Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Association Between Age-Related Macular Degeneration And Sleep-Disordered Breathing, Jeffrey A. Nau

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic, irreversible disease that robs individuals of vision, quality of life, and independence. It is the leading cause of blindness in industrialized countries. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a condition characterized by repeated episodes of apnea and/or hypopnea, insomnia, short sleep duration, and/or sleep disturbances (snoring, gasping, etc.). Because SDB has been shown to cause chronic hypoxia resulting in oxidative stress on the retina, it has been proposed that SDB may be associated with AMD. Based on the life course theory of chronic disease, this quantitative, cross-sectional study used data from the 2005-2008 National Health …

An Evidenced-Based Pain Management Module To Improve Clinicians' Knowledge, Mark A. Wells

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic pain syndrome continues to be a national health concern among all medical specialties. It has an impact on the entire health care system and if current trends continue, the economic impact alone will exceed 100 billion dollars. In 2014, 254 million prescription opioids were written in the United States. During this time, an increase in prescription opioid related deaths was seen, with approximately 20,101 deaths occurring in 2015. Properly trained clinicians across the health care system are needed to achieve successful patient outcomes, while reducing cost, morbidity, and mortality. The purpose of the scholarly project was to develop a …

10,000 Step Challenge For Bedside Registered Nurses Working 12 Hour Shifts, Katherine Louise Schnebly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a pandemic that directly affects chronic health problems and mortality. Researchers have shown that more than 54% of nurses are obese. The increasing rate of obesity among nurses and the long hours they work make healthy lifestyles, including daily physical activity, difficult. Tracking daily activity using a pedometer or fitness application has shown improved awareness and sustainability of daily physical activity. This project was an investigation of the daily steps of bedside nurses working a 12-hour shift, and their subsequent awareness of their daily physical activity. Pender's Health Promotion Model was used to consider motivating factors for improving …

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 …

Senescence Disorder Literacy Among Prelingual/Culturally Deaf Individuals Age 50 And Older, J. Delores Hart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The preferred method of communication for most prelingual/culturally Deaf individuals is American Sign Language (ASL), and members of this linguistic/cultural minority community are often not recognized as being bilingual. Many prelingually/culturally Deaf individuals have limitations and deficits in English proficiency; which can lead to deficits in general knowledge of health-related terminology. Current projections are that older adults are expected to live longer, and will also experience the development of, increases in and more extended periods of living with senescence/age-related health disorders, also includes prelingual/culturally Deaf individuals. This quantitative research project, utilizing the theoretical framework of health literacy and a modified …

Hassles Of African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes, Sharon H. Murff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There has been a steady increase in the incidence of diabetes in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference in the daily hassles of African American adults with a self-reported diagnosis of type 2 diabetes compared to those of African American adults without a self-reported diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The theoretical underpinning for this quantitative, descriptive study was the cognitive appraisal theory (CAT), but the concept of stress and the effects stress has on the body was the broad framework that connected all the variables. The CAT was used to …

Barriers To Preventive Healthcare For Immigrants In Michigan, Sondos Ghazi Al-Hachim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Affordable Care Act expanded insurance coverage to the general population; however, expanding insurance coverage to immigrants might not be sufficient to improve utilization of annual physical preventive exams. This study evaluated adult Michigan immigrants' individual demographics, perceptions, and behaviors, as well as the collective cultural and system characteristics that might act as barriers to the utilization of annual physical preventive exams. Ken Wilber's integral operating system model for medicine conceptual framework was used to create a comprehensive map of factors and bring more clarity and understanding to the barriers to annual physical preventive exam. The quantitative survey was the …

Predictors Of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination In Georgia, Ashley Nash

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and is available for males and females, completion of the 3-shot series in Georgia remains relatively low. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors of HPV vaccination initiation and completion for male and female adolescents, ages 13 to 17 years old, in Georgia between 2013 and 2015. The theoretical foundation of the study was the structural model of health behavior which is an ecological model. Logistic regression was performed to determine if there was any relationship between the independent variables of parental …

U.S. Young Adults Stds, Risk Perception, Risk Behaviors, And Health Information Seeking, Amanda Robison-Chadwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are preventable conditions for which treatment failure (specifically in gonorrhea) is becoming problematic. U.S. young adults (20-29 years) have high rates of STD incidence and prevention of these diseases, but reaching them to provide primary prevention educations is challenging due to low perceived susceptibility to infection and lack of knowledge about how young adults seek health information. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to assess the association between perceived susceptibility to STDs, sexual risk behavior, and the acquisition of health information as it pertains to sexual health topics in young adults. The Health Belief …

