Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effective Management Of Diabetes Mellitus Type Ii In A Military Treatment Facility, Jozy Merizier Smarth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, 34 million people have diabetes and 79 million have prediabetes. Currently, one in nine Americans are diagnosed with diabetes and it is projected that one in five will have diabetes by 2025 and one in three by 2050. The practice-focused question answered by this project addressed the question if implementing a staff education program improved staff’s knowledge about self-management education and intent for providers and staff to promote a formal diabetes self-management education (DSME) program in an overseas military treatment facility. The site has 47% of empaneled beneficiaries with diabetes mellitus Type II with an elevated …

Educational Strategies For Healthcare Providers Of Postpartum Women With Substance Use Disorder, Agnes Denise White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractProviding educational strategies to maternal-child staff members can improve their attitudes, perceptions, and stigma towards the childbearing age women who are substance users. In the United States, an increased number of pregnant women have substance abuse problems. It is important that the maternal child staff have the resources and are equipped to care for women who are substance users struggling with their addictions and motherhood. The purpose of this project was to determine whether an educational program provided to postpartum nurses increased knowledge on the special needs of the new mother with a substance abuse issue. The education of the …

Nigerian Pensioners’ Knowledge, Attitudes, And Beliefs About Type 2 Diabetes, Nnawuihe Ugochukwu Nwosu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractDiabetes is one of the leading killer diseases globally, and it is on the rise, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. The high prevalence of undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes in developing African countries has been attributed to a lack of knowledge and awareness about the disease, unbelief in modern healthcare efficacy, and limited healthcare services access. The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about Type 2 diabetes among pensioners in Nigeria. A qualitative phenomenological research design was used for the study. The constructs of the health belief model formed the study’s theoretical framework. Data …

Examining Icu Nurses' Knowledge Of Ventilator-Associated Events And Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, Dorothy J. Sanders-Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are patients' complications of respiratory conditions including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Research shows that VAP is the most common hospital-acquired infection among ventilated patients and a leading source of mortality. With greater risk for complications among ventilated- supported patients, nurses working in the ICU must keep abreast of new knowledge and update expertise to develop technical and clinical skills in daily practice. The purpose of this project was to assess whether an educational intervention would increase the ICU nurses' level of knowledge of the evidence-based intervention. Knowles' adult learning theory was chosen for this project. A paired-samples t-test …

Examining Icu Nurses' Knowledge Of Ventilator-Associated Events And Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, Dorothy J. Sanders-Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are patients' complications of respiratory conditions including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Research shows that VAP is the most common hospital-acquired infection among ventilated patients and a leading source of mortality. With greater risk for complications among ventilated- supported patients, nurses working in the ICU must keep abreast of new knowledge and update expertise to develop technical and clinical skills in daily practice. The purpose of this project was to assess whether an educational intervention would increase the ICU nurses' level of knowledge of the evidence-based intervention. Knowles' adult learning theory was chosen for this project. A paired-samples t-test …

Mothers' Knowledge, Clinic Staff, Community Support, And Breastfeeding Practices, Ubong Usua

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Among low-income mothers enrolled in the Women Infant and Child (WIC) program and Medicaid, the rate of initiating breastfeeding immediately after delivery is low (57%) compared to high-income mothers (74%). Among the many factors contributing to this are low-income mothers' poor knowledge of the benefits of breast-feeding and lack of support and encouragement from clinical staff, family, and community. However, few studies have singled out the role of community and family support in improving maternal knowledge and breastfeeding practices. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior framework, this quantitative study used WIC data from the Texas Department of Health and Human …

Examining Icu Nurses' Knowledge Of Ventilator-Associated Events And Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, Dorothy J. Sanders-Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are patients' complications of respiratory conditions including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Research shows that VAP is the most common hospital-acquired infection among ventilated patients and a leading source of mortality. With greater risk for complications among ventilated- supported patients, nurses working in the ICU must keep abreast of new knowledge and update expertise to develop technical and clinical skills in daily practice. The purpose of this project was to assess whether an educational intervention would increase the ICU nurses' level of knowledge of the evidence-based intervention. Knowles' adult learning theory was chosen for this project. A paired-samples t-test …

Nurse Perception Of Pain And Innovative Approaches To Pain Management, Tracey-Ann Nichole Knight

