Public Health Commons^™

Women's Perceptions Of Malaria In The Western Rural Areas Of Sierra Leone, Marcella Davies

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria is one of the leading causes of death for children and women in Sierra Leone. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and understand the lived experiences of women from the rural areas of Sierra Leone regarding malaria. A purposive sample of Krio women from the western rural area, aged 21-55 years, spoke English, and had taken care of someone with malaria described their perceptions and lived experiences with the disease in face-to-face interviews. The research questions were based on the health belief model and focused on knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions about malaria prevention and treatment. Interpretative …

Illegal Drug Use, Suicidal Ideation, And Attempted Suicide Among New York Adolescents, Jacqueline Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide, ranked as one of the top five causes of death among adolescents, aged 15 to 19, claims numerous lives within the state of New York. Driven by the social cognitive theory, the objective of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to investigate the association among being offered, sold, or given illegal drugs, illegal drug use, being bullied, age, gender, ethnicity, suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide among adolescents in New York. The Centers for Disease Control 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance data for 89,068 New York adolescents, Grades 9-12, were utilized in this study. There was increased risk of suicide ideation …

Using Social Cognitive Theory To Predict Obesity Behaviors In Hispanic American Children, Augustina Anyikwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity is a growing challenge in the U.S. Hispanic American population. There is a need for evidence-based approaches to combat this problem. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) is one such approach. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which selected constructs of SCT (expectations, self-efficacy, self-efficacy in overcoming barriers and self-control) could predict five childhood obesity prevention behaviors, namely time spent on television watching, time spent on physical activities, water consumption, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and meal portion size among Hispanic American children. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed for this study. Data were …

Perceptions Of Stress: Employee Participation In A Yoga Class, Rosemarie Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Employees experience workplace stress that can affect their health resulting in chronic diseases such as diabetes, stress, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Stress also contributes to staff presentism, absenteeism, and high turnover rate. The employee wellness program (EWP) yoga class at a metropolitan teaching hospital has not been evaluated for its effectiveness in employee stress reduction and improvement in employee health. The practice focus question for this project explored employees' perception of the impact of a metropolitan teaching hospital's EWP yoga class on their stress reduction and health promotion activities. The theoretical framework for this project is Lazarus' transactional model …

A Story To Tell Among Minority Alzheimer's Patient Caregivers: A Phenomenological Study, Albertina Lashonda Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The level of burden experienced by caregivers of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease is high. Studies that examine this burden by taking into account cultural and spiritual differences are limited, particularly with regard to minority populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the burden and challenges faced by minority caregivers providing in-home care to Alzheimer's patients. Guided by social support theory, a phenomenological study design was used with semi-structured interviews of 12 caregivers to examine their perspectives on the burden and challenges they face, including their lived experiences, cultural and spiritual values, and interaction with health professionals. Thematic …

Assessing Condom Use Among Navajo Men In The Southwest, Terra E. Yabeny

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Navajo tribe reports extraordinarily high number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexual populations. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the cultural value of adil' idli (self-respect) and how this cultural practice might influence health behaviors in sexual activity, condoms use, and acquiring of STDs among Navajo men. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was the theoretical foundation for providing a deeper understanding of the social, environmental, and cultural factors of condom use among Navajo men. Research questions …

Public Health Providers' Perceptions Of Electronic Health Records In A Disaster, Sherhonda Yvette Harper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The introduction of federal initiatives and incentives regarding health information technology fostered a movement towards the adoption of electronic health records (EHR). Implementation of EHRs sparked discussions among healthcare providers, patients, and others about the benefits or challenges of the move from the traditional paper method to the electronic version in healthcare settings. A knowledge gap in research involving the usefulness of EHRs and their impact to the delivery of care in other settings exists. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore public health providers' perceptions of the meaningful use of EHRs in a disaster setting. Study participants …

Maternal Socioeconomic Status And Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Uptake, Shawn Lockett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are more than 79 million people in the U.S. currently infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), with an estimated 14 million new infections annually. There is a lack of knowledge about the maternal socioeconomic influences and uptake of the HPV vaccine series. Infection with HPV can cause cervical cancer in women, and there are over 11,000 cervical cancer diagnoses in the U.S. responsible for 4000 deaths annually. Vaccination coverage to prevent HPV infection does not meet the Healthy People 2020 goals of an 80% vaccination rate in the U.S. In this study, associations were tested between maternal SES variables and …