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

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 …

The Experiences Of African American Women Participating In Church-Based Weight Loss Programs, Mangle L. Shanks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While obesity is a nationwide phenomenon, African Americans - especially women - continue to be more severely affected than any other ethnic group. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 20% of African American women are obese compared to 15.6% of Caucasian women. The church is an important community center for many African Americans, and is often a site for health promotion programs, though little is known of the effectiveness of these programs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to study the experiences and attitudes of African American women who have gone through a church-based weight-loss …

Higher Education Leaders' Transformative Learning And Leadership Experiences Responding To Student Drug Abuse, James Vernon Battin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Today's academic and social environment creates uncertainties, new roles, frequent changes, and challenging situations for student affairs academic leaders. The purpose of this study was to explore how student affairs academic leaders described their recent challenging experiences in addressing student drug abuse in higher education. The conceptual framework was based on adult transformative learning theory and applied transformative leadership perspectives. An interview format with open-ended questions was used to explore the experiences of 8 student affairs leaders who had faced challenging situations in the context of student drug abuse. A qualitative interpretive analysis was used that involved open coding of …

Mandated Continuing Education And The Competency Of Illinois Physical Therapists, Denise Lynn Hunter Ethington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Continuing education (CE) mandate laws are passed by states because it is in the public interest. The intent behind the passage of Illinois's CE law for physical therapists is to protect public health and safety through ensuring the competency of providers. However, studies into the impact of mandated CE on competency have been mixed. The problem addressed by this study was whether Illinois's CE law was effective in improving the competency of physical therapists and its impact on patient care. The purpose of this study was to understand what role mandated CE played in developing the competency of physical therapists …

Health Portal Functionality And The Use Of Patient-Centered Technology, Anita Joyce Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health portals are dedicated web pages for medical practices to provide patients access to their electronic health records. The problem identified in this quality improvement project was that the health portal in the urgent care setting had not been available to staff nor patients. To provide leadership with information related to opening the portal, the first purpose of the project was to assess staff and patients' perceived use, ease of use, attitude toward using, and intention to use the portal. The second purpose was to evaluate the portal education materials for the top 5 urgent care diagnoses: diabetes, hypertension, asthma, …

Perceptions Of Women Receiving Services From Domestic Violence Advocacy And Counseling Programs, Lisa Yvette Proby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine domestic violence victims' perceptions of advocacy and counseling programs that provide women with safe refuge, prevention education, mental health treatment, and other services. Many women in the United States are victims of intimate partner violence. Review of existing literature found that little is known about the extent to which the needs of these victims are met from available advocacy and counseling services. The health belief model was used to theorize victims' perceptions of services and risk factors for re-abuse. A phenomenological design was used to answer research questions, and in-depth …

Use Of Social Cognitive Theory To Understand Veterans' Postservice Physical Activity Behavior, Geoffrey Bruce Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The health of the veteran population within the United States has become a matter of ever-increasing concern, and many individuals who have attained veteran status are experiencing health issues following their discharge from the military. Despite such concerns, there are often not enough resources available to assist these individuals to the degree necessary in an expedient manner. The purpose of this case study was to use social cognitive theory to understand the physical activity of veterans following their time in service. Through the use of social cognitive theory, this study explored the thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors of 11 veterans to …

The Effect Of Referral Source On Patient Participation In Diabetes Education Programs, Karyn Marie Gallivan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The goal of diabetes education programs (DEPs) is to improve patients' pattern-management habits for those with type 2 diabetes (T2D), though participation in DEPs is lower than expected due to low physician referral rates. This retrospective study examined secondary data of 162 T2D patients who had been referred to a DEP in a community center in RI to determine whether the source of referral affected patient attendance, participation persistence, and outcomes. Self-referred (n = 62) and physician-referred (n = 100) groups were analyzed for possible associations among the aforementioned variables. Chi-square (p = .04) and logistic regression (p = .04) …

Serum Iron Concentration And Prostate Cancer In The United States, Aleeshaia Danner Raymonvil

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over 2 million adult men in the United States have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, with nearly 200,000 new diagnoses each year. This type of cancer is the leading cause of mortality in U.S. men. One possible risk factor for prostate cancer is a high level of iron in the body, but the association has yet to be confirmed. This study was an investigation of the relationship between serum iron concentration and prostate cancer using data obtained from the 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. This quantitative study involved 1,850 men in the U.S. aged 51 to 70 years. …

Using Administrative Healthcare Records To Identify Determinants Of Amputee Residuum Outcomes, Judith Gail Walden

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, the number of major limb amputees is predicted to exceed several million in the coming decades. For those amputees using a prosthesis, their quality of life (QoL) is often modulated by residuum limb problems resultant from its use. Multiple factors preclude quality evidence-based medicine (EBM) research in the field of prosthetics, leading to greater health risk from prosthetic prescription ambiguity. Positive social change is integral to good QoL; studies support administrative healthcare (AHc) as useful to support such, especially in the absence of EBM. This study utilized Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) AHc data to discriminate determinants …

