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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus And Homelessness Among U.S.-Born And Foreign-Born Tuberculosis Cases In Georgia, Semra Ramosevac Jan 2021

Human Immunodeficiency Virus And Homelessness Among U.S.-Born And Foreign-Born Tuberculosis Cases In Georgia, Semra Ramosevac

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria and can easily spread in the U.S. and worldwide. TB infections in the U.S. have been much lower compared to other countries around the world in the last 40 years, but with the recent increase in an immigrant foreign-born population, there is a serious risk of the spread of TB. The goal of the study was to look into U.S.-born vs. foreign-born populations among TB/HIV/homeless cases in the state of GA from 2014 to 2018. The quantitative study was performed using secondary …


Psychosocial Support During Pregnancy: A Narrative Inquiry Of Low-Income Unmarried Women In Iowa, Summer D. Parrott Jan 2021

Psychosocial Support During Pregnancy: A Narrative Inquiry Of Low-Income Unmarried Women In Iowa, Summer D. Parrott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pregnant women who experience high levels of stress and who lack support are at higher risk for negative birth outcomes for themselves and their offspring including preterm labor, low birthweights, and a myriad of other short- and long-term health and behavioral consequences across the lifespan of the child. Unmarried or socioeconomically disadvantaged women lack the most common resources used to protect against the negative effects of stress during pregnancy. A research gap existed regarding the specific types of psychosocial support perceived by low-income unmarried women to be most beneficial at buffering their perceived prenatal stress. The ecological model and the …


Evaluation Of A Cardiac Surgery Nurse Navigator Quality Improvement Program, Eileen Joy Watkins Jan 2021

Evaluation Of A Cardiac Surgery Nurse Navigator Quality Improvement Program, Eileen Joy Watkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPatients who have had cardiac surgery may experience longer hospital stays and increased readmission rates when there is poor care coordination between patients, families, and the healthcare team. Poor care coordination leads to unclear expectations of each phase of care, decreased compliance with postoperative care regimen resulting in increased length of stay, patient and family dissatisfaction, and increased rates of readmission. This project evaluated a Cardiac Surgery Nurse Navigator (CSNN) Quality Improvement program to address care coordination and improve length of stay and readmission rates for cardiac surgery patients. The goal was to determine whether the CSNN program was effective …


Impact Of Information Breaches On Health Care Records, Anton Antony Arockiasamy Jan 2021

Impact Of Information Breaches On Health Care Records, Anton Antony Arockiasamy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although there were almost 3.5 million reported information breaches of health care data in the first quarter of 2019, health care providers do not know the extent of digital and nondigital breaches of patient medical records. The purpose of this quantitative, comparative study was to identify the difference between the individual patient records affected by digital versus nondigital breaches for three types of health care entities in the United States, health care providers, health care plans, and health care clearinghouses. Allman’s privacy regulation theory, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Privacy Framework, and ecological systems theory comprised the theoretical …


Motivational Interviewing: A Strategy To Improve Health Professional's Communication, Lanita James Jan 2021

Motivational Interviewing: A Strategy To Improve Health Professional's Communication, Lanita James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Miscommunication between patients and healthcare professionals is common in U.S. hospitals and is considered one of the chief factors in reduced patient satisfaction with care. Collaboration with the nurse researcher who reviewed the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (HCAHPS) data for a local hospital noted that negative ratings were directly related to the miscommunication between the patient and care providers. Further identified that the nursing staff was not knowledgeable about evidenced-based strategies needed to communicate effectively with the patients. The purpose of this DNP project was to develop an education program to increase nurses' knowledge about …


Service Providers' Perceptions Of Stigma And Its Impact On Mental Health Services, Arthur Gabriel Montes Jan 2021

Service Providers' Perceptions Of Stigma And Its Impact On Mental Health Services, Arthur Gabriel Montes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stigma is one of the most significant barriers to access and utilization of mental health services in the United States. Delays in receiving mental health services significantly contribute to health disparities and poor health outcomes. Social workers play an integral part in implementing best practices within health care settings and reducing health inequities impacting vulnerable populations. The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore social work service providers perceptions' toward stigma and how it affects mental health services among patients in California's Medicaid program. Stigma theory was applied to gain an understanding of how stigma interacts and …


Assessing The Risk Of Developing Liver Cancer Among Adults In The United States, Magbor Oben Jan 2021

