Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Intersectional Approach To Understand Condom Use Behavior Between Black And Latinos Msm And Transgender Women, Vanessa J. Mejia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women has been a focus of scholars since the early 1990s. Researchers have demonstrated that individuals in these communities are at greater risk for adverse health outcomes such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This study examined the relationship between macrosocial structural factors (i.e., housing stability) and the acceptance of risky sexual behavior (RSB) (i.e., condom use) between Black and Latino MSM, and transgender women guided by the health belief model and intersectionality theory. Using a quantitative approach, primary data were collected from MSM and transgender women …

Association Between Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits And Financial Liability Of Hospitals, Mary-Zitta Muabe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emergency departments (EDs) are experiencing an influx of patients with opioid-related which result in increased opioid misuse, abuse, and overdoses. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between opioid-related ED visits and financial liability of hospitals by evaluating if an increase in opioid-related ED visits leads to an increase in average ED visit costs. The framework used for this study was Reason’s theory of failures, which involves improving healthcare maturity in terms of risk management, achieved through enhanced efficiency. The analyzed research questions included analysis between the number of opioid-related ED visits and financial liability of hospitals …

Comprehensive Sex Education, Religious Affiliated Organizations, And Std Knowledge Among Young Adults, Leslie Marie Shaffer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEvery year there are approximately 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States, and half of these are among young adults. Stark County, Ohio recently experienced an increase in chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases among 18- to 24-year-old individuals. Public health practitioners have since called for research regarding factors that affect STD knowledge and perceptions in this population. This cross-sectional study was guided by the social-ecological model and assessed the association between attendance at a religious-affiliated institution, access to comprehensive sex education, and STD knowledge. One hundred thirty-eight (n=138) participants, aged 18 to 24 years, …

Exploring Promotoras As Influencers Of Physical Activity And Diet Acceptability Among Latinas, Gladys Orock Tataw-Ayuketah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Promotoras are frontline community health workers who help link Latino community members to health and social services. Latino women have high rates of attrition and lack of participation in weight loss programs due to various barriers, and the promotora model is vital to address these concerns. The approach incorporates strong family support and influence to address health and social issues through interdependent ties of promotoras and families who live and work within the community they serve. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how promotoras influenced the acceptability of and participation in physical activity and dietary modification programs …

Knowledge And Experiences Of African American Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Kristy L. Vance

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a nationwide phenomenon, African American or Black women often have little to no information on the education and support available to manage the condition. PCOS is one of the most poorly understood disorders among patients which has led to limited resources and management. The lack of education could contribute to increased risks to many health issues for African American women with PCOS. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore and examine the level of health knowledge related to PCOS among African American women living in or around the Northern Region of …

Providers’ Perspectives On Barriers Associated With Repeat Teen Pregnancies In Rural Southeastern United States, Vanessa Iheoma Iheanachor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teen (or adolescent) pregnancy remains a significant public health problem in the United States. Rapid repeat pregnancy, defined as any pregnancy that occurs within 24 months of a previous birth, has been linked to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to understand the perceptions of health care providers (HCPs) regarding barriers that influence repeat pregnancies among adolescents in rural southeastern United States. The theoretical framework that guided this study was Urie Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological model. A survey instrument was developed and disseminated to HCPs using Qualtrics, an online survey platform. Data (n=32) were …

Spirituality-Based Programs For African American Women, Sophelia Predom Kelly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Because spirituality or personal value conflicts might arise between social workers and their clients, the purpose of the study was to understand personal and spirituality value conflicts. The theoretical framework for this study was adult transformative learning theory. The research questions examined how the participants described personal and spirituality value conflicts. Data were collected from interviews with two groups from Houston, Texas; Group 1 represented homeless or previously homeless African American women who self-identified as spiritual but nonreligious, and Group 2 represented White licensed master social workers. Researcher responses to the same interview questions were also recorded. Thematic data analysis …

Effectiveness Of Responsible Beverage Service Policies In Reducing Drunk-Driving In Maryland, Rhoda Makinde

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the State of Maryland and across the United States, driving under the influence (DUI) has led to a massive loss of lives and disability cases. Hence, responsible beverage service (RBS) policies and programs have been developed to prevent and control DUI incidence. This study sought to identify the effectiveness of these policies in addressing the DUI-related fatalities and injuries among young adults (18–30 years old) in the State of Maryland. Using program theory to evaluate the effectiveness of RBS policies and programs in reducing DUI, this qualitative research sampled bar patrons, club patrons, and alcohol servers/service staff in Baltimore. …