Factors Associated With Adherence To Diabetes Medication Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes In Cambridge, Ontario, Canada., Benedict Osamuimen Atekha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although it is known that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is on the rise in Canada, more information is needed on how well type 2 diabetes patients living in Cambridge, Ontario self-manage their diabetes and what factors influence their adherence to diabetes medication regimens. The objective of this cross-sectional study based on the theory of planned behavior was to determine if there are predictors of adherence to diabetes medications among patients living with type 2 diabetes in Cambridge. The World Health Organization STEPwise Approach to Surveillance was used to collect demographic data. Adherence and diabetes knowledge were assessed with …

Awareness And Attitudes Of Young Nigerian Immigrants In The United States To Sickle Cell Screening And Premarital Genetic Testing, Timothy Atolagbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The carrier frequency for sickle cell anemia among Nigerians, who account for a high percentage of African immigrants in the United States, is high, according to the World Health Organization. Even though sickle cell disease contributes $2.4 billion annually to U.S. health care expenditures, ascertaining the number of affected individuals in the U.S. is difficult because sickle cell is not a reportable genetic disease. However, according to the Census Bureau, the number of African immigrants continues to grow at a steady pace among the foreign-born immigrant population in the U.S. There is a lack of research on the contribution of …

Exploring The Role Of Religious Leaders In Preventing Sickle Cell Disease In Nigeria, Grace Awe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nigeria has high rates of sickle cell disease (SCD), which is attributed to the lack of awareness of the disease among the reproductive age in the country. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the role of religious leaders in contributing to awareness and prevention of SCD in Nigeria. Religious leaders' knowledge, attitude, and prevention and awareness practices of SCD, and how they translated to the prevention of SCD through improved counseling of premarital couples, were explored. A stratified random sampling was employed in selecting a sample of 150 religious leaders from different religious affiliations. Data were collected …

Head Start Parent Perspectives On Child Exposure To Secondhand Smoke At Home, Christiana Abani Bekie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) are at risk of developing ear infections, asthma, wheezing, bronchitis, as well as retarded lung growth. Indoor smoking is the main source of children's exposure to SHS. Despite a downward trend in smoking, children from low income families, especially African American and Hispanic children, continue to be exposed to SHS at a higher rate than their wealthier counterparts. This multiple case study explored the perceptions of 15 parents of 3- to 5-year-old children currently enrolled in Head Start regarding children's exposure to SHS. This study relied on the social ecological model, the theory of …

Alzheimer's Disease Dementia: Stress, Female Caregiver Burden, And Older Caregiver Health Outcomes, Nadia Muhammad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alzheimer's disease dementia caregivers are heavily engaged in providing daily assistance to individuals encumbered with Alzheimer's disease, but these caregiving duties can have a devastating effect on caregivers' self-reported health and mental outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate older female caregivers' background and contextual stressors and care stressors on caregivers' self-reported harm to health resulting from the stress of caregiving, health status and emotional stress. The stress process model for Alzheimer's caregivers served as the theoretical foundation for this study. Correlation and logistic and linear regression analysis were used to evaluate if a relationship exists between the …

Improving Glycemic Control In Adult With Type 2 Diabetes, Basirat Romoke Triplett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ninety percent of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). T2DM is a complex disease that affects every organ in the body, which makes effective management of the disease imperative. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist (AACE) and American College of Endocrinology (ACE) strongly recommended early treatment initiation among the target population to delay disease progression and complications. The purpose of this evidence-based project was to examine the impact of using the T2DM management algorithm for effective management of adults with T2DM over a 3-month period. The shared experience decision-making model and the chronic care model were used …

Influence Of Psychological Capital And Thinking Perspectives On Construction Safety Climate And Performance, Anne-Perrine Pascale Cades

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Understanding safety factors in construction is critical to reducing accident frequency and severity. Grounded in the safety performance model, this study was conducted to examine the impact of psychological capital (PsyCap), which consists of the shared variance of hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism, and Past, Present, and Future thinking perspectives, on safety climate and performance. A nonexperimental quantitative design was used to determine whether PsyCap and thinking perspectives of construction project employees predicted safety performance and/or moderated the relationship between safety climate and performance across construction sites in different countries. 411 construction employees were recruited via a multistage and clustering …