Assessing The Risk Of Developing Liver Cancer Among Adults In The United States, Magbor Oben

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The risk of developing liver cancer among adults in the United States remains asignificant threat due to an increasing prevalence of the disease. Despite the identification of some biological, environmental, and socioeconomic risk factors, uncertainty exists as to the role of sociodemographic factors. In this study, participants (N=27,804), age 18 and over, were assessed for liver cancer outcome specific to three factors liver disease, insurance coverage, and access to healthcare. With the person-centered care model as the framework, data from the 2016 National Health and Interview Surveys were subjected to the selection criteria and quantitatively analyzed using binary logistic regression. …


Evidence-Informed Health Care Transition Policy In California’S Title V Programs For Medical Complexity, Anthony Pallitto Jan 2021

Evidence-Informed Health Care Transition Policy In California’S Title V Programs For Medical Complexity, Anthony Pallitto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inadequate health care transition policy continues to cause interruptions or setbacks in the continuity of medical care and lapses in health insurance coverage for adolescents in California's Title V programs for individuals with medically complex cases. Yet, there is a paucity of empirical health care transition research to develop an effective health care transition policy for children with medical complexity who are enrolled in California’s Title V program. The purpose of this explanatory case study was to explore the potentiality of translating evidence from a quasi-experimental health care transition primary research project into evidence-informed health care transition policy. The research …


Preventable Error Reduction Leadership Strategies Of Nurse Managers In A Hospital Setting, Sedrick Diego Bedolla Jan 2021

Preventable Error Reduction Leadership Strategies Of Nurse Managers In A Hospital Setting, Sedrick Diego Bedolla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPreventable medical errors in the healthcare industry account for hundreds of thousands of patient deaths annually. Nurse managers strive to develop strategies to reduce incidences of preventable medical error and increase patient safety in their organization to improve performance and reduce harm in the healthcare industry. Grounded in the complex adaptive systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies nurse managers use to reduce the rate of preventable medical errors among employees. The participants comprised 6 nurse managers who successfully used strategies to lower the rate of preventable errors in a healthcare facility in …


Primary Care Providers’ Perceptions Of Adolescent Friendly Health Services In Relationship To Adolescent Pregnancy, Jill Marie Ensminger Jan 2021

Primary Care Providers’ Perceptions Of Adolescent Friendly Health Services In Relationship To Adolescent Pregnancy, Jill Marie Ensminger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to recent research, adolescent health continues to be a public health concern. The purpose of this qualitative research was to identify the perceptions of primary care providers regarding adolescent friendly health services and the relationship to adolescent pregnancy. The theoretical and conceptual framework used for this research included the social ecological model and the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) for providing adolescent friendly health services. Using a phenomenological qualitative research approach, interviews were conducted over the telephone. Data analysis included hand coding with emerging themes and subthemes in relationship to each research question. The results of the …


An Educational Intervention To Reduce Central Venous Catheter Infection Rates, Bolanle Olajuyigbe Jan 2021

An Educational Intervention To Reduce Central Venous Catheter Infection Rates, Bolanle Olajuyigbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCentral venous catheters (CVC) are essential in both critical and noncritical care settings. Despite benefits such as the administration of medications, blood products, and parenteral nutrition, CVCs are also associated with infections known as central–line associated blood stream infections (CLABSI). Linked to knowledge deficit and noncompliance in following evidence-based care bundles by nurses, it is important that nurses are empowered through education to provide quality care to reduce CLABSI rates. Thus, a staff education program was developed to answer the practice-focus question: if an organized education program increases the knowledge of medical-surgical nurses on central line care and management procedures …


Examining Clinicians' Perspectives Screening For Depression In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Vickie Lavette Bland Jan 2021

Examining Clinicians' Perspectives Screening For Depression In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Vickie Lavette Bland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States has a significant diabetes problem. This chronic disease affects the body physically and mentally. One of the emotional effects of diabetes is depression. Depression is often present in individuals with diabetes, chiefly in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While depression is common in T2DM and can interfere with treatment adherence, clinician screening for depression in T2DM patients is low. The purpose of this study was to examine clinicians' attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions concerning screening patients with T2DM for depression. Through a qualitative case study approach centered on reasoned action theory, 3 physicians and 5 nurse …


Students' Perceptions Of Persistence In Two-Year Radiologic Technology Programs, Billie Jo Huffstetler Jan 2021