Association Between Family Structure And Childhood Obesity In Essex County, Nj., Chima Tony Onyeagoro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is one of the most prevalent nutritional disorders in children in the United States. There are many factors associated with childhood obesity, but there is limited information about the association between family structure and childhood obesity. This quantitative retrospective cross-sectional study, guided by the Social Ecological Model, was carried out to identify the effect of family structure on childhood obesity. For this study, the 2017 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) of children 6-13 years old residing in the state of New Jersey was analyzed. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between family structure and obesity, …

Assessing Cancer And Heart Disease Occurrence From Groundwater Contaminated With Volatile Organic Compounds, Courtnie S. Owens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined the effects of the toxic chemicals contained in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on cancer occurrence and heart disease through occupational and environmental exposure to groundwater sources. This study was important because it provided critical insight for the public health community on the association between variations of past and current levels of VOCs in water sources and cancers and heart disease. The key research questions examined what proportion of occupational and nonoccupational individuals in southeastern North Carolina were diagnosed with cancer or heart disease and whether VOCs were associated with the long-term effects of cancer or heart disease …

Health Department Prevention/Education Plans And Perceived Risks Of Zika Infection, Lacey Jacques

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractZika virus is an infectious disease caused by the bite of an infected mosquito that has been linked to increased rates of microcephaly and other devastating birth defects. The existing body of knowledge has focused on the individual-level factors that influence a person’s decisions about prevention activities and risk perceptions related to Zika virus. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between state-level plans for prevention and education and individual-level risk perceptions. Rosenstock’s health belief model lays a foundation for why individuals make the health decisions they do and helps explain how these can be influenced for …

Health Department Prevention/Education Plans And Perceived Risks Of Zika Infection, Lacey Jacques

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractZika virus is an infectious disease caused by the bite of an infected mosquito that has been linked to increased rates of microcephaly and other devastating birth defects. The existing body of knowledge has focused on the individual-level factors that influence a person’s decisions about prevention activities and risk perceptions related to Zika virus. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between state-level plans for prevention and education and individual-level risk perceptions. Rosenstock’s health belief model lays a foundation for why individuals make the health decisions they do and helps explain how these can be influenced for …

Medicine Adherence As A Determinant Of Complication Development In Diabetes And Hypertension Patients On A Medical Aid Scheme In Zimbabwe, Tsitsi Moyo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pharmacotherapy is a significant component of chronic disease management; its efficacy depends on long term, correct, and consistent use; however, medicine adherence rates remain low. The cost of medicines is considered a significant barrier to adherence, especially in low-income settings. This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using data from Cimas Medical Aid Society collected between 2015 and 2019. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of the association between medicine adherence, complication development, and cost of care among diabetic and hypertensive patients while controlling for age and gender on a population that does not experience cost barriers …

Experiences Of Critical Care Nurse Managers In Addressing Nurses' Work-Related Stress, Mariana Tsucuneli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNurses who work in the critical care unit are more likely to experience work-related stress, fatigue, understaffing, undesirable performance outcomes, and compromised workplace safety than general care nurses. Nurse managers in these units possess insights into nurses' stress-inducing challenges, in addition to managerial and administrative perspectives. Yet there is a lack of available knowledge about the experiences of critical care nurse managers in addressing nurses' work-related stress. The purpose of this study was to explore critical care nurse managers’ experiences of potential strategies to effectively address work-related stress among nurses. The job-demand resource model was the theoretical framework for the …

Typhoid Fever Among Low-Income Women Living In Gujranwala, Pakistan., Tehmina S. Khan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 21 million individuals suffer from typhoid fever (TF) globally, and most outbreaks occur in Southeast Asia. The incidence of TF is high in Pakistan, particularly in low socioeconomic areas, and a new drug-resistant strain makes it difficult to control the spread of TF. There is a pressing need for up-to-date and accurate data regarding the attitudes, beliefs, and habits leading to the spread of TF infection among individuals living in low socioeconomic areas of Pakistan. This qualitative, phenomenological study was grounded in the health belief model and explored factors that influence the spread of TF among women of childbearing …

