Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Physical Activity Mediation In Perceived Emotional Support And Type 2 Diabetes Among African American Older Adults, Don Scott Mendes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Role Of Staff Education In Improving Patient Medication Adherence To Reduce Crisis Recurrence Among Psychiatric Patients, Francine Wanjiku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

African Americans’ Perceptions And Experiences Of Aesthetic Environments As A Determinant Of Stress, Clarence Gardener

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Occupational Therapy’S Role And Impact In Cancer Prehabilitation: A Scoping Review, Abbey Rancour, Averi Haas, Emily Peckham, Kate Reimer, Kylie Mccaskill

Masters Projects

Background:

Oncology prehabilitation aims to optimize patients’ physical and psychosocial function before cancer treatment, yet the specific contributions of occupational therapy (OT) remain underexplored.

Objective:

This scoping review aims to map and synthesize the existing literature describing the role and reported benefits of OT within oncology prehabilitation programs.

Methodology:

Following Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) scoping review framework and guided by the PRISMA-ScR checklist, three databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science) were searched. Search terms included preoperative exercise, prehabilitation, neoplasms, and cancer. Articles were screened by two independent reviewers, and data were charted and analyzed descriptively and thematically.

Results:

A …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Confidence And Clinical Judgment Through Simulation Remediation In Nursing Students, Erica Gillespie

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Simulation is a critical component of nursing education, providing students with a safe environment to develop clinical judgment and confidence before entering clinical practice. However, students may experience anxiety and difficulty meeting competency expectations during simulation. This quality improvement project evaluated whether structured simulation remediation improved confidence and clinical judgment among associate degree nursing students. The project was guided by the NLN Jeffries Simulation Framework, and Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model supported implementation. A quantitative, quasi-experimental pre-/post- intervention design was used. Nine nursing students voluntarily participated. During remediation, students reviewed recordings of their initial simulation experiences and completed guided reflection questions …

Racial Differences In Hiv Testing And Hiv Infection Among Adults With Seborrheic Dermatitis In Atlanta, Georgia, Olivia Elizabeth Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Marshallese Female Caregivers’ Intention To Seek Pediatric Care For Their Children, Ages 2–5, With A Body Mass Index At Or Above The 95th Percentile, Living In Northwest Arkansas, Madicyn Huddleston Freeman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Athletic Training Preceptors' Accuracy In Assessing Ai-Generated Clinical Scenarios Aligned With Caate Educational Standards, Elisabeth (Beth) Shoulders

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Athletic training preceptors play a critical role in clinical education by evaluating student competence; however, little is known about their preparedness to assess competency-based standards, particularly when using emerging tools such as artificial intelligence (AI). The purpose of this study was to examine preceptors’ accuracy in applying Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) standards and classifying student proficiency within AI-generated clinical scenarios, and to determine whether accuracy differed based on preceptor characteristics.

This quantitative, cross-sectional study included Board of Certification-certified athletic trainers who had served as preceptors within the past five years (N = 68). Participants completed an …

Impact Of Anatomical Changes On Treatment Plan Robustness: A Comparative Study Of Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy And Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy In Head And Neck Cancer., Jennifer Croft

Masters Projects

Head and neck cancer patients often experience anatomical changes during radiation therapy, including weight loss and tumor regression. These changes can alter planned dose distribution and affect treatment accuracy. Based on the previous understanding, IMPT offers highly conformal dose delivery but is sensitive to the patient’s geometry changes and daily setup uncertainties, while VMAT may provide greater stability under these uncertainties. However, as of today, there is no quantitative analysis and comparison between the two modalities using real clinical data. The purpose of this study is to compare the robustness of IMPT and VMAT for head and neck cancer by …

Quality Improvement Project Improving Provider Confidence For Medication Adherence Screening Through Use Of The Medication Adherence Rating Scale (Mars), Tamara Cheek

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Medication nonadherence affects 50% to 70% of individuals with serious mental illness. This contributes to symptom relapses, hospitalization, poor treatment outcomes, and higher healthcare costs. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of a competency-based Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) training program on provider confidence and standardized adherence screening in a psychiatric clinic, to improve confidence and increase use of a standardized assessment. Guided by Bandura's Self-Efficacy Theory and Lewin's Change Management Model and implemented using the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, the project used a quantitative quasi-experimental pre-post design with eight psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. Data …

Quality Improvement Project: Addressing Appointment Non-Adherence Through Social Needs Screening, Dorathy Anderson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Mental health care access in the US faces systemic barriers that delay treatment and disrupt care, often worsening patient outcomes. Unmet social needs of health, such as transportation, financial, and housing issues, lead to missed appointments and fragmented care, thereby increasing health disparities. This quality improvement project evaluated whether targeted staff education improved the identification and response to social needs that affect appointment adherence. Adult Learning Theory guided the training, while Lewin’s Theory of Change and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework informed implementation and evaluation. The intervention population consisted of five clinic staff members. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used to evaluate …

The Impact Of Telephonic Versus Video Platforms On Nurses’ Intrinsic Motivation: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Brittney Saldierna