Students' Perceptions Of Persistence In Two-Year Radiologic Technology Programs, Billie Jo Huffstetler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obtaining a health care degree benefits individuals and society; however, 2-year radiologic technology programs in a metropolitan area of the southern United States continue to struggle with student persistence from enrollment to graduation. Exploring student persistence is important to college administrators, faculty, and students because of the predicted growth in the profession of radiologic technology. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore students' perceptions of their experiences at the local college that encouraged them to persist to graduation or quit attending. Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory and Bean and Metzner's nontraditional undergraduate attrition model served as the …


Effect Of Professional Exclusion Among Respiratory Therapists In The Icu, Tiffany Lubken Jan 2021

Effect Of Professional Exclusion Among Respiratory Therapists In The Icu, Tiffany Lubken

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was conducted to test how social exclusion, experienced through a culture of healthcare hierarchy, influenced the feelings/attitudes of respiratory therapists (RTs) who are excluded from discussions of end-of-life (EOL) care. Data analysis was conducted using a multivariate analysis of variance to address the research questions. A quantitative nonexperimental survey research design incorporating four evidence-based surveys was used. There was no significance found between professional exclusion from EOL care discussions and the abilities of RTs to collaborate with intensive care unit (ICU) team members within the shared decision-making model as it relates to providing care in the ICU. There …


Mental Health Disparities In Social Work Practice Of Minority Youth Offenders, Beverly Ann Rivera Jan 2021

Mental Health Disparities In Social Work Practice Of Minority Youth Offenders, Beverly Ann Rivera

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractA large number of minority youths placed in the juvenile justice system across the United States have mental health disorders. Most of these youths do not receive mental health services or support within the system, which increases risk factors such as undiagnosed and untreated mental illness and adverse outcomes such as recidivism. This action research sought to uncover whether mental health disparities in social work practice in the juvenile justice system were due to race and ethnicity and asked social workers to recommend strategies to improve mental health availability, access, and provision. Participants in the study were social workers who …


Predictors Of Depression Screening Among Cancer Patients In U.S. Ambulatory Settings, Joseph Oluyinka Fawole Jan 2021

Predictors Of Depression Screening Among Cancer Patients In U.S. Ambulatory Settings, Joseph Oluyinka Fawole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is a common mental health comorbidity in cancer diagnoses, affecting 8-24% of cancer patients. Despite the high prevalence of depression among cancer patients, it is often unrecognized and untreated, thereby representing an enormous psychological distress source among the cancer patient population. The purpose of this study was to explore and establish the factors that predict depression screening among cancer patients in the ambulatory care setting in the United States. The health belief model guided the study. Secondary data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were analyzed to evaluate the predictors of depression screening in patients diagnosed with cancer. …


Educating Clinicians In A Nursing Facility To Proactively Manage Urinary Tract Infections, Setha Joseph Jan 2021

Educating Clinicians In A Nursing Facility To Proactively Manage Urinary Tract Infections, Setha Joseph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractUrinary tract infections (UTIs) have been identified as the most common reason for hospital visits among adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the prevalence of UTIs in long-term care facilities ranges from 20%-50%. The purpose of this staff education project was to implement an educational program to increase staff knowledge of proactive management of urinary tract health with the ultimate goal of reducing acute illnesses at the skilled nursing facility (SNF). Knowles theory of adult learning informed curriculum development and Kirkpatrick's levels of training evaluation guided program evaluation. The project team planned, developed, implemented, and evaluated …


Competition And Technical Efficiency For General Medical And Surgical Hospitals In Georgia, Nathan Ekow Davies Jan 2021

Competition And Technical Efficiency For General Medical And Surgical Hospitals In Georgia, Nathan Ekow Davies

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The primary aim of this study was to enhance understanding of the fundamental socioeconomic problem associated with inefficient hospital competition in the United States in terms of demand and supply of services as well as the efficiency of hospitals. The relationship between market competition and hospital efficiency was investigated among general medical and surgical hospitals in Georgia. The X-efficiency theory was used which defines efficiency as the degree of effectiveness that an organization can maintain while operating in imperfect competition. The theory is most applicable in terms of addressing imperfect market characteristics of the healthcare industry. Correlations between efficiency and …


Effects Of Trained Providers And Naloxone Distribution On Prescription Opioid Use Disorder, Samuel Sarpong Jan 2021

