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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Maternal Characteristics And Childhood Immunization Series Completion Rates Among Children 2-Years-Old, Merlene Ramnon Jan 2016

Maternal Characteristics And Childhood Immunization Series Completion Rates Among Children 2-Years-Old, Merlene Ramnon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Delays in childhood immunization may have adverse health implications. In the United States, childhood immunization among children who are below 3 years of age continues to be below Healthy People 2020 targets for some vaccines such as DTaP, PCV, HIB, Hep A, Rotavirus, and Hep B birth dose. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between maternal characteristics and childhood immunization series completion rates among children 2 years of age. The social learning theory and self-efficacy theory provided the theoretical foundation for the study. Data from the Florida Department of Health Immunization Surveys were used. ANOVA and …


Effectiveness Of A Critical Care Nurse Residency Program, Pam Redman Jan 2016

Effectiveness Of A Critical Care Nurse Residency Program, Pam Redman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The importance of nurse residency programs is addressed in the literature; however, a review of residency program outcomes and effectiveness is needed. Guided by Roy's adaptation model and Deming's plan-do-check-act model, the purpose of this quality improvement project was to assess the current state of a longstanding critical care nurse residency program in meeting organizational goals and objectives and to recommend modifications to the program related to external factors, internal challenges, and educational deficits of nurses entering the program. A review of the evidence-based literature and feedback from focus groups of leadership stakeholders were used to develop recommendations for residency …


An Exploration Of Male Batterers' Perceptions Of A Standardized Batterers' Treatment Program, Dionne Lynn Spooner Jan 2016

An Exploration Of Male Batterers' Perceptions Of A Standardized Batterers' Treatment Program, Dionne Lynn Spooner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The focus of this hermeneutic phenomenological, qualitative study was to gather an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of male batterers participating in a standardized Duluth-model batterers' treatment group. The study had three main goals: (a) to understand the experience of male batterers participating in a standardized male batterers' treatment program, (b) to improve the treatment being provided to male batterers, and (c) to improve services to those impacted by domestic violence. Results from previous studies indicated that treatment for male batterers is ineffective and inconsistent and that the treatment provided, regardless of framework or modality, has little or no …


Influences Of Peer Pressure And Relationship Knowledge On Sexual Behaviors Of Hispanic/Latino Youth, Richard Velez Jan 2016

Influences Of Peer Pressure And Relationship Knowledge On Sexual Behaviors Of Hispanic/Latino Youth, Richard Velez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Numerous studies have shown a rising HIV/AIDS epidemic among U.S. Hispanics/Latinos. Risky sexual behavior, alcohol, drug abuse, and sociodemographics contribute to Hispanics/Latinos' elevated risk for contracting HIV and other STDs. There is a need for additional research to understand the combination of factors associated with HIV and other STD infection among Hispanic/Latino youth. Based on social cognitive theory, this study examined the influences of peer pressure and relationship knowledge on risky sexual behavior among Hispanic/Latino young adults as measured by the Peer Pressure Inventory (PPI), the Teenage Research Unlimited Survey (TRU), and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). A group …


Understanding Caregivers' Perceptions Of Childhood Immunization, Oliver Anyabolu Jan 2016

Understanding Caregivers' Perceptions Of Childhood Immunization, Oliver Anyabolu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low immunization in Nigeria is associated with high prevalence of childhood diseases. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe caregivers' perceptions of routine immunization of their children ages 24 to 36 months. Caregivers' attitudes, cultural beliefs, and knowledge regarding immunization were examined. The health belief model was used to guide study. Interviews were conducted with 5 caregivers of fully immunized and 5 caregivers of partially and nonimmunized children. Digital recordings were analyzed using NVivo 10 to identify themes and subthemes. Attitudes of caregivers with fully immunized children included both perceived barriers (distance to health center, lack of …


Healthy Work Environment: Essentials For Outcome Improvement, Lisa Cuff Jan 2016

Healthy Work Environment: Essentials For Outcome Improvement, Lisa Cuff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this project was to identify the standards for the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). The employees of a 39-bed medical surgical unit within a 697-bed metropolitan medical center were selected through collaboration with the practicum site. Out of 68 allocated positions for this unit, only permanent employees were selected to participate. An employee presented the purpose of the project, the survey process, and inferred consent represented by online login to complete the survey. Following the online assessment, the employee explained the AACN healthy work environment standards in a subsequent presentation. The online healthy work environment …


