcare and youth’s tendency towards excessive screen time have been linked to poor health outcomes. This issue prompted the current study, which had three core purposes: to identify associations between screen time and selected health behaviors, to identify target sociocultural and personal determinants of youth health, and to provide evidence to prompt innovation in promoting youth health via screen-based strategies. The social cognitive theory provided a context for triadic reciprocity between youth personal factors, environmental factors, and behaviors. A quantitative secondary analysis was completed using SPSS-27 to identify whether there was an …


Nurses' Experiences Caring For Patients With Opioid Use Disorder, Pamella Maureen Campbell Jan 2022

Nurses' Experiences Caring For Patients With Opioid Use Disorder, Pamella Maureen Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the past 2 decades, opioid use in the United States has taken thousands of lives, reached the level of epidemic in 2017, and has been an area of study among scholars. The problem is health care professionals, including nurses, lack training on how to care for people with opioid use disorder (OUD). Nurses are at the frontline of patient care and understanding the nurses’ experiences in the care of patients with OUD may help to improve the patients’ quality of care. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to develop an understanding of the experiences of nurses with …


Fortitude, Spiritual Fortitude, And The Cancer Care Continuum In African American Breast Cancer Survivors, Karen Y. Boone Jan 2022

Fortitude, Spiritual Fortitude, And The Cancer Care Continuum In African American Breast Cancer Survivors, Karen Y. Boone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American breast cancer survivors (AABCS) struggle with physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, and financial challenges. Navigating these challenges can require the use of inner resources such as fortitude and spiritual fortitude. Using Folkman and Lazarus’ transactional model of stress and coping as the theoretical framework, the purpose of this study was to examine fortitude and spiritual fortitude as coping responses by African American women living with breast cancer and whether fortitude and spiritual fortitude were associated with phases of the cancer care continuum. A quantitative nonexperimental cross-sectional design was used for primary data collection that involved using Pretorius’ Fortitude Questionnaire …


The Impact Of Electronic Health Records Meaningful Use On Patient Safety And Satisfaction, Paulette Brown Jan 2022

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 …


Working Mothers’ Lived Experiences Of Maintaining An Exercise Practice During A Pandemic, Sabrina Marie Cali Jan 2022

Working Mothers’ Lived Experiences Of Maintaining An Exercise Practice During A Pandemic, Sabrina Marie Cali

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Working mothers have been associated with low levels of exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic. This population faces many challenges and obstacles to exercise as they manage a household and work; this lack of exercise could leave their health at risk. Researchers have not yet considered working mothers’ lived experiences with exercise during a pandemic. Existing research on working mothers indicates there are barriers to exercise for this population, but more information on what allows these mothers to sustain exercise is needed. This qualitative narrative study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of working mothers who maintained an exercise practice …


Obesity's Impact Among Asian Americans In Southern California, Alyssa Mae Sunga Carlos Jan 2022

Obesity's Impact Among Asian Americans In Southern California, Alyssa Mae Sunga Carlos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity continues to be an important public health issue in the United States, especially among minority populations. However, one minority group experiences the lowest obesity rate: Asian Americans. As a result, there is not much research available involving the impact of obesity and weight gain among this population. The purpose of this basic qualitative exploratory study was to improve the understanding of obesity’s impact on the Asian American population, specifically in Southern California, whose goals were to lose weight and become more informed about obesity’s impact on health. The study consisted of three main research questions. Twenty-five participants were interviewed …