Effects Of Trained Providers And Naloxone Distribution On Prescription Opioid Use Disorder, Samuel Sarpong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOpioid abuse and overdose are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality rates, as well as social and economic costs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the independent and interactive effects of state-sponsored prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) trained healthcare providers and community-based naloxone distribution program related factors in the states of Florida and Georgia for the prevention and reduction of prescription opioid use disorder, overdose, and deaths. The research theory adopted was the socio-ecological model with an emphasis on risk factors such as age. The study used secondary data from 2014 to 2018 from the Florida and Georgia …


Social Determinants Of Health And Type 2 Diabetes Among Enrollees Of California Children’S Services Program In Fresno County, California, Daniela Marie Aghadjanian Jan 2021

Social Determinants Of Health And Type 2 Diabetes Among Enrollees Of California Children’S Services Program In Fresno County, California, Daniela Marie Aghadjanian

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite extensive study in adults, Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been the subject of little research concerning young adults or children. Doctors believed T2D to develop only in a person’s later years until health care providers found younger individuals developing this disease. The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative analysis was to determine correlations between T2D and social determinants of health in Fresno County, California, based on children and adolescents. The 2017-19 data came from the Fresno County Department of Public Health. The theoretical foundation for the study was the socio-ecological framework focusing on individuals’ traits having a bidirectional impact on …


Faith Leaders’ Perceived Role In Mental Health Promotion In Impoverished Communities, Kelly L. Cornish Jan 2021

Faith Leaders’ Perceived Role In Mental Health Promotion In Impoverished Communities, Kelly L. Cornish

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The use of faith-based organizations (FBO) for health promotion in vulnerable communities has the potential to improve mental health outcomes by providing resources to community members. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how faith leaders perceived their role in mental health promotion as a resource to improve access to mental health care in impoverished communities. The health belief model and theory of planned behavior were used as the conceptual framework. Purposeful and snowball sampling was used to recruit eight faith leaders who led a FBO and resided in Cumberland County, NJ. Data were collected using semistructured …


Understanding How Religious Practices Influence Self-Care In Black Churchgoers Diagnosed With Hypertension, Taquina C. Davis Jan 2021

Understanding How Religious Practices Influence Self-Care In Black Churchgoers Diagnosed With Hypertension, Taquina C. Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Religion plays an essential role in managing health; however, there is limited research on religious practices among Black churchgoers diagnosed with hypertension. This research aims to understand how religious practices influence self-care in Black churchgoers diagnosed with hypertension. The sample consisted of 21 Black men and women, ages 29 to 70 years, with a clinical diagnosis of hypertension. Participants were recruited from two local, predominately Black churches in South Carolina and administered semistructured interviews to participants. A grounded theory design was used, and the data analysis consisted of constant comparison. Two core concepts were identified. One core concept identified was …


State Consent Policies And The Meaningful Use Of Electronic Health Records Among Nonfederal Acute Care Hospitals In The United States, Adetoro Kafilat Longe Jan 2021

State Consent Policies And The Meaningful Use Of Electronic Health Records Among Nonfederal Acute Care Hospitals In The United States, Adetoro Kafilat Longe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The less-than-nationwide use of electronic health record (EHR) systems to send, receive, and integrate (SRI) patient summary of care (PSC) records limits the ability of hospital administrators to maximize efficiency and improve quality in the continuum of care. Despite obvious differences in state health information exchange (HIE) consent policies, there is no known research that has determined if and what aspects of state-level HIE legislation affect the use of EHR systems to SRI PSC records. Guided by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), the purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional research study was to examine the relationship …


Unmet Needs Of Children With Special Health Care Needs When Transitioning To Adult Services, Kiara Monee Moseby Jan 2021

Unmet Needs Of Children With Special Health Care Needs When Transitioning To Adult Services, Kiara Monee Moseby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health care transition planning could help decrease health care disparities among those who identify as an individual on the autism spectrum; however, less than a quarter of the adolescent population living with autism spectrum disorder receive transition planning. Decreasing health care disparities could lead to an increase in health care quality and longevity. The purpose of this study was to analyze if there was a relationship between (a) the number of physician visits, (b) if the physician treats only children, (c) if the physician talks about the child seeing physicians who treat adults, (d) if the physician worked with the …


Health Care Manager Electronic Medical Record Systems Implementation Strategies To Improve Patient Outcomes, Mcarthur Bruno Damis Jan 2021