Using Social Perspectives On Vaccination To Build Public Trust In Pro-Vaccine Communication, Lindsay Hale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

United States public health guidelines for mandating vaccination of school age children for preventable diseases is increasingly ineffective. Little is known, however, about what sociocultural factors influence parents’ and legal guardians’ decisions to adhere to, hesitate against, or refuse to abide by immunization public health guidelines. The purpose of this qualitative study was to discover and better understand sociocultural factors that contribute to or detract from parents and legal guardians’ adherence to recommended vaccination schedules. The theoretical framework for this study was Coleman’s Rational Choice Theory. Research questions involved sociocultural factors and reference groups that influence parents and legal guardians’ …

Marijuana Legalization And Depression Effects On Marijuana Use In African American Late Adolescents, Anthony Olusegun Iroko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

State medical marijuana legalization (MML) may contribute to increased cannabis use among older adolescents, especially African American youth and adolescents with depression. This quantitative cross-sectional correlational study, which utilized Smart’s availability-proneness theory of drug use as a guiding framework, had a two-fold purpose: to determine if state MML status and self-reported depression were significantly related to past-month marijuana use and to assess if state MML status significantly moderated between depression and past-month marijuana use. The study utilized data from 1,391 African American late adolescents (aged 16-20) who participated in the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Binary logistic …

Typhoid Fever Among Low-Income Women Living In Gujranwala, Pakistan., Tehmina S. Khan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 21 million individuals suffer from typhoid fever (TF) globally, and most outbreaks occur in Southeast Asia. The incidence of TF is high in Pakistan, particularly in low socioeconomic areas, and a new drug-resistant strain makes it difficult to control the spread of TF. There is a pressing need for up-to-date and accurate data regarding the attitudes, beliefs, and habits leading to the spread of TF infection among individuals living in low socioeconomic areas of Pakistan. This qualitative, phenomenological study was grounded in the health belief model and explored factors that influence the spread of TF among women of childbearing …

Exposure To Malaria Awareness Messages And Preventive Health Behaviors Among Informal Workers In Ghana, Nora Larkai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria is a global health issue that is most prevalent in Sub-Saharan countries such as Ghana. In the past, various studies have examined the use of malaria messages and malaria prevalence; however, very few Ghanaian studies focus explicitly on using various types of malaria-related messaging modalities and the impact of these messaging systems on lessening malaria contraction among the informal sectors. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between exposure to malaria awareness messages, place of residence, and preventive health behaviors controlling for sex, occupation group, marital status, and educational level among Ghanaian informal workers. This study …

Hand Hygiene Education For Nursing Homes, David La Rosa-Presume

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the health care sector, hand hygiene has been identified as one of the most appropriate approaches to preventing health-associated infections or nosocomial infections. A nursing home in the western United States had repeated survey findings showed that their hand hygiene compliance rates did not meet the expectations of the Long-Term Care Institute. This project was aimed to develop and implement an education program to improve hand hygiene compliance in a nursing home setting. The project practice question asked whether an education program would increase staff’s knowledge of hand hygiene methods within a skilled nursing facility. The Joint Commission’s Targeted …

Risk Factors Associated With Access To Intermittent Preventive Treatment For Malaria Among Pregnant Women In Uganda, Mayanja Simon Peter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) is an intervention consisting of the full course of therapeutic antimalarial medicine administered to pregnant women during routine antenatal visits regardless of whether the woman is infected with malaria. The use of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy using sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) has been reportedly low in most of the malaria endemic areas, including Uganda. The coverage of IPTp in Uganda has been estimated to be as low as 17%. An in-depth secondary data analysis using the 2016 Uganda Department of Health Services survey was conducted to understand the causal relationships between …

Health Belief Effects On Preventive Health Among Hispanic Migrant And Seasonal Farmworkers, Angela M. Trawick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) are the unhealthiest workers in the United States and experience barriers to preventive healthcare. While faced with numerous health risks, many Hispanic MSFWs may not seek preventive health services or have access to them when they need them. The purpose of this study, guided by the rural nursing theory, was to understand the beliefs/health seeking behaviors of MSFWs and how they described usage of preventive health services. Fourteen Hispanic farmworkers volunteered to do telephone or in person interviews. The codes and categories were reviewed to identify patterns and make connections between the data using Saldana’s …