Nutrition Services, Viral Suppression, Cd4, And Retention In Ryan White Program Participants, Theresa Jumento

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) provides HIV-related medical and support services for uninsured and underinsured people living with HIV (PLWH) in the United States. In addition to HIV-related medical care, the program provides medical nutrition therapy and food assistance. The role of nutrition in the health of PLWH is well-documented, especially in resource poor areas; however, the role of medical nutrition therapy and food assistance provided through the RWHAP in resource rich areas is not well documented. This study addressed the association between the nutrition services of food assistance and medical nutrition therapy and the HIV-related health outcomes of …

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 …

Knowledge, Perceptions, And Facilitators To Colorectal Cancer Screening Among African American Men In Mobile, Alabama, Ruben Franklin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American (AA) men in the state of Alabama are affected by colorectal cancer (CRC) more than all other races. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain understanding of colorectal cancer screening health benefits in AA men in Mobile, Alabama. The health beliefs model (HBM) developed by Hochum, Rosemstock, and Kegels was used to to explore the barriers and facilitators to CRC screening in AA men with health insurance in Mobile, Alabama. The research questions explored knowledge, perceptions, and facilitators to CRC screening among AA men age 40 to 75. Participants were selected using purposive sampling and data …

'Stand By Me' Designated Tobacco Areas On U.S. Military Installations, Robert Thomas Gobble

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. Air Force (USAF) active duty Airmenshowunusually high tobacco prevalence rates (TPR); i.e., smoke, smokeless, both(SSL-B), when compared to civilian publics in the United States. Tobacco control efforts have proven largely ineffective inlowering nicotine habits among Airmen, while outdoor designated tobacco areas (DTAs) sited near worksites and popular localeson USAF bases (USAFBs) likelyswayAirmen to continue riskynicotine habits. The aim of this inquiry was to assess whetherquantities of DTAs on USAFBs and U.S. airbases (USABs) with 4 mediator variables(quality of DTAs,sites of DTAs, execution of a tobacco cessation program, and types of tobacco cessation programs) wereassociated with TPR (SSL-B) among Airmen …

Relationship Between Familism And Sexual Attitudes Among College Students, Joseph Rampersad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, college students face an increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases, sexual assault, and unwanted pregnancy due to experimental sexual behavior compared to individuals who do not attend college. Based on the theoretical framework of familism, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sexual attitudes and familism among college students. Data were collected from nontraditional adult students who attend an online institution of higher education. The Familism Scale and the Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale were used to measure the variables of familism and attitudes about sex. Findings from multiple linear regression analyses indicated …

Homelessness In Calgary From The Perspectives Of Those Experiencing Homelessness, Edith N. Ahajumobi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the 1990s, homelessness has increased in Canada. The existing strategies of the government and public health service providers to manage the situation have had limited success. Researchers have noted the lack of including those experiencing homelessness to better understand and find a solution to homelessness. The purpose of this phenomenological study, driven by the social cognitive theory, was to understand homelessness from the perspectives of people who do not have homes. Data were collected from open-ended interviews with a purposeful sample of 15 individuals who are homeless. Summarizing and analyzing the interviews, several themes emerged after interview data were …

Effect Of Home Telemonitoring On Heart Failure Hospital Readmissions Among Adult Hispanics, Priscilla Liza Caban

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Heart failure is ranked as one of the leading causes of hospitalizations and mortality among adults of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Telemonitoring, as a homecare intervention for heart failure management, has been used across all groups although the benefit for Hispanics not established. The purpose of this retrospective, quantitative study was to determine the differences in hospital readmission between Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic White patients with heart failure disease who either received or did not receive home telemonitoring services from a homecare agency in Connecticut. The research questions for this study examined the effect of home …

Obstetric Fistula: The Experiences Of Patients And Medical Personnel In Sierra Leone, Sheku Samba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women face great risks in pregnancy and childbirth, especially in developing countries where there are very few skilled birth attendants and negligible government investments in maternal health programs. As a result, obstetric fistula (OF), a potentially fatal but preventable and treatable condition, affects some 3 million women and girls globally. In Sierra Leone, the prevalence of OF is extremely high, but the absence of quality data to inform decision-making, both on prevalence and risk factors, is a barrier to creating an environment for OF prevention and care. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and document the barriers …

Dietary Acculturation And Obesity In African Immigrant Adults, Stella Chinyere Onuoha-Obilor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial/ethnic groups are disproportionately affected by obesity and other risk factors for chronic diseases. African immigrants are an increasing segment of the U.S. population at greater risk for obesity than other immigrants living in the United States. Public health organizations that aid immigrants could benefit from information about changing dietary patterns. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between dietary acculturation and obesity among African immigrant adults living in the United States, controlling for length of stay, English proficiency, region of residence, and other sociodemographic factors. Acculturation theory guided this study. The research design was quantitative cross-sectional …

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, …