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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Testing A Psychological Readiness Training Intervention On Ptsd, Depression, Anxiety, & Stress In First Responders, Renee Kosor Jan 2017

Testing A Psychological Readiness Training Intervention On Ptsd, Depression, Anxiety, & Stress In First Responders, Renee Kosor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Exposure to traumatic events is rare for the general public but common for first responders. However, there is little proactive emotional health care occurring inside the first responder community. No preventive treatment for depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD exists. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a psychological readiness training intervention on 361 police officers and firefighters in a medium-size Midwestern city. A combined positive psychological capital and cognitive behavior therapy approach was used to frame the study. This study used a pretest, posttest quasi-experimental design. The participants were a convenience sample of 119 volunteers from …


Children's Oncology Group Hospital Membership And Survival Of Pediatric Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Paul David Betts Jan 2017

Children's Oncology Group Hospital Membership And Survival Of Pediatric Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Paul David Betts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) predominates in children ages 0-14 years and has an excellent prognosis for cure with 5-year survival exceeding 90% in the United States. However, not all children experience such positive outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, retrospective cohort study was to evaluate differences in survival of ALL among children who reside in the 32-county Texas-Mexico border region. While factors such as poverty and health insurance have been strongly associated with poorer cancer outcomes, additional factors such as geographic isolation and treatment disparities are not as well-documented in children. This study examined the association between use of Texas …


Relationship Between Admission Criteria And Program Completion In A Radiation Therapy Program, Adrienne Mae Dougherty Jan 2017

Relationship Between Admission Criteria And Program Completion In A Radiation Therapy Program, Adrienne Mae Dougherty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor completion rates in the radiation therapy associate's degree program offered through a community college did not meet the standards set by the college and damaged the program's reputation. The relationship between admission criteria and program completion was not known. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were any relationships between the admission criteria (GPA in prerequisite courses, interview scores, writing sample scores, and preadmission testing scores) and students' completion of a radiation therapy associate's degree program. This correlational study used 2 stages of Tinto's retention theory: (a) recruitment and admission to college and (b) pre-entry assessment …


Composite Risk Behaviors That Enhance The Transmission Of Malaria In Pregnancy, John Olusegun Dada Jan 2017

Composite Risk Behaviors That Enhance The Transmission Of Malaria In Pregnancy, John Olusegun Dada

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria causes high morbidity and mortality, especially among the most vulnerable populations, including pregnant women. Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) can be prevented by compliance with the 3 core measures: sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), 3 doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine as intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp-SP), and effective case management of malaria and anemia. The purpose of this cross-sectional household survey was to examine the composite risk behaviors that enhance the transmission of MiP. Stratified and multistage sampling methods were used to select a sample of 300 pregnant women in Abuja, Nigeria. Bivariate and multivariate analysis were conducted. According to study findings, participants' …


College Health Clinic Population Health Improvement Plan Project, Kathryn M. Flynn Jan 2017

College Health Clinic Population Health Improvement Plan Project, Kathryn M. Flynn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A college community health improvement plan (CHIP) focusing on the indicators of nutrition and weight status, and physical activity and fitness is designed with the goal of reducing obesity risk, improving health, and preventing chronic disease. The precede proceed model, logic model, innovative care for chronic conditions model, self-care theory, and Bandura's social cognitive learning theory were used as a research design framework for assessing, planning, and managing sustainability through a two-year college health clinic. The research questions were: what are the current health promotion inputs and activities in terms of environment, ecology, education, and policy and what could be …


Body Piercing And Health Complications Among College Students In Puerto Rico, Elsie Goicochea Jan 2017

Body Piercing And Health Complications Among College Students In Puerto Rico, Elsie Goicochea

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The incidence and prevalence of body piercing health complications among students is a public health matter that has not been researched in Puerto Rico. College students are the most consistent participants in body piercing activities and have reported health complications resulting in visits to medical offices and emergency rooms. Based on the health belief model, which is used to explain and predict health attitudes, the purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to analyze the health risks and possible complications occurring after body piercing and to investigate the association between sex and age and medical complications. Data were collected from …


The Strategic Prevention Framework: Effectiveness Of Substance Abuse Prevention System, John Jinoh Park Jan 2017

The Strategic Prevention Framework: Effectiveness Of Substance Abuse Prevention System, John Jinoh Park

