Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Perceived Parental Barriers To Preventive Dental Care Programs For Children, Kim Attanasi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dental caries is the most prevalent childhood illness and disproportionately affects children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Dental organizations are collaborating within communities to decrease oral health disparities among children by offering free preventive oral health events. These programs face the problem of low enrollment due to lack of informed parental consent. Also, gaps in the literature indicated the need to examine oral health perceptions and dental-care-seeking practices of culturally diverse low-income parents regarding preventive care for their children. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the reasons why parents are not allowing their children to participate in …

Non Medical Prescription Drug Use In Rural Communities And Social Work, Izetta Mounice Briggs-Bolling

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the roles and responsibilities of social workers providing services to nonmedical prescription drug users (NMPDU). Researchers have indicated NMPDU disproportionately affects people living in rural communities. The overarching research question sought to explore the concerns of social workers when providing services to patients coping with NMPDU in the rural community of Ulster County, New York. The intention was to examine systemic challenges facing rural social workers when attempting to decrease morbidity risks and increase the health of Ulster County residents. A total of 7 social workers participated in 3 focus groups to explore their ideas for defining, …

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 …

'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 …

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 …

Night Shift Work And Weight Gain Among Female Filipino Nurses, Raymundo Mintac Apellido

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The research problem is the increasing numbers of overweight and obese nurses working the night shift. Study on overweight and obesity among female Filipino nurses has not been conducted. It was important to conduct a research study among female Filipino nurses to find out if there are statistically significant associations between night shift work and weight gain. The purpose of this correlational and cross-sectional study was to determine if there are statistically significant associations between insufficient sleep, abnormal eating patterns, working 12-hour shifts, years of working night shift, age, stress, marital status, nursing units, decreased physical activity, and level of …

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, …

Caring For Patients With Delirium In The Intensive Care Unit, Susan Archer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients in hospital intensive care units are at increased risk to develop delirium, a condition which is characterized by a disturbance of consciousness and a change in cognition. Critical care nurses must have the knowledge to assess, recognize, and manage delirium. The purpose of this project was to develop an evidence-based policy for the assessment of delirium and a comprehensive nursing education plan which included an analysis and synthesis of the literature, a curriculum plan, and a pretest/posttest. The Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model framed the project, which used a multidisciplinary team approach. Two nursing leaders, each with a doctor …

Influences Of Provider-Patient Communication On Health Literacy And Public Policy Relevant Outcomes, Rachel Carla Cartwright-Vanzant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Several artifacts of federal policy address the connection between health literacy of patients and health outcomes. These laws include The Plain Writing Act, Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Even with this policy structure, little is known about how nurses' knowledge of health literacy may influence patient understanding of medical information and health outcomes. Using Knowles' principles of effective communication, the purpose of this mixed-methods study was to concurrently examine the relationship between nurse knowledge of health literacy and communication techniques used by nurses to identify any causal relationships in …

The Meaning Of Feeling Fearful For New Community/Public Health Nurses, Demetrius Ann Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined the meaning of feeling fearful for nurses entering community/public health (C/PH) nursing. Nurses are entering the C/PH workforce with less experience and education than ever before, and may feel afraid or fearful in their jobs. Additionally, the autonomous nature of C/PH nursing poses significant challenges for this population such as fear of isolation and/ or abandonment. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explicate the meaning of feeling fearful for new C/PH health nurses. Ten nurses with up to 2 years of C/PH experience volunteered for this study. The research questions were guided by …

School Nurses' Role In The Management Of Children With Type 2 Diabetes, Rosaline Jane Martinez-Culpepper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An estimated 215,000 children and adolescents younger than 20 years old were diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes in 2011. Management of children with Type 2 diabetes requires 24-hour care provided by health care providers, parents, and school nurses. Guided by the health belief model (HBM), the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and describe beliefs, attitudes, and practices of school nurses who manage children with Type 2 diabetes. A pilot study with 2 nurses was conducted to finalize interview guide. Volunteer school nurses were recruited through an e-mail announcement from their school district. Face-to-face, …