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractInsufficient assessment and management of pain among the patient population during their hospital stay may result in ineffective delivery of care, increased length of stay, poor clinical outcomes, and decreased patient satisfaction. The quality report at a local facility showed compliance scores of 78% for administration of pain medication and 79% for reassessment of pain. These scores and the weekly patients’ satisfaction survey results suggested a substandard adherence to the facility’s pain management guidelines. One identified barrier to properly managing patients’ pain was nurses’ lack of knowledge and understanding of the theoretical foundation of pain management. The purpose of this …

Registered Nurses’ Assessment Of Clinical Leadership Knowledge And Competence, Valerie D. Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As a prevalent component of the health care workforce, clinical nurse leaders play a vital role in reducing costs and promoting quality patient outcomes. The purpose of his project was to assess clinical leadership skill of nurses at a 160-bed rehabilitation hospital in a metropolitan city in the southeast United States. Guided by the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses model (AMSN), the practice-focused question explored the extent to which nurses perceived that they held clinical leadership knowledge and leadership competencies which impact positively on the nurse workforce and patient care. Thirty clinical registered nurses (RN) participated. According to the clinical leadership …

Nursing Knowledge On Pressure Injury Prevention In The Intensive Care Unit, Yanick Jacob

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over 60,000 hospital patients die each year from complications associated with hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). Pressure-injury rates have increased by 2% within the past decade as life expectancy has also increased due to high cost in Medicare. Evidence shows that the incidence of pressure injuries (PIs) in healthcare facilities is increasing, with high rates of occurrence in intensive care units (ICUs). At the clinical site for which this project was developed, multiple in-services had been provided to staff regarding PIs, but uncertainty persisted about how knowledgeable the nurses were. This project, using the Academic Center for Evidence Star Model of …

Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcer Prevention, Druscilla Willis Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) represent a significant challenge in the care provided for hospitalized patients. HAPUs impact morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. At the local practice site, the incidence of HAPUs increased in the perioperative setting. The practice-focused question for this project asked if an education program for staff nurses working in a perioperative care setting with high HAPU incidence can advance nurse knowledge regarding prevention, early assessment, symptoms, and treatment of HAPUs. The purpose of this educational project was to develop a pretest and posttest designed education program on HAPU prevention and care for perioperative nurses. The Iowa …

The Relationship Between Parents' And Caregivers' Demographics And Their Knowledge About Congenital Heart Disease, Adeola Barakat Animasahun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of knowledge regarding congenital heart disease (CHD) among the Lagos populace is leading to late presentation, late diagnosis and poor outcomes. The purpose of the research was to document the level of knowledge of parents and caregivers regarding CHD using the Leuven questionnaire for assessing knowledge of parents on CHD (LKQCHD). A quantitative correlational cross-sectional study, with purposeful convenience sampling strategy, was used. Health belief model was the theoretical framework used. Primary data of demographic information such as gender, age, the level of education, and the number of years of accessing care were obtained using a survey. The …

Patient Awareness And Knowledge Of Medically Induced Radiation Exposure, Travis L. Mann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The level of knowledge and awareness among patients about the concepts and implications of medical radiation is unknown. The purpose of this qualitative, case study was to explore patients' awareness and knowledge of information regarding this topic from their perspectives. The health belief model provided the framework for the study. A total of 20 individuals were recruited using purposive sampling. All participants were above the age of 18 in central North Carolina and had undergone or are currently undergoing medical radiation exams. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed using Yin's 5-phased cycle, which involved compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, …

Connecticut Primary Care Physicians And Chronic Lyme Disease, Yvette P. Ghannam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence of chronic Lyme disease (CLD) remains relatively unknown in Connecticut because there is not an agreement on what CLD is and how it should be diagnosed in addition to which pathological agent causes CLD. The aim of this quantitative study was to assess whether there were significant differences between two groups of primary care physicians (PCP) working in Connecticut from two different points in time regarding their knowledge in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of CLD. A knowledge, attitude, and practice model was used as the underlying theoretical framework for this study. A random cross-sectional survey was mailed …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Beliefs About Food Additives And Obesity, Lorna Theresa Ingram

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs about Food Additives and Obesity

by

Lorna Theresa Ingram

MS, Long Island University, 2007

BA, Florida International University, 1999

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Walden University

November 2019

Obesity is a chronic health problem that affects the health and well being of its population. The purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive study was to examine whether there is a relationship between individuals’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding food additives and obesity. The research questions concerned knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs participants had regarding food additives and obesity. The …

Novice Nurse Respiratory Educational Component's Impact On Confidence And Knowledge, Peggy Lynn Cline