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The strategic prevention framework (SPF) is a data-driven operating system to assist designing evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs. The study performed here was to assess the effectiveness of the SPF as a prevention planning system. One purpose of this study was to determine the implementation fidelity of the programs that used the SPF process; the other purpose was to assess effectiveness of the SPF process. This study utilized a set of data collected by the national cross site evaluation team on all jurisdictions that implemented the SPF. A subset of communities collected and reported at least 2 pre-implementation and at …


Religiosity As A Predictor Of Hpv Awareness And Knowledge, Karen Adelheid Reiner Jan 2017

Religiosity As A Predictor Of Hpv Awareness And Knowledge, Karen Adelheid Reiner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and etiological agent of cervical cancer. It has been suggested that religiosity may promote a generalized disassociation between all STIs/STDs, including HPV, and personal relevance thus contributing to lower levels of HPV awareness and knowledge among certain groups. This study sought to identify the role of religiosity as a predictor of HPV awareness and knowledge among women in a Christian university. Religiosity was defined and measured using the Duke University Religion Index (DUREL). The schemata and social identity theories provided the theoretical framework for this study. A total of …


Compliance Of Caregivers With Polio Vaccine Dosages And Timelines In Lagos State Nigeria, Grace Olubunmi Salako Smith Jan 2017

Compliance Of Caregivers With Polio Vaccine Dosages And Timelines In Lagos State Nigeria, Grace Olubunmi Salako Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Caregivers' compliance with polio vaccine regimens and timely receipt of the recommended 4 doses of polio vaccine are pivotal to eliminating polio. This cross sectional study, conducted in Lagos State, Nigeria, examined polio vaccine compliance and demographic attributes of caregivers' for statistically significant associations. Using an adapted health belief model theoretical framework, 1,200 participants were recruited from well-baby clinics in 8 local government areas in Lagos State. Participants completed a brief demographic survey providing data on caregivers' age, gender, residence (rural or urban), and their level of education as well as records from their children's immunization cards. Data obtained were …


Breastfeeding Perceptions Of First-Time African American Mothers, Deborah Annmarie Jarrett Jan 2017

Breastfeeding Perceptions Of First-Time African American Mothers, Deborah Annmarie Jarrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breastfeeding is associated with numerous health and social benefits. Although support for breastfeeding is promoted globally, disparities in breastfeeding rates and support continue. African American mothers have lower breastfeeding rates than do Hispanic and Caucasian mothers. Several researchers have focused on the benefits of breastfeeding support, but no available research has explained any specific ethnic group perceptions of breastfeeding. This study explored 10 first-time African American mothers' perceptions of the breastfeeding support they received from physicians, nurses, midwives, and lactation consultants. The purposeful criterion sampling strategy was used to recruit participants, and data were collected through semistructured telephone interviews. The …


Rural Haitian Women's Experiences With Poor Health Through Poverty, Geralda Felix Jan 2017

Rural Haitian Women's Experiences With Poor Health Through Poverty, Geralda Felix

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People living in rural Haiti lack access to basic health care services due to poverty. Rural poverty in Haiti particularly affects women's health because Haiti has had the highest maternal mortality and infant mortality rates in the Americas, in addition to some of the worst health statistics in the Western Hemisphere. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to cultivate a greater understanding of the poverty factors that affect access to health care services specifically among poor women living in rural Haiti. This study was based on the social ecological model for population health development, theorizing that a person's health …


Safety Practices On Lead Poisoning Among Battery Technicians In Lagos Nigeria, Tajudeen Olusegun Rasheed Jan 2017

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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


Brachytherapy And External Beam Radiation And Survival Of Jamaicans With Prostate Cancer, Salome Elizabeth Brown-Williams Jan 2017

Brachytherapy And External Beam Radiation And Survival Of Jamaicans With Prostate Cancer, Salome Elizabeth Brown-Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Jamaican males are a high-risk population for aggressive prostate cancer (PrCa) due to genetic influences, and identifying empirical data on treatments, which provide survival benefits is a prime challenge for clinicians who manage Jamaican PrCa patients. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to elucidate treatment effects of brachytherapy and ERBT in the survival of a Jamaican PrCa cohort. Differences in survival outcomes of brachytherapy and ERBT treated Jamaican, and White U.S.-born PrCa patients with localized PrCa were compared. The mechanism of radiation programmed cell death in PrCa carcinogenesis explained in the oxidative stress theory, was the theoretical base for …