Health Science Adminstrators' Perception Of Remediation With Students In The Professional Track Programs, Yvonne Jackson Jackson Jan 2016

Health Science Adminstrators' Perception Of Remediation With Students In The Professional Track Programs, Yvonne Jackson Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Remediation to improve student retention is rapidly becoming an important part of health science programs in higher education. A career college located in the midwestern United States implemented remediation for students to address declining enrollment health science professional-track programs. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how remediation was carried out by college instructors and their perceptions of instructional best practices for students in health science programs in the context of current research. The conceptual framework that guided this study was based on constructivism and adult learning theory. Research questions focused on how instructors were carrying out …


Health Care Leaders' Experiences Of Electronic Medical Record Adoption And Use, Joseph B. Weagraff Jan 2016

Health Care Leaders' Experiences Of Electronic Medical Record Adoption And Use, Joseph B. Weagraff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adoption of electronic medical record (EMR) technology systems of meaningful use has been slow despite the mandate by the U.S. government. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies used by health care leaders to implement EMR technology systems of meaningful use to take advantage of federal incentive payments. Diffusion of innovation theory provided the conceptual framework for the study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 6 health care leaders from a military installation in the Southeast United States. Data were analyzed using software, coding, and inductive analyses. The 3 prominent themes were patient, provider, and champion. Alerts …


Pharmacy Stores Profitability And Sustainability In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Augustine Khoza Jan 2016

Pharmacy Stores Profitability And Sustainability In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Augustine Khoza

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Zimbabwe's catastrophic economic decline resulted in a high unemployment rate (95%), declining socioeconomic indicators, pharmacy stores' unprofitability and lower sustainability. Profitable pharmacy stores play a fundamental role in ensuring public access to medication. Lack of pharmacy profitability leads to poor healthcare delivery, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. A healthy population is panacea to economic growth and prosperity and enhances human dignity, social cohesion, and the quality of life. In this qualitative, descriptive multicase study design, using Porter's business strategies theory and the Deming process of quality assurance as conceptual frameworks, data from 11 pharmacy stores leaders in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe …


The Connection Between Wellness Programs And Employee Job Satisfaction In Higher Education, Donel J. Richemond Jan 2016

The Connection Between Wellness Programs And Employee Job Satisfaction In Higher Education, Donel J. Richemond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Job dissatisfaction is becoming a fundamental concern for employers. Employee engagement makes an organization more productive and can reduce absenteeism. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between employer-sponsored wellness-program participation and job satisfaction among for-profit college and university leaders. Data collection involved an online survey of 400 faculty members' from for-profit universities in the United States contacted using the Job Satisfaction Survey; 103 participants completed the survey. The theoretical framework was the need-satisfaction theory, which includes the factors that promote job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction. The results came from a multiple regression analysis that indicated …


Barriers To Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Mothers During The First Four Weeks Postpartum, Jessy V. Thomas Jan 2016

Barriers To Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Mothers During The First Four Weeks Postpartum, Jessy V. Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the World Health Organization, breastfeeding is natural and the most effective way of nourishment to feed infants and young children to ensure child health and survival. Currently, the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life. Although exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the occurrence of adverse health outcomes to the infant and mother, the duration of exclusive breastfeeding remains relatively low in the United States. The theory of planned behavior was used as a theoretical framework for this study. The purpose of …


Drinking Water And Autism: Using Spatial Cluster Detection To Explore Patterns Of Autism Cases In Lane County, Oregon, Sherry Sandreth Jan 2016

Drinking Water And Autism: Using Spatial Cluster Detection To Explore Patterns Of Autism Cases In Lane County, Oregon, Sherry Sandreth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a complex array of neurological disorders with a diverse presentation, multiple etiologies, and long-term ramifications. Prevalence of ASD in the United States is about 1 in 50 children as of 2013, making it a significant public health problem. The etiology is not understood, and it is widely accepted that it is multicausal, with genetic and environmental influences. Prior research suggests an association between water source and ASD. Contaminants such as lead, arsenic, mercury, pharmaceuticals and pesticides found in water are associated with developmental disorders suggesting that a systematic review focused on water source was warranted. …