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The hospital-based novice nurse is presented daily with complex patients with multiple coexisting morbidities, which demands increasing responsibility for evidence-based clinical decision-making to prevent adverse health outcomes and associated high health costs. Knowledge and confidence of novice nurses in a medical-surgical unit in the assessment and clinic management of the respiratory system was identified as a gap during onboarding of new nurses. The purpose of this doctoral staff education project was to determine whether a respiratory educational component added to a medical-surgical novice nurse's orientation would impact the respiratory confidence and knowledge of respiratory assessment and clinical management. Benner's nursing …

Patient Awareness And Knowledge Of Medically Induced Radiation Exposure, Travis L. Mann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The level of knowledge and awareness among patients about the concepts and implications of medical radiation is unknown. The purpose of this qualitative, case study was to explore patients' awareness and knowledge of information regarding this topic from their perspectives. The health belief model provided the framework for the study. A total of 20 individuals were recruited using purposive sampling. All participants were above the age of 18 in central North Carolina and had undergone or are currently undergoing medical radiation exams. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed using Yin's 5-phased cycle, which involved compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, …

Nurse Practitioners' Knowledge, Skills, And Confidence In Providing Tobacco Cessation Education, Indra -. Sinanan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ceasing tobacco use benefits smokers regardless of age; therefore, it is essential for health care providers to consistently identify smokers and offer evidence-based cessation treatments to those wanting to stop smoking as a proactive approach towards tobacco abstinence. The purpose of this doctoral project, which was underpinned by the knowledge-to-action framework, was to educate nurse practitioners about evidence-based tobacco cessation interventions and assess the impact of the education on their knowledge base, skills, and self-confidence in implementing tobacco-cessation protocols. Participants (n = 14) completed a knowledge-based questionnaire and the Skills and Confidence for Smoking Cessation Tool before and after an …

Self-Care Management Of African American Men With Type 2 Diabetes, Kevin Konstantinos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American men are disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes and have a 3 times higher rate of 3 serious complications of diabetes, including blindness, amputations, and end-stage renal disease, compared to other groups. The purpose of this project was to address the gap-in-practice disparity that exists in care of African American men with diabetes by providing one-on-one self-care management education in an outpatient clinic setting. The behavior change theories that supported the project intervention were Orem's self-care theory and Bandura's self-efficacy theory. Employing a quasi-experimental design, 33 participants between the ages of 40 and 65 were divided into an …

Stroke Risk Factor Knowledge, Attitude, Prevention Practices, And Stroke, Adaku Ngozika Madubuko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Regardless of the advances that have been made in stroke research and treatment and the overall decrease in stroke mortality, the stroke mortality rate for African Americans is still high at 45.2/100,000 and is still the leading cause of adult disability. Knowledge of the risk factors of stroke is paramount to reducing the morbidity and mortality of stroke, but knowledge of stroke risk factors has been found to be suboptimal in the African American population. The purpose of this study was to examine if there is a relationship between the knowledge, perception, and sources of stroke information of risk factors …

Knowledge, Beliefs, And Perceptions About Tuberculosis Among Haitian Immigrants And Haitian Americans Living In Miami-Dade County, Florida, Leslie Barbour

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tuberculosis (TB) kills 1.7 million people each year, and 1/3rd of the world's population is estimated to have latent TB. It was once the deadliest disease in the United States but is now relatively rare and, if treated properly, it is curable. Migrants from TB-endemic countries, such as Haiti, are one source of TB transmission to the US, and the prevalence of TB remains high and is increasing in Little Haiti, Florida. Data on the knowledge and perceptions of Haitian immigrants and Haitian Americans about TB is inadequate. The purpose of this qualitative research was to study the TB-related knowledge, …

Knowledge And Attitudes Of Emergency Room Nurses Regarding Palliative Care Patients, Pearl Alethea Harrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Palliative care (PC) is the comprehensive management of patients diagnosed with terminal illness. Care for PC patients focuses on relieving symptoms. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference between pretest and posttest scores on the Frommelt Attitude towards the Care of the Dying (FATCOD) and the Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses (PCQN) after an educational intervention to emergency department (ED) nurses. The framework for this project was Bandura's social cognitive theory. The FATCOD was used to assess ED nurses' attitudes toward PC, and the PCQN was used to assess ED nurses' knowledge about PC prior to the …