Knowledge Of Malaria Infection And Treatment-Seeking Behavior Among Tanzanian Pregnant Women, Emebet T. Derjew Jan 2017

Knowledge Of Malaria Infection And Treatment-Seeking Behavior Among Tanzanian Pregnant Women, Emebet T. Derjew

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the availability of effective drugs to prevent malaria during pregnancy using intermittent preventive treatment with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine or Fansidar and insecticide bed net, use of these methods are still little used in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania. As a result, many pregnant women are at risk of malaria consequences such as maternal anemia and low birth weight babies, which increase the rate of infant mortality. Data from the Demographic Health Survey for Tanzania HIV/AIDs and the Malaria Indicator Survey 2011-2012 were used in a cross-sectional design guided by the health belief model. Logistic regression examined the association between (a) preventive treatment-seeking …


Factors Impacting Hiv Post Exposure Prophylaxis Among Health Care Workers, Ulunma Njemanze Jan 2017

Factors Impacting Hiv Post Exposure Prophylaxis Among Health Care Workers, Ulunma Njemanze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health care workers are at risk of contracting HIV as a result of occupational exposure while treating infected patients. HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an effective antiretroviral treatment course used in preventing potential HIV infection following an accidental occupational exposure to HIV. The objective of this cross sectional study was to identify the factors that impact the practice of HIV PEP among health care workers at the National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey using self-administered, structured questionnaires was conducted on 182 health care workers at the National Hospital comprising of medical doctors, nurses, and laboratory scientists. A chi-square test …


Understanding Self-Management Decision Making In Heart Failure, Constance Louise Schumacher Jan 2017

Understanding Self-Management Decision Making In Heart Failure, Constance Louise Schumacher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Heart failure patients are responsible for managing fluctuations in symptoms between exacerbations by employing treatment adherence, active monitoring, and management strategies based on expert guidelines. Despite education, delayed help seeking persists among those in the need of acute medical intervention, as evidenced by high hospital admission and readmission rates. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to explore the decision making processes undertaken by heart failure, community-dwelling individuals as they experience symptom changes. Eighteen face-to-face interviews were conducted with participants who had heart failure and received self-management education from a home care agency in Southern Ontario, Canada. Data …


U.S Marine Corps Veterans' Perceptions Of Screening For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Tiffany Lawing Schweitzer Jan 2017

U.S Marine Corps Veterans' Perceptions Of Screening For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Tiffany Lawing Schweitzer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious issue for post-deployment United States Marine Corps (USMC) veterans, especially because PTSD can increase the risk of suicide. Marines are screened post-deployment, yet little is known about Marine veterans' perceptions of the PTSD screening process. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore USMC male veterans' perceptions of the Post- Deployment Health Reassessment (PDHRA). The social cognitive theory constructs of a triadic relationship among person, environment, and behavior were the framework for understanding this population's perceptions of the PDHRA and potential stigma. Two research questions focused on how people, culture, and behavior …


Breaking The Silence: Postpartum Depression Among Reproductive-Aged Women In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, Atim Henshaw Jan 2017

Breaking The Silence: Postpartum Depression Among Reproductive-Aged Women In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, Atim Henshaw

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Postpartum depression (PPD) is internationally recognized as one of the most prevalent and severe but neglected maternal mental health complications of childbirth. Previous studies have indicated that there is a high burden of disease associated with PPD in both developed and developing countries. However, there remain gaps in the current literature regarding the recognition and management of PPD in remote parts of the developing world. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs of health professionals towards PPD and examine the factors that either facilitated or hindered its recognition and management in a remote …


Effect Of Intimate Partner Violence On Children Of Puerto Rican Women, Maria Natal-Gopin Jan 2017

Effect Of Intimate Partner Violence On Children Of Puerto Rican Women, Maria Natal-Gopin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intimate partner violence [IPV] is a preventable and costly societal issue that has reached epidemic proportions. Women are often the victims of IPV, and millions of children are exposed to it annually. The purpose of this study was to explore experiences of Puerto Rican mothers and their perceptions of how IPV exposure may have impacted their children using resilience theory. Data were collected via audiotaped individual interviews with 9 Puerto Rican mothers who endured an array of escalating IPV, often exacerbated by the perpetrators use of alcohol or drugs, and had IPV-exposed children aged 6 -11 years. Data analysis integrated …