Gender Differences In Health Service Utilization Among Veterans With Acute Kidney Injury, Freneka Fronsha Minter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) studies on acute kidney injury (AKI) have focused on defined procedures and outcomes but not on gender differences. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in health services utilization by gender and other predisposing factors (age and race) among hospitalized veterans with AKI during a 5-year period from 2008 to 2013. The study included a retrospective cohort design and the behavioral model of health services utilization as the underlying theoretical framework. Secondary data were collected from an existing VA cohort. Data from 1,636 hospitalized AKI veterans were subjected to t tests …

Health Disparity In Preventive Care Among Nigerian Immigrants In The United States, Loveday E. Nwobilor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The roles of immigration status in preventive health care services among Nigerian immigrants in the United States were investigated in this quantitative, cross-sectional survey study. About 260,724 Nigerian immigrants reside in the Unites States, but many do not complete lifesaving preventive health services such as immunization and screening, a major factor contributing to the rise in the cost of healthcare resultant from their use of emergency room services. This study investigated the extent to which immigration status independently explains the relationship between health disparities and risks in non-completion of preventive health care among Nigerian immigrants in the United States by …

Paths To Tier 1 Genomics Implementation: A Survey Of Chronic Disease Directors, Amy Ponte

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although evidence is currently available for population-based genetic screening and testing of individuals and their family members for certain hereditary chronic disease conditions (Tier 1), few states have integrated these genomic applications into chronic disease prevention programs. State and territorial chronic disease directors (CDDs) could provide the leadership needed to deliver these applications in more states. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an association exists between current chronic disease genomics funding or specific state genomic activities and the level of knowledge and interests in genomics by these directors. Rogers's diffusion of innovations (DIT) theory was used to …

Retired, Unmarried, Male Baby Boomer Attitudes And Behaviors Toward Disease Prevention, Irene Nyawira Ruminjo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Preventive health care is effective in reducing both infectious diseases and chronic conditions among the elderly. Despite efforts to prevent or decrease the risk of illness, unmarried men are less likely to receive selected preventive services compared to married men. The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to describe disease prevention attitudes and behaviors of retired, unmarried, male baby boomers residing in Harlingen, Texas. Further, the study examined the effects of socioeconomic status on disease prevention attitudes and behaviors. The health belief theory framed the study. A validated questionnaire collected disease prevention attitudes, behaviors, and sociodemographic characteristics data. Data inquiry …

Infant Mortality Among African American Women Compared To European American Women In New York City, Marian Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The birth of low weight babies in the United States has not had a meaningful decline for the last 10 years.It continues to be a major predictor of fetal-infant mortality. In addition, the rate of low birth weight infants among African American women continues to be twice that of European American women. Low birth weight babies may experience breathing problems, vision problems, diabetes, hypertension, and cerebral palsy. The purpose of this study was to examine why the high infant mortality rate persist among the African American communities of Southeast Queens, New York City as compared to European American communities in …

African American Pastors' Perspectives On Health Promotion Ministries, Brenda Ivy Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The centrality of the church in African American communities makes it a culturally compelling sponsor for health promotion activities targeting health disparities among the medically underserved. Pastoral support is critical in determining whether a church initiates or supports a health promotion agenda, but there is little understanding of the variables that influence this decision. The aim of the qualitative study was to investigate the perceptions of African American pastors regarding the decision to incorporate health promotion programs in their churches. This study was guided by the health belief model using a phenomenological approach. Data were collected using both semi-structured and …

Lived Experiences Of Pre-Menopausal African American Women With Advanced Breast Cancer, Carmelita Whitfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study examined the phenomenology of advanced breast cancer (ABC) among 7 female participants between the ages of 20 and 45. Oral data were collected to extract participants' interpretations of their spiritual and psychosocial experiences of living with ABC. Findings suggest that these women experienced a dichotomous relationship with regard to their bodies and their relationships with others; this served as a means of making sense of their experiences and as a coping mechanism. Positive psychology and the theory of reasoned action and planned behavior provided the theoretical framework for examining the role of social reinforcements, beliefs, and attitudes …