Faculty Perspectives On Quality Of Online Courses In Health Education And Promotion Programs, Dana Wawrzyniec

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The need to make quick transitions online due to COVID-19 challenged many Health Education and Promotion (HEP) faculty to identify how to create quality online HEP courses. A review of the literature identified the need for qualitative research on the quality of online courses from the faculty’s perspective. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of HEP faculty at multiple universities, in terms of the organization and facilitation of their online courses, communication between instructor and student, and assessment of students. The community of inquiry (COI) framework, which evaluates the teaching, social, and …

Parents' And Caregivers' Attitudes About Child Passenger Safety, Latoya Wider

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of childhood injury and death in the United States. Many car seats are installed incorrectly, and many children under the age of 6 are seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between age of child, age of parent/caregiver, attitudes, and behaviors of child passenger safety among parents and caregivers in South Carolina. The influence of age and attitude on consistent car seat use was also examined. The study was based on the theory of planned behavior. A survey design featuring questions …

Readiness Of Adolescent And Young Sickle Cell Patients To Transition From Pediatric To Adult Care, Tanisha D. Belton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) face many challenges as they enter adulthood; therefore, preparing for the transition to adult care is crucial. Assessing the knowledge and skills adolescents and young adults (AYAs) possess before transitioning to adult care can aid in the success of their transition. However, a gap exists regarding factors attributed to guiding patients’ sense of readiness. The purpose of this quantitative study, driven by the theory of self-care management of SCD, was to examine the self-perceived readiness of SCD patients as they prepare to transition to adult care. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 68 sickle …

Strategies For Preventing And Mitigating Counterfeit Medication From Entering The U.S. Supply Chain, Denise Blais

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some pharmaceutical brand protection managers lack strategies to mitigate financial losses from counterfeit prescription drugs. A multilayered approach involving guiding principles, supply chain security, investigations, enforcement, advocacy, and awareness can help mitigate potential financial losses and keep patients safe. Guided by the Six Sigma define, measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC) model and the fraud triangle conceptual framework, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies brand protection managers use to mitigate financial losses from counterfeit prescription drugs. Data collection included three semi-structured interviews using Zoom. Analyzing data entailed transcribing and coding themes within data and relating …

Working Mothers’ Lived Experiences Of Maintaining An Exercise Practice During A Pandemic, Sabrina Marie Cali

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Working mothers have been associated with low levels of exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic. This population faces many challenges and obstacles to exercise as they manage a household and work; this lack of exercise could leave their health at risk. Researchers have not yet considered working mothers’ lived experiences with exercise during a pandemic. Existing research on working mothers indicates there are barriers to exercise for this population, but more information on what allows these mothers to sustain exercise is needed. This qualitative narrative study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of working mothers who maintained an exercise practice …

Nutrition And Physical Exercise Prevention Strategies To Reduce Obesity During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Carmesha Vajill Carter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity has reached an epidemic level of 75 million obese adults and 15 million obese children in the United States. The research problem addressed in this study is the lack of information on how obese people manage their weight-loss strategies to prevent or reduce obesity during shut-in place restrictions for the COVID-19 Pandemic. This study included the Prochaska and DiClemente Trans-Theoretical Model of Behavioral Change and the Stage of Change Theory. The phenomenon approach using phenomenology described participants' lived experiences of being obese. The researcher completed data collection and evaluation among sixteen participants using email questionnaires to analyze participant's responses …

Emergency Department Operational Strategies, Joyce W. Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEmergency Department Operational Strategies by Joyce W. Davis MBA/MHA, Pfeiffer University, 2011 BS, North Carolina A&T State University, 1980

Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration

Walden University December 2022

The Impact Of Electronic Cigarettes Use On Traditional Cigarette Uses Among U.S. Adolescents, Ismail Mensah Dwumfour-Poku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increased usage of e-cigarettes among adolescents in the United States (U.S.) is a major public health concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nicotine, an active ingredient in e-cigarettes, is the most addictive drug in use today. The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationship between smoking of e- cigarettes and the risk of smoking traditional cigarettes among middle and high school students in Grades 6 through 12 in the U.S., and to determine if demographic factors contribute to this predisposition. This, quantitative cross-sectional study used the social ecological model as the …