Determinants Of Hiv Screening Among Adults In New Jersey After Hurricane Sandy, Nathaniel R. Geyer Jan 2017

Determinants Of Hiv Screening Among Adults In New Jersey After Hurricane Sandy, Nathaniel R. Geyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV screening is recommended to destigmatize the condition, prevent partner transmission, and postpone AIDS progression. However, determinants associated with implementation of opt-out HIV screening are not well understood. The purpose of the study was to examine determinants that predicted odds of HIV screening for persons impacted by Hurricane Sandy, and how these factors differed according to demographic characteristics, geographical attributes, health-related quality of life score, access-to-care, and health insurance status. The social ecologic model provided the framework for this multilevel cross-sectional study that included New Jersey data from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System. Bivariate chi-square, simple logistic regression, and …


Childhood Obesity Comorbitities Awareness Hospital-Based Education, Sandra Mcgrath Mcgrath Jan 2017

Childhood Obesity Comorbitities Awareness Hospital-Based Education, Sandra Mcgrath Mcgrath

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As childhood obesity continues to increase, so do the comorbidities and related health issues, putting youth at a greater risk of developing adult-related diseases such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Current literature indicates that healthcare organizations have a significant role in the fight against this epidemic, yet most children's hospitals have no policy to accomplish this task. The purpose of this project was to develop a program proposal for a hospital-based, sustainable obesity program that will aid in improving patient and family awareness of the importance of maintaining an ideal body weight to decrease the incidences of …


Assessing Nurses' Demographic Cardiovascular Risk Factors And Pharmacogenetic Testing Knowledge And Acceptance, Stella Chibuzor Ohanuka Jan 2017

Assessing Nurses' Demographic Cardiovascular Risk Factors And Pharmacogenetic Testing Knowledge And Acceptance, Stella Chibuzor Ohanuka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of knowledge of pharmacogenetic testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD), coupled with their increased risk for CVD, may impair nurses' cognitions and attitudes toward pharmacogenetic testing for CVD. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional correlational study, conducted with 230 RNs without CVD who worked in acute-care settings in Georgia, was to determine if their years of education, years of experience, and gender significantly influenced their perceived risk for CVD (Questions 1-3) and their perceived knowledge of pharmacogenetic testing for CVD (Questions 4-6), and if their perceived risk for CVD significantly influenced their acceptance of pharmacogenetic testing for CVD (Question …


Wellness Education And Job-Related Injuries And Illnesses For Federal Employees, Eunice Scott Jan 2017

Wellness Education And Job-Related Injuries And Illnesses For Federal Employees, Eunice Scott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Work-related injuries and illnesses may lead to absenteeism, which affects the level of productivity. The purpose of this study was to determine the success of an employee workplace training program on work-related injury and illness rates at selected federal districts within a federal organization. Newman's model, which describes internal and external factors that may have an effect on an individual's health, was the framework that guided this project. A pre-post design was used to compare data from 2 publically available data sets, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Illness and Injury and the Voice of the Employee Survey, for the …


The Influence Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors On Exercise Participation, Chadrick Cooper Jan 2017

The Influence Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors On Exercise Participation, Chadrick Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study's purpose was to analyze whether the control (sustained healthy level) of independent cardiovascular disease risk factors could be used to significantly predict aerobic exercise status. The health belief and ecological model helped describe health awareness, autonomy, and ecological influences that could also influence the control of each risk factor. Multiple logistic regression analysis of behaviors and demographics was utilized to assess relationships of met aerobic recommendations to hypertension, diabetes, obesity, tobacco/alcohol use, diet, physical activity limitations, mood, and socio-economic status. The study consisted of 340 African American participants (37% male 63% female), between the ages of 30-64 who, …


The Relationship Between Hispanics/Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men And Women Cultural Beliefs, Risk Behaviors And Self-Disclosure, Donnalee Maria Lawson-Williams Jan 2017