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Ambulatory pediatric nurses frequently rely on telephone-only encounters for telehealth triage and patient education despite the availability of video-enabled technology. Literature demonstrates that the inability to visually assess patients limits clinical assessment accuracy, communication effectiveness, and nurse confidence. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to evaluate whether educating ambulatory pediatric nurses on the integration of video-enhanced telehealth encounters impacts intrinsic motivation and perceived competence compared with telephone-only encounters. Guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice and the ADKAR Change Management Model, this quantitative, quasi-experimental project was applied utilizing the PDSA cycle implementation framework in ambulatory pediatric specialty …

Quality Improvement Project: The Impact Of Standardized Handoff Communication In A Home Acute Care Setting, Antonius Devon Speed

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Effective nurse-to-nurse handoff communication is essential in hospital-at-home telehealth care, where remote nurses depend on accurate electronic health record documentation and structured shift-to-shift communication. This quality improvement project evaluated whether education and implementation of a standardized Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) workflow improved staff-reported handoff quality and reduced communication-related near-miss events over 8 weeks. Lewin's Change Theory, Rogers's Diffusion of Innovations, and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework guided implementation and sustainability. A quantitative, quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was used. The intervention included SBAR education, a workflow checklist, and a handoff template. Outcomes were selected Handover Evaluation Scale (HES) responses and aggregate near-miss …

Quality Improvement Project: Implementation Of Trauma-Informed Care Education In An Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic, Ornela Claude Ika

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an evidence-based approach that promotes safe, patient-centered care for individuals with a history of trauma. Many patients receiving services in psychiatric settings have experienced trauma, placing them at risk for retraumatization during healthcare encounters. Despite the recognized benefits of TIC, the outpatient psychiatric clinic involved in this project lacked a formal trauma-informed care education program for staff. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine whether implementation of a structured trauma-informed care educational intervention improved staff attitudes toward trauma-informed care. Lewin’s Change Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework guided project implementation. A quantitative pre-intervention and …

Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of Adjunct Clinical Faculty Mentorship On Self-Confidence: A Quality Improvement Project, Fairah Solomon

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Novice adjunct clinical faculty transitioning from expert clinicians to nurse educators face many challenges, particularly in understanding their roles, responsibilities, and educational frameworks. Despite an established orientation at the project site, a structured mentorship program to support the role transition is lacking. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to improve novice adjunct clinical faculty’s self-confidence through the implementation of a structured mentorship intervention. Guided by Lewin's Change Theory and Constructivist Learning Theory, the project utilized a quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design. Implementation was guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework. A purposive sample of seven novice adjunct clinical faculty with less than …

Bridging Gaps In Childhood Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treated At An Outpatient Clinic, Allen M. Savedra

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education Project To Improve Nursing Knowledge And Patient Safety, Njideka Maureen Okeke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education On Stress Management And Coping Strategies For Psychiatric Nurses, Chidinma Uwakwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Critical Care Nurses’ Self-Efficacy In Responding To Emergency Code Situations, Nesheemah Sabree

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Quality Improvement Project The Impact Of The Interact “Stop And Watch Tool” In A Skilled Nursing Facility, Lorraine Hicks

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Avoidable hospitalizations from skilled nursing facilities (SNF) contribute to increased healthcare costs, resident distress, and adverse health outcomes. Many readmissions result from delays in identifying and communicating early signs of resident deterioration. The purpose of this project was to implement an evidence-based intervention to recognize early changes in residents’ conditions, empower nursing staff to detect and promptly communicate concerns, and impact 30-day hospital readmission rates. Problems identified included delayed recognition of early changes in residents’ conditions, fragmented staff communication, and the absence of standardized reporting practices, which were associated with preventable hospital readmissions. A quasi-experimental pre-/post-intervention design guided by Jean …

Enhancing Teaching Effectiveness Through Professional Development For Part-Time Nursing Faculty, Amanda Moss

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Part-time nursing faculty play a vital role in nursing education; however, many institutions lack standardized professional development opportunities for part-time faculty, resulting in inconsistent preparation and teaching practices. This Doctor of Nursing Practice policy change project examined whether revising an institutional professional development policy to include part-time faculty and implementing a structured faculty development program would improve faculty preparedness, confidence, and comfort with evidence-based teaching practices and instructional strategies that support ACEN faculty development expectations. Guided by the Iowa Model–Revised of Evidence-Based Practice, Kotter’s Organizational Change Theory, and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, this quantitative policy change project was conducted over …

Enhancing Sleep Quality Through Sleep Hygiene Education Among Adults In A Faith-Based Community, Denielle Earle-Thompson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Adults between 18 and 64 years of age require at least seven hours of sleep per night; however, many adults do not meet this recommendation, contributing to increased risks for chronic disease, impaired functioning, mood disturbances, and reduced quality of life. Poor sleep quality has been associated with weakened immunity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, anxiety, depression, and decreased daytime performance. Obtaining adequate, good-quality sleep is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. In faith-based communities, combining health education with spiritual support may provide a holistic approach that addresses both physical and emotional contributors to poor sleep.