Poverty Rate And Occurrence Of Foodborne Illness Risk Factors In Retail Facilities, Margolite Joseph Cesar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the efforts of food safety regulations and rules, food contamination remains a public health concern and prevalent vehicle of pathogens. This study identifies the predictors of food risk in different types of food establishments in Miami Dade County, Florida during the period November 2014 - November 2016. Guided by the epidemiologic triangle model, this correlational study analyzed the log number of risk factor violations and failure rates controlling for US Census sociodemographic data (2010 to 2014) for the food establishment neighborhoods by using linear and logistic regression. Results indicated that most of food entity types are significant predictors of …

Physical Activity And Veteran Status In Obesity And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Erin Mcguire Kren

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are few data available regarding the relationship between physical activity and veteran status in those with combined chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obesity. COPD is a common illness and a leading cause of death in the United States. Veterans represent a distinct subpopulation in the United States and are more likely to have COPD, which is a disease with a high rate of comorbidities such as obesity. Physical activity can improve outcomes for those with COPD and obesity. However, recommendations for physical activity for those with COPD and obesity are vague. This study, based on the self-determination theory, …

Association Between Age Of Women When Diagnosed With Endometriosis And Infertility, Whitney Kennedy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Because endometriosis is considered to be the primary cause of infertility in women and

the diagnosis is known to be delayed by many years, it is important to understand the

association between endometriosis and infertility. The purpose of this cross-sectional,

secondary data analysis study was to determine whether there was an association between

the age of women when diagnosed with endometriosis and infertility. Using the general

model of total patient delay (i.e., the Andersen model) as a theoretical foundation, data

for this study was collected by assessing patient medical records of women with

endometriosis at multiple OB-GYN clinics in …

Time Banks As Aging-In-Place Initiatives, Calli Sajnani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There has been growing concern over how state and federal governments can support the increasing population of aging Americans and their need for long-term care. Current insurance funding models cover acute hospitalization and skilled care only, leaving unskilled care needs and homemaker services at the full expense of those in need. Time banking allows individuals to exchange or barter time for goods or services without monetary payment. There is insufficient evidence to determine if members believe time banks to be a viable alternative to support aging-in-place care needs. This phenomenological study explored time banking as a potential vehicle for nonskilled …

Strategies To Reduce Occupational Injuries And Illnesses In Government Agencies, Sandra Montgomery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite regulatory efforts of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 104 cases of nonfatal occupational illnesses and injuries (OIIs) per 10,000 full-time workers required time away from work in 2015. Although OII rates in private and public sectors are high, the rates among state and local government agencies were over 50% higher than private sector rates in 2015, especially in the healthcare industry. OIIs can lead to reduced organizational productivity and performance. Guided by the leader member exchange theory (LMXT) and risk homeostasis theory (RHT), the purpose of this single case study was to explore effective strategies that supervisors …

Understanding Parenting Styles Of Second-Generation Parents Of Residential School Survivors Within Treaty 8 Reserves, Judy Kim-Meneen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 150,000 First Nation, Metis, and Inuit children attended Canadian residential schools from the 1840s to 1996. Most residential school children had negative experiences of physical, verbal, and sexual abuse that led to parenting repercussions once these children became parents. These repercussions of residential schools led to a rate of neglect for First Nation children 12 times higher than non-First Nation children. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological descriptive study was to explore the lived experiences of second generation parents, who were schooled in residential schools as children and their current parenting styles. The conceptual frameworks of trauma theory and …

Predictors Of Blood Pressure And Lipids Levels Among African Americans, Frank Lanor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans disproportionately develop cardiovascular disease risk factors including high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels in comparison to European Americans. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of diet quality and physical activity with blood pressure levels and cholesterol levels among African Americans. The social ecological model was the theoretical foundation for the study. Research questions were designed to examine the extent to which diet quality and physical activity predict blood pressure levels and cholesterol levels. The research design was quantitative cross-sectional secondary analysis of 959 participants. After controlling for demographic factors, body mass index, and …

Dissertation: Sociodemographics And Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate, Sylvester Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pancreatic carcinoma or pancreatic cancer (PaCa) is an insidious disease with a prognosis of 6- to 12-month survival time for a late stage diagnosis. This problem has become crucial given that no study to date had been able to establish a definitive association between independent factors (other than a few diseases) and the survival rate of pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to determine whether an association exists between the independent, sociodemographic variables (marital status, age, education, income, and employment) and the outcome variable of survival rate. The social cognitive theory was the framework that provided …