Nurses' Experiences Transitioning From Staff Nurse To Management In A Community Hospital, Jennifer Sylvia Buffenbarger Jan 2016

Nurses' Experiences Transitioning From Staff Nurse To Management In A Community Hospital, Jennifer Sylvia Buffenbarger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project study addressed the problem of frequent turnover of nurse managers at a Northeastern community hospital. The lack of retention of nurse managers has led to attenuated support for the nursing staff who continued to hold the front line in patient care. The purpose of this qualitative bounded case study was to explore nurse managers' experiences with turnover in order to identify strategies for enhancing retention. Work empowerment and servant leadership theories served as the frameworks for the study. Research questions focused on nurse managers' perceptions of empowerment and servant leadership characteristics that were important in decisions to assume …


A Community's Perception Of Pregnancy And Sexually Transmitted Infections And Prevention Programs, Felecity Nicole Burns Jan 2016

A Community's Perception Of Pregnancy And Sexually Transmitted Infections And Prevention Programs, Felecity Nicole Burns

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States has the highest rates of teenage pregnancies, births, abortions, and sexually transmitted infections in the industrialized world. African American teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections are on the rise in many rural southwest school districts in the State of Georgia where the sex education curriculum is nonexistent or solely focuses on abstinence. Georgia ranked 4th in cases of primary and secondary syphilis, 6th in AIDS, 12th in gonorrhea, 14th in teen pregnancies, and 17th in chlamydia in the United States in 2012. The purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate the perceptions of residents of a …


Practice Preparedness In New Graduates: Exploring The Education-Practice Gap, Wendy L. Batch-Wilson Jan 2016

Practice Preparedness In New Graduates: Exploring The Education-Practice Gap, Wendy L. Batch-Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As newly licensed registered nurses enter their first nursing role, their perceived preparation for practice may vary. This descriptive study addressed the education-practice gap that exists as nurses transition into nursing practice. The use of Benner's skill acquisition model offers a structure for connecting theory to practice. New graduate nurses responded to the Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey-© to identify gaps in preparedness for novice practice. A convenience sample of nurses within the first 12 months of hire (n = 35) was sent the survey link by educators from the chosen sites. Anonymity was maintained with 18 total responses and …


Is There An Association Between Non-Va Medical Care Coordination And Utilization Of Care?, Brenda Joyce Robisnon Jan 2016

Is There An Association Between Non-Va Medical Care Coordination And Utilization Of Care?, Brenda Joyce Robisnon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Non-Veteran Administration Care (NVC) is a program in which the Veterans Health Administration purchases health care when it cannot provide the health services needed for eligible Veterans. The rising cost of this program led to audits by the Office of the Inspector General and other entities. The scholarly problem for this DNP Project was the lack of oversight, accountability, and management, found throughout the audits of NVC, as well as a lack of evaluation of NVC. The purpose of this project was to ascertain if there was a relationship between the Non-VA Care Coordination program (NVCC) and utilization of …


Utilization And Intensity Of Integrated Behavioral Health Services Within A Primary Care Setting, Joseph Aron Shafer Jan 2016

Utilization And Intensity Of Integrated Behavioral Health Services Within A Primary Care Setting, Joseph Aron Shafer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Integrated behavioral health care within primary care has become a popular style of health care delivery within the United States. However, individuals with a behavioral health concern face several barriers in using these services. The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify key factors accounting for individuals' utilization and intensity of behavioral health services. Andersen's behavioral model of health care use and the integrated theory of health behavior change served as the theoretical framework. It was hypothesized that gender, age, race, ethnicity, family size, payer type, poverty level, and certain preexisting medical conditions (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and tobacco use) …


Diabetes Self-Management Education For Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Rondalyn Dennis-Bradshaw Nov 2015

Diabetes Self-Management Education For Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Rondalyn Dennis-Bradshaw

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes, a major public health challenge in St. Kitts, has been a focus of international public health community research. Although researchers have demonstrated that diabetes self-management education is a cost-effective strategy for the prevention of diabetes-related complications, they have yet to establish whether there is adequate education occurring in treatment settings with diabetic patients. The purpose of the study was to implement and evaluate the short-term effectiveness of a diabetes self-management education intervention on diabetes-related knowledge and accepted behavioral changes to decrease risk for complications. Based on a self-care approach, this education intervention was designed to improve diabetes-related knowledge and …