Purpose

The purpose …

Quality Improvement Project: The Impact Of A Safety Coach Program In A Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Royanne Lickliter

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Patient safety remains a critical concern in healthcare, with hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) contributing to preventable harm, mortality, and increased costs, particularly in high-acuity settings such as Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). A recent safety culture survey at a tertiary pediatric hospital identified gaps in proactive safety behaviors, communication, and psychological safety. The primary problem identified was inconsistent engagement in proactive safety practices and limited frontline empowerment to identify and mitigate risks in real time. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to evaluate the impact of implementing a structured Safety Coach Program in the PICU on HAC rates, …

Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of Formalized Debriefing On Correctional Health Emergency Response, Angel Woody

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Structured debriefing following medical emergencies has been identified as an evidence-based strategy to improve communication, reflective learning, and staff confidence within high-acuity healthcare settings. Inconsistent debriefing practices within correctional healthcare environments contributed to a gap in emergency response support and staff preparedness. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether implementation of a formalized debriefing protocol following medical emergencies impacted staff confidence during emergency response situations within a correctional healthcare setting. The project was guided by Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory and Lewin’s Change Theory. A quantitative one-group pretest-posttest quality improvement design was implemented in a county correctional healthcare …

Preparing Adjunct Clinical Instructors For Success: The Impact Of A Structured Orientation Program On Perceived Capabilities As Measured By The Capabilities Of Nurse Educators (Cone) Questionnaire, Amanda Stone

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Adjunct clinical instructors are essential in helping nursing students connect classroom learning to real-world patient care. A needs assessment within an associate degree nursing (ADN) program identified that adjunct clinical instructors received only a brief overview of policies, contributing to role uncertainty and inconsistent preparation for clinical teaching responsibilities. Current literature supports the use of structured orientation and mentorship to better prepare nurses as they transition into clinical educator roles. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of a structured orientation program on adjunct clinical instructors’ perceived capabilities. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act change …

Staff Education To Enhance Knowledge Of Blood Culture Collection Technique To Reduce Blood Culture Contamination Rates, Whitney Ducharme

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Epidemiology And Outcomes Of Geriatric Trauma At Uab, Lindy Reynolds

ETDs from 2020-2029

Adults over the age of 65 are the fastest growing portion of the population and account for a growing percentage of the trauma patient volume at trauma centers around the country. Older adults experience longer length of stays, higher mortality and complication rates than their younger counterparts. As a result, there has recently been an increased focus on models of geriatric trauma care, one of which is the addition of geriatric medicine consults for older trauma patients. The primary objectives of this dissertation were to examine the effect of the consult policy on outcomes using an interrupted time series approach, …

A Retrospective Analysis Of Dental Needs Identified By Intraoral Videography In Elderly Patients With Mild To Moderate Dementia In Long-Term Care Facilities: Feasibility Of A Novel Screening Mechanism For Oral Health, Kevin Hahn

ETDs from 2020-2029

This retrospective analysis explores the viability of employing intraoral videography to identify dental needs among long-term care (LTC) facility residents with cognitive impairment and/or mild to moderate dementia. Inadequate oral hygiene in these individuals can lead to dental plaque buildup, oral dysbiosis, gingivitis, dental caries, and periodontitis. Such conditions can impact both oral and systemic health. However, delivering oral hygiene in LTC facilities faces challenges due to care-resistant behavior triggered during mouth care. And many individuals in residential LTC facilities do not have access to dental care outside of severe emergencies due to cost, reimbursement patterns, lack of access to …

Optimization Of Post-Curing Conditions For 3d-Printed Dental Restorations: Mechanical And Color Stability Analysis, Mohammed Hammamy

ETDs from 2020-2029

Additive manufacturing has become increasingly utilized in dentistry for the fabrication of definitive restorations and provisional prostheses. However, the performance of 3D-printed materials is highly dependent on post-processing procedures, particularly post-curing, which influences the degree of polymerization and final material properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different post-curing protocols on the mechanical performance and color stability of a 3D-printed dental restorative material.Disc-shaped specimens were fabricated using a digital light processing (DLP) 3D printer and subjected to various post-curing conditions, including standard dental LED curing, nitrogen-assisted curing, glycerin immersion curing, Phrozen UV curing, VALO LED …

Toothbrush Resistance Of Resin-Based Stain And Glaze Materials Applied To 3d-Printed Denture Resins, Panisa Homyai

ETDs from 2020-2029

Background: Three-dimensionally printed (3D-printed) dentures are commonly fabricated using a single tooth-colored resin, after which surface stain and glaze coatings are applied to reproduce gingival coloration, enhance the esthetic appearance and improve clinical longevity of characterized prostheses. However, daily oral hygiene procedures such as toothbrushing degrade surface coatings, leading to discoloration, increased plaque retention, and deterioration of esthetic appearance. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of stain timing and glaze application on the surface gloss and roughness of a three-dimensionally printed denture resin before and after simulated toothbrushing Methods: 80 disc-shaped specimens (12 mm in diameter and 3 mm in thickness) …