Health Care Manager Electronic Medical Record Systems Implementation Strategies To Improve Patient Outcomes, Mcarthur Bruno Damis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective implementation of electronic medical record systems (EMRS) among health care outpatient clinics results in substantial financial loss. Health care managers (HCMs) in outpatient clinics who fail to implement EMRS adversely affect employee usage and performance. Grounded in fayolism theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies health care managers used to implement EMRS in their organizations. The participants were six HCMs in a U.S East Coast city. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data from semistructured interviews and internal company documents. Five themes emerged: internal communication, overcoming barriers, time management, compensation improving …


The Influence Of Community-Based Interventions On Behaviors Of Hiv+ Persons In Congo-Kinshasa, Max Ebengho Bokelo Jan 2021

The Influence Of Community-Based Interventions On Behaviors Of Hiv+ Persons In Congo-Kinshasa, Max Ebengho Bokelo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSub-Saharan African communities bear the highest burden of HIV/AIDS in the world. Because of identifiable cultural links and local beliefs, people are more likely to engage in sexual mores that could negatively impact their lives. Starting in early 2000, Congolese HIV+ patients have undergone a variety of inputs designed to decrease HIV risk behaviors among people. The purpose of this inquiry was to understand the impact of those actions within the community. Data grounded on the socioecological model were collected regarding any changes in (1) behavioral rejection of condoms, (2) Kintwidi phenomenon, (3) levirate and (4) sororate marriage, (5) sexual …


Impact Of A Standardized Situation, Background, Assessment, And Recommendation Tool On Satisfaction And Communication In The Perioperative Area, Salomy Abraham Jan 2021

Impact Of A Standardized Situation, Background, Assessment, And Recommendation Tool On Satisfaction And Communication In The Perioperative Area, Salomy Abraham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEffective communication among health care providers is critical to maintain patient safety during the handoff of care. Communication breakdown during handoff can lead to medical errors and sentinel events. The perioperative area is a vulnerable area that is prone to communication errors due to the involvement of providers from various disciplines and the nature of the quick patient turnovers within the perioperative area. To ensure proper communication during the handoff in the perioperative area, a unit-specific handoff tool is required. The focus of the project was to implement a standardized situation, background, assessment, and recommendation (SBAR) communication tool in the …


Developing A Clinical Practice Guideline For Colorectal Cancer Screening In Primary Care, Michelle Janise Berkley-Brown Jan 2021

Developing A Clinical Practice Guideline For Colorectal Cancer Screening In Primary Care, Michelle Janise Berkley-Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women combined. CRC screening is an effective way to reduce mortality and morbidity related to the disease. Practitioners within primary care practices can play an essential role in encouraging people to be screened. Yet, CRC screening rates remain low in primary care practices. Evidence-based strategies are available to help practitioners improve CRC screening activities and improve screening rates. The lack of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) with strategies to help improve CRC screening interventions was identified as a practice gap for …


The Power Of Exogenous Variables In Predicting West Nile Virus In South Carolina, Christopher Lee Glaze Jan 2021

The Power Of Exogenous Variables In Predicting West Nile Virus In South Carolina, Christopher Lee Glaze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the availability of medical data, environmental surveillance tools, and heightened public awareness, West Nile Virus (WNv) remains a global health hazard. Reliable methods for predicting WNv outbreaks remain elusive, and environmental health managers must take preventive actions without the benefit of simple predictive tools. The purpose of this ex post facto research was to examine the accuracy and timeliness of exogenous data in predicting outbreaks of WNv in South Carolina. Decision theory, the CYNEFIN construct, and systems theory provided the theoretical framework for this study, allowing the researcher to broaden traditional decision theory concepts with powerful system-level precepts. Using …


The Relationship Between Hospitals’ Electronic Health Records Maturity And Excess Readmission Ratio, Cynthia Saint-Ulysse Jan 2021

The Relationship Between Hospitals’ Electronic Health Records Maturity And Excess Readmission Ratio, Cynthia Saint-Ulysse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act was enacted in 2009, a majority of U.S. hospitals have adopted electronic health records (EHR) to improve quality of care. However, variations exist in the technology's capability and maturity, making it difficult for researchers to analyze the full impact. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between hospitals' EHR maturity and the quality measure of excess readmissions, as well as the relationship between hospital characteristics, specifically, hospital location and the number of licensed beds in Medicare hospitals (N = 1,006). Both the chi-square statistical test …