Association Between Type Of Diabetes Education And Health Status, Limitations, And Healthcare, Starr Michelle Seip

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes is an epidemic that has started to capture political attention in the United States because of the devastating health care costs associated with the disease. Researchers in other studies have concluded that additional education face-to-face (FTF) and FTF with alternative forms of diabetes communication (FTF plus) have been beneficial. However, there is very little information on the comparison of the two groups as mentioned above when comparing chronic limitations, self-perception, health status, and healthcare satisfaction as circumscribed by specific demographic population. This study was an investigation of the above variables and explored how specific demographic characteristics (age, gender, educational …

Effect Of Socioeconomic And Neighborhood Factors On Stroke Hospitalization Rate In Virginia, Esther Musu Stephens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The stroke rate in Virginia is above the national rate. Stroke results in poor quality health, morbidity, and mortality. This quantitative epidemiological study was conducted to investigate whether a significant association exists between stroke and (a) socioeconomic and (b) neighborhood factors among people who were admitted to Virginia hospitals between 2010 and 2015. An ecological design, including ecosocial theory, was used to examine associations between environmental factors and stroke. Data (746 census output areas) were acquired using patients' billing zip codes from the Virginia Health Information System in combination with socioeconomic and neighborhood data by Zip Code Tabulation Area from …

Impact Of Social Support On Malaria Management By Burundian Community Health Workers, Bonaventure Bazirutwabo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria is the main cause of mortality for children under the age of 5 in Burundi. The access to malaria diagnostics and treatment is hampered not only because of logistical issues, but also due to the lack of qualified human resources and their inequitable distribution across the country. To mitigate the lack of human resources for health, the government of Burundi, along with its partners, shifted some tasks to community health workers (CHWs) to cover unmet healthcare needs for selected diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the social support provided …

Factors Associated With Menthol Cigarettes Smoking Among Youths Ages 12 To 19, Eniye Emmanuel Eguae

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Menthol is added to cigarettes to make smoking more convenient. Menthol is considered a contributing factor that makes smoking appealing to youths and their continuous smoking initiation, which progresses to regular cigarette smoking and addiction, especially among youths ages 12 to 19. Menthol encourages approximately 4,000 youths to experiment with smoking daily in the United States, of which approximately 1,000 become active smokers. Not enough is known regarding the influence of menthol on youth smoking initiation/smoking behavior. A quantitative analysis of data from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) was used to explore the association between age, race/ethnicity, gender, …

Use Of Hpv Vaccination For Cervical Cancer Prevention In African American Women, Diamond Diane Hanson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the availability of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, African American women are still at risk for contracting HPV. This is significant because HPV is one of the main risk factors for cervical cancer. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between the use of HPV vaccination for cervical cancer prevention and personal history of HPV, reduced access to healthcare, and risky sexual behaviors in African American women. The theoretical framework used for this study was the health belief model (HBM). Two hundred twenty-nine (n=229) African American women living in the United States, ages 18-49, who …

Improving Chronic Constipation Health Literacy Proficiency: Animation Versus Traditional Written Pamphlets, Jason Baker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. health care system is evolving from medical centric to patient centered, augmenting the importance for patients to comprehend and process medical information. The Department of Education indicated that 77 million Americans have a basic or below basic health literacy proficiency and 12% register as health literacy proficient. Animation is a time-tested device for improving health by enhancing comprehension. Chronic constipation (CC) complexity entails physiological, anatomical, and environmental mechanisms. Using the cognitive theory of multimedia learning and dual-channel auditory and visual processing, the primary research question addressed whether an animated educational video improved health literacy for CC more than …

Bleach-It-Away Clostridium Difficile, Kim Ione Hecker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospital-associated infections (HAIs) are infections patients contract as a result of being hospitalized. HAI rates decreased for almost all pathogens in the past few years, with the exception of Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs), which have been steadily climbing, placing hospital-acquired CDI at the top of the HAI list. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2010 almost a half a million people were infected with CDIs yearly in the United States, and CDIs claimed the lives of approximately 29,000 people, representing a 4-fold increase from 1993. To address the problem in the local hospital, a quality improvement initiative …