Impact Of Hospital Closures On Families In Rural Communities, Onetha Dickerson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Closure of community hospitals directly impacts the health of rural populations and indirectly affects economic growth and access to medical services. The purpose of this doctoral project was to assess the causes and impacts of hospital closures on rural communities. The practice-focused question addressed the implications of hospital closures on individuals and families in rural communities. A systematic review of the literature, based on conflict theory, addressed populations that lack health care facility resources. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guided the selection of 8 journal articles for review. The inclusion criteria for articles encompassed the impact …

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 …

Exposure To Hiv Prevention Messages On Social Media And Behavior Change Intent, Yoshika Shajuan Eason

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans living in the Southeastern region of the United States disproportionately contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Facebook and other social media sites are becoming a way to deliver health-related messaging to targeted populations. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to examine the association between selected demographic factors and impact of social media on intent to change sexual behaviors among 112 African Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 in the Southeastern United States who viewed STI/HIV prevention materials on Facebook within 1 year prior to the study. The theory of planned …

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 …

American Indians' Perceptions Of Obesity And Its Effects On Healthy Lifestyles, Morgan J. Foster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A disproportionate number of American Indians are overweight or obese and have a higher risk of other health concerns compared to the general United States population. Researchers conducting anthropometric studies have found that American Indians have higher body mass indices and worse health than most of the general United States population. There is, however, a gap in the literature regarding American Indians' perceptions, beliefs, opinions, and attitudes of obesity and its effects on their health. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine whether American Indians view obesity as a major health concern. Focus groups and key-informant interviews were …

Effect Of Physical Activity Frequency On Body Image Among Young Adult Women, Kristin Minter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately half of all female adolescents and young adults suffer from body dissatisfaction and, in turn, body image-related health concerns. Poor body image can contribute to various negative health behaviors including low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicide. Research indicates a positive relationship between physical activity and self-esteem, and between self-esteem and body image. However, a paucity of research examines the effect of physical activity frequency on the body image of young women with two-like body compositions, as measured by body mass index (BMI). Based on self-discrepancy theory, self-schema theory, and the health belief model, this quantitative study explored …

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

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

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 …

Barriers And Perceptions Of Black American Men About Prostate Cancer In Georgia, Martins M. Nnoko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2016, prostate cancer was the second leading cause of fatality in the United States. However, the population in this study 'Black American men, ages 40 and older, in selected counties in Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Clayton and Atlanta metropolitan areas' tended to underutilize prostate cancer care. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental descriptive study was to determine whether socio-economic barriers and perceptions of Black American men about prostate cancer reduce their ability to access quality care in this county in Georgia. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used to inform the predictive validity of perceptions, attitudes, and belief on individual …

Beyond Breastfeeding: Exploring The Influence Of Maternal Control Over Child Health Behavior Among African American Women Infants And Children Nutritional Supplementation Program Participants, Maria Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The health benefits of breastfeeding exceed well beyond the first few years of an infant's life. Breast milk is often referred to as liquid gold because of its extensive protective properties that promote child growth and development. Unfortunately, African American women have the lowest breastfeeding rates compared to any other racial group. Given that African American children are disproportionately affected by the current obesity epidemic in the United States, there may be a link between a mother's preference to breastfeed her infant and her influence over her child's eating behaviors and physical activity levels. Guided by social cognitive theory, the …

An Integrated Approach To Malaria Prevention And Control In Rural Cameroon, Naomi Chuiwo Azunie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease spread to humans through bites of an infected mosquito. In rural Cameroon, malaria is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Several studies have examined the use of various malaria preventive tools; however, there is insufficient literature available on use of an integrated approach to prevent and control malaria in rural Cameroon. The aim of this study was to provide information necessary for bridging the gap in understanding the proper use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and antimalarial drugs and the roles of education and socioeconomic status in malaria prevention and control …