The Behavioral Impact Of Knowledge On Breast Cancer Risk Reduction, Mia Hung Jan 2015

The Behavioral Impact Of Knowledge On Breast Cancer Risk Reduction, Mia Hung

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavioral impact of knowledge regarding the relationship between breast cancer, vitamin D supplementation, and sunlight exposure considering levels of self-efficacy and response-efficacy. The study was based on protection motivation theory, which attributes behavior change to cognitive processes related to perceived threats and has demonstrated efficacy in promoting breast cancer risk-reducing behaviors. The study employed a quasi-experimental research design based on a survey using SurveyMonkey. Participants were New York City-residing women ranging in age from 25 to 74 who were recruited via an invitation from SurveyMonkey. Correlation analysis and linear regression analysis …


The Association Between Rheumatoid Arthritis And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Magaly Perez Nieves Jan 2015

The Association Between Rheumatoid Arthritis And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Magaly Perez Nieves

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A research report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that more than 50% of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the United States (U.S.) also have arthritis. The diabetes population is disproportionately affected by arthritis, but there has been limited and inconsistent research to confirm the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The current study aimed to identify an association between T2DM and RA for noninstitutionalized U.S. adults between 1999 and 2012 using a nationally representative sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (n =31,488 ). A …


Retrospective Study Of Trauma Programming And, Domonique La'toya Rice Jan 2015

Retrospective Study Of Trauma Programming And, Domonique La'toya Rice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In state psychiatric hospitals in the United States, many patients are admitted with a history of trauma. Although trauma-focused interventions are offered within these psychiatric facilities, there remain issues with the higher-than-average length of treatment and rehospitalization rates for patients with a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder or for those who are suffering with a history of trauma. This study investigated between group differences for measured levels of attendance and type of group intervention (which included the men's trauma recovery empowerment model, dialectical behavior therapy, and art and healing) on the risk for violence as measured by scores on the …


Improving The Experiences Of Informal And Formal Alzheimer's Disease And Dementias Caregivers, Roxroy Anthony Reid Jan 2015

Improving The Experiences Of Informal And Formal Alzheimer's Disease And Dementias Caregivers, Roxroy Anthony Reid

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Informal and formal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) encounter a more difficult and unique set of challenges than do caregivers of individuals with general disabilities. If adequate caregiver supports are not provided, caregivers may experience increased strain as the disease progresses, increasing the likelihood of unnecessary institutionalization of their care recipients and increasing the cost to the public. Using rational choice theory and political systems theory, the purpose of this study was to differentiate between the phenomenological experiences of formal and informal caregivers of ADRD patients. The overall research was a qualitative design that used …


A Pilot Study To Develop A Projective Method To Understand And Measure Resilience, Tina Chen Jan 2015

A Pilot Study To Develop A Projective Method To Understand And Measure Resilience, Tina Chen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many factors affect resilience, such as personality traits and environmental support. A projective assessment has many advantages to understand a person as a whole. Up to present, there is no projective assessment for resilience. This dissertation was a pilot study to develop a projective method. Sixty-five college students participated in this study. Participants used words to describe their feelings after hearing an open-ended story with a traumatic event; they also completed the story. In this study, the resilience ratio, defined as the ratio of the number of positive responses divided by the number of total responses, reflected the resilience level …


Reducing The Surgical Patient's Family Member's Anxiety Using An Electronic Patient Tracking Board, Pamela M. Barberi Jan 2015

Reducing The Surgical Patient's Family Member's Anxiety Using An Electronic Patient Tracking Board, Pamela M. Barberi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Family members of surgical patients experience anxiety due to lack of consistent communication during the surgical process. Attending to the needs of the surgical patient's family members is an important factor easily forgotten in a busy clinical arena. The purpose of this project was to decrease the surgical patient's family member's anxiety by providing family members with timely and consistent information regarding the patient's progress through surgery. The theoretical foundation used was general systems theory showing that a change in one part of a system leads to change in the whole system with the use of improved communication and feedback. …