The Relationship Between Hispanics/Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men And Women Cultural Beliefs, Risk Behaviors And Self-Disclosure, Donnalee Maria Lawson-Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among cultural/spiritual beliefs, risk behaviors, and disclosure among Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men and women (MSMW). Minority men who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by HIV, in particular MSM who are Hispanic/Latino or African American. Limited research is available on the link between Hispanic/Latino MSMW, their cultural/spiritual beliefs, risk behavior, and disclosure about risk behaviors to friends and family. The data were obtained from the SJS Project, which used survey methods to gather data on participants from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Among the participants …


The Relationship Between Youths' Risky Sexual Behavior And Race/Ethnicity, William Patrick Odhiambo Okello Jan 2017

The Relationship Between Youths' Risky Sexual Behavior And Race/Ethnicity, William Patrick Odhiambo Okello

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the CDC, young people, aged 15-24 years, share the greatest risk of new sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and the negative impact of alcohol and drug use. The purpose of this quantitative study, based on the theory of social-psychological problem-behavior, was to analyze the 2013 YRBSS secondary data and document if a relationship existed between race/ethnicity and youth sexual behavior, alcohol consumption, and drug use for the 13,583 survey participants. A Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Chi-Square were conducted to answer the research questions. Results indicated that American Indian/Alaskan Natives were most likely to report first sexual activity before 11 years …


Perceived Barriers To Lifestyle Change In Obese, Low-Income Hispanic Women, Mariana Daniela Torchia Jan 2017

Perceived Barriers To Lifestyle Change In Obese, Low-Income Hispanic Women, Mariana Daniela Torchia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low-income Hispanic women are the fastest growing minority population in the United States, and they have increased risks of obesity and secondary health issues, such as diabetes, related to their obesity. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the barriers to lifestyle change among obese, low-income Hispanic women (OLHW). A health belief model lens was used. The study sample consisted of 15 OLHW who were clinic patients and ranged in age from 20-59. Recruitment occurred in a low-income, Southern California, outpatient clinic setting through volunteer participation from recruitment flyers. Fifteen women took part in 1-hour, in-depth interviews, which …


Parental Perspectives On Vaccinating Children Against Preventable Childhood Diseases, Karen Charles Jan 2017

Parental Perspectives On Vaccinating Children Against Preventable Childhood Diseases, Karen Charles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood immunization has been one of the most important public health measures in the 20th century. In the United States, 95% of avoidable childhood diseases have been prevented through vaccinations. However, there have been growing concerns around the safety of vaccines, and this increased uncertainty has led to decreases in vaccination participation and increases in cases of preventable diseases. As such, is it important to understand why parents are not vaccinating their children. A qualitative approach was utilized to conduct this study. Flyers to recruit participants were distributed by healthcare providers and were posted in church facilities. Ten parents of …


Racial Ethnic Health Disparities: A Phenomenological Exploration Of African American Adults With Diabetes Complications., Florence A. Okombo Jan 2017

Racial Ethnic Health Disparities: A Phenomenological Exploration Of African American Adults With Diabetes Complications., Florence A. Okombo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial/ethnic minority groups experience a higher mortality rate, a lower life expectancy, and worse mental health outcomes than non-Hispanic in the United States. There is a scarcity of qualitative studies on racial/ethnic health disparities. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the personal experiences, attitudes, and perspectives of 6 African American adults with chronic health issues related to diabetes through a face-to-face interview. Social cognitive theory and health belief model guided the study. The participants were recruited through purposeful sampling. The data were coded using axial and thematic coding and subsequently analyzed through phenomenological interpretive inquiry. The …


Patient Characteristics And Treatment Outcomes Among Tuberculosis Patients In Sierra Leone, Mohamed Lamin Sesay Jan 2017

Patient Characteristics And Treatment Outcomes Among Tuberculosis Patients In Sierra Leone, Mohamed Lamin Sesay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite decades of the implementation of the directly observed therapy short-course (DOTS), Sierra Leone is ranked among the 30 highest TB-burdened countries. Several factors account for unfavorable treatment outcomes, among which are patient characteristics. Previous studies have only focused on treatment compliance without any consideration for the factors that lead to noncompliance to treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate patient characteristics that are associated with treatment noncompliance (treatment not completed) among TB patients undergoing the DOTS program in Sierra Leone. A retrospective longitudinal quantitative design was used to analyze secondary data from the completed records of 1,633 …