Roles Of Community Pharmacists In Improving Oral Health Awareness In Plateau State, Northern Nigeria, Olaniyi O. Taiwo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is poor oral health awareness in Nigeria. This is mainly attributed to limited access to correct information on oral health as well as a lack of oral health care providers. The impact of the poor oral health awareness is worse in Northern Nigeria due to the uneven distribution of oral health care workers and training facilities. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to describe the roles of community pharmacists (CPs) in Plateau State, Nigeria as sources of oral health information. Theoretical framework for this study was the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Background knowledge and practices of oral …

Safety Practices On Lead Poisoning Among Battery Technicians In Lagos Nigeria, Tajudeen Olusegun Rasheed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maintaining due diligence on safety practices at the workplace of battery technicians is the most cost-effective intervention against lead-related hazards. The safety practice on lead poisoning in Nigeria is below average, and the compliance level is far from the expected target of 90%. Using Dejoy's workplace self-protective behavior theory, this study investigated multilevel factors that influence safety practices on lead poisoning and compared the rate of utilization of personal protective equipment by battery technicians in the organized and roadside settings. The study was a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design, and a multistage and systematic sampling technique was used to select 293 …

Assessing For Awareness And Knowledge Regarding Diabetes In Pre-Diabetes Obese Patients, Remona Lysa Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the past few decades, there has been an increase in prevalence of diabetes in the United States. Prevention of diabetes and improving patients' knowledge and awareness of diabetes are crucial for healthcare providers. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical foundation, the student used the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to improve awareness and knowledge of diabetes among obese individuals with prediabetes. The key research question of this project was to determine whether the patients' diabetes knowledge and awareness improved after the NDPP program. A convenience sample of …

Enhancing Nurses' Assessment Of Pain Management In Dementia Patients, Norma Jean Boone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic pain contributes to morbidity, mortality, and disability in millions of people. Prevalence rates for pain are as high as 83% among the 5.2 million older adults living with a diagnosis of dementia. The purpose of the quality improvement project was to assess nurses' knowledge of pain assessment and management in a 45-bed Veterans Health Administration long-term care facility serving older adults with dementia. Knowles' adult learning theory served as the theoretical framework and the knowledge to action model supported the translation of evidence into practice. A convenience sample of 27 licensed and unlicensed nursing staff answered the 16-question, 5-point …

Differences In Treatment-Seeking And Treatment-Adherence Factors For Tuberculosis In Armenian Versus Non-Armenian Populations Of Los Angeles County, Tanya Marie Ferguson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly, yet curable, infectious disease that continues to be a global health threat. Armenia suffers from rising TB incidence and mortality rates. Armenians living in Los Angeles (LA) County, where TB incidence is higher than national averages, is the second largest Armenian community in the world; therefore implications are that many TB cases are attributed to this group. Using the social ecological model as a theoretical framework, this concurrent, mixed-methods study compared Armenians to non-Armenians in LA County about their knowledge of TB and perceived barriers to seeking and adhering to treatment. Bivariate chi-square analysis from …

Delaying First Pregnancies: Canadian Women's Knowledge And Perception Of The Consequences, Deborah Haynes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many women aged 20-30 are postponing their first pregnancies until their mid 30s and beyond, which has resulted in compressed childbearing years and/or infertility. Little is known about the knowledge and understanding that Canadian women of advanced age (age 35-45) possess of their reproductive capacity. This phenomenological study sought to explore these women's knowledge and perception of their reproductive capacity in relation to the timing of first pregnancy. Research questions using the constructs of Ajzen's theory of planned behavior were developed to explore how the behavioral, normative, and control beliefs of women's childbearing behaviors were based on their perceptions of …

Improving Pain Management For Hospitalized Patients, Ronda Sweet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Uncontrolled pain has proven effects on both physiological and psychological responses of hospitalized patients. These incapacitating sequelae most often negatively impact patient outcomes resulting in unnecessary suffering and prolong hospitalizations. First line nurses often have preconceived notions about a patient's pain without developing an individualized patient context that considers appropriate pain management knowledge translated from best practice standards. Guided by Bandura's social learning theory and Lippitt's change theory, the purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if use of the Curriculum Outline on Pain for Nursing from the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) improved nursing …

Knowledge Of Diabetes Mellitus And Health-Preventive Behaviors Among African American Adults, Wanka Ndifor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the risk within the African American population of developing diabetes, its complications, and the benefits associated with timely management and treatment of diabetes. The study also looked at how such knowledge may be related to preventive health behaviors. The Risk Perception Survey-Developing Diabetes and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System questionnaires were employed in this study. The theoretical basis of this study was the health belief model. This was a cross sectional, quantitative study with 126 participants. Descriptive analysis was employed to calculate the mean scores and frequencies across each …