Icd-10-Cm Implementation Strategies: An Application Of The Technology Acceptance Model, Judith Monestime Jan 2015

Icd-10-Cm Implementation Strategies: An Application Of The Technology Acceptance Model, Judith Monestime

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States is one of the last countries to transition to the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) coding system. The move from the 35-year-old system, ICD-9, to ICD-10, represents a milestone in the transformation of the 21st century healthcare industry. All covered healthcare entities were mandated to use the ICD-10 system on October 1, 2015, to justify medical necessity, an essential component in determining whether a service is payable or not. Despite the promising outcomes of this shift, more than 70% of healthcare organizations identified concerns related to education efforts, including lack of best practices …


Awareness Of Diabetes Risk Associated With Individuals 18 And Older, Rebecca Jane Boone Jan 2015

Awareness Of Diabetes Risk Associated With Individuals 18 And Older, Rebecca Jane Boone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes is increasing at epidemic proportions, and is 12-17% higher in Marion County Florida than it is across the state, based on Florida Department of Health statistics. The purpose of this DNP project was to determine if awareness of individual risk of developing Type 2 diabetes through a questionnaire would result in high-risk participants agreeing to attend a diabetes prevention program (DPP) at a local medical clinic. The health belief model and Rosswurm and Larrabee's model for change were used as frameworks. The review of the literature showed that prevention programs were highly effective …


Cultural Beliefs And Experiences Of Formal Caregivers Providing Dementia Care To American Indians, Damon Grew Syphers Jan 2015

Cultural Beliefs And Experiences Of Formal Caregivers Providing Dementia Care To American Indians, Damon Grew Syphers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a significant public health concern for all elders in the United States. It is a particular concern for the American Indian (AI) population, which is one of the fastest-aging populations in the United States and the smallest, most underrecognized, and most culturally-diverse group in the country. A formal caregiver understanding of AD in the AI population is scarce. This phenomenological study was designed to discern what is known about AD in the AI population by exploring the cultural beliefs and experiences of formal caregivers who provide care for AI dementia patients. Specifically, this study sought to …


Reimportation Of Prescription Drugs As Contributing Component To Patient Drug Adherence: A Qualitative-Grounded Theory Study, Jeffrey Tubbs Jan 2015

Reimportation Of Prescription Drugs As Contributing Component To Patient Drug Adherence: A Qualitative-Grounded Theory Study, Jeffrey Tubbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pharmaceutical drugs are one of the most socially important heath care products. They are part of many individuals' everyday lives, from the eradicating of diseases at birth to treating patients at the end of life. However, for many patients access is prevented due to expensive cost. This study explored cost-related non-adherence (CRN) and researched if reimportation of pharmaceutical drugs from other countries could increase patient drug adherence. The perceptions of 10 patients and 10 providers in Maine were assessed. Maine is the only state that allowed its citizens to purchase prescription drugs from abroad. The research questions addressed (a) how …


The Effect Of A Culture Of Safety On Patient Throughput, Laurie Lee Dawn Dillon Jan 2015

The Effect Of A Culture Of Safety On Patient Throughput, Laurie Lee Dawn Dillon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a national movement to create improvements in patient safety and outcomes due to evolutionary changes in the healthcare. Many health care organizations are using the framework of a culture of safety in order to create a reliable and stable work environment that emphasizes safety and improves patient outcomes. Patient throughput, defined as the active management of the supply of patient beds (rooms for occupation) to the demand of patients to beds and the length of time it takes for this action to occur, has been identified as one of the areas in need of improvement. This study considered …


Health Care Seeking Behavior And Provider Responses For Hcv-Positive African Americans, Kathleen Susanna Bailey Jan 2015

Health Care Seeking Behavior And Provider Responses For Hcv-Positive African Americans, Kathleen Susanna Bailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Of the 3.5 million persons infected with chronic HCV in the United States, the African American population is the largest racial group with chronic HCV. Disparities in access to care and treatment involve a complex set of individual, interpersonal, socioeconomic, and environmental factors that influence the course of HCV infection in the African American population, resulting in poorer outcomes and survival. Drawing upon both the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior, this study was conducted to determine whether the seeking of health care by HCV-positive African Americans and the responses of health care providers to HCV-positive …