Health Care Seeking Behavior And Provider Responses For Hcv-Positive African Americans,
2015
Walden University
Health Care Seeking Behavior And Provider Responses For Hcv-Positive African Americans, Kathleen Susanna Bailey
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Of the 3.5 million persons infected with chronic HCV in the United States, the African American population is the largest racial group with chronic HCV. Disparities in access to care and treatment involve a complex set of individual, interpersonal, socioeconomic, and environmental factors that influence the course of HCV infection in the African American population, resulting in poorer outcomes and survival. Drawing upon both the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior, this study was conducted to determine whether the seeking of health care by HCV-positive African Americans and the responses of health care providers to HCV-positive …
Uterine Fibroid Symptom Severity And Impact On Health-Related Quality Of Life Among African American Women,
2015
Walden University
Uterine Fibroid Symptom Severity And Impact On Health-Related Quality Of Life Among African American Women, Ilisher Ford
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
A disproportionate number of African American women are at increased risk for uterine fibroid tumors (UF) compared to their Caucasian, Asian, and Hispanic counterparts. Researchers have indicated that women diagnosed with UF can have a poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL) when compared to women who do not have a diagnosis of UF. The overall aim of this study was to explore the impact of UF symptoms on the HRQOL of African American women. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed utilizing the revised version of Wilson and Cleary's model of HRQOL. A sample was gathered of 80 participants who were …
Health Education To Decrease Obesity In Adolescents With Asthma,
2015
Walden University
Health Education To Decrease Obesity In Adolescents With Asthma, Mitzie Eumarie Thomas
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Obesity increases asthma severity and is costing the health care industry a significant amount of money. Decreasing adolescents' obesity will decrease the risk for chronic health problems, which can have a significant impact in adulthood. Implementing a school-based health education program can decrease the prevalence of obesity amongst adolescents. This program will be implemented by school nurses in the after-school program at Public School 59 (P.S) in New York City. The purpose of this project is to develop adolescents' school-based obesity prevention policies and documentation which will focus on increasing their nutrition education, increasing physical activities, and providing skills to …
A Mixed Method Study Of Diagnostic And Adaptive Functioning Challenges In African American Preschool-Aged Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders,
2015
Walden University
A Mixed Method Study Of Diagnostic And Adaptive Functioning Challenges In African American Preschool-Aged Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Douglene Jackson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are known to experience performance and participation challenges, with early diagnosis being critical for improved outcomes. Children from ethnic minority backgrounds tend to receive their diagnoses later, even when symptomatology is similar. This mixed methods study explored symptom severity, functional difficulties, and age at diagnosis for ASD and to describe the functional challenges encountered by preschool-aged children with ASD of African American descent. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health along with the Model of Human Occupation were the theories used for this study to conceptualize functional challenges and other potential factors. Research …
Weight Management Counseling And Obesity Severity In Children With Special Health Care Needs,
2015
Walden University
Weight Management Counseling And Obesity Severity In Children With Special Health Care Needs, Adeola Sonaike
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Epidemiologic surveillance indicates an increased susceptibility to obesity among children with special health care needs (SHCN) in comparison to children without. The present study investigated this disparity in weight severity between both groups, with a focus on the provision of obesity management counseling by physicians. This study consisted of a retrospective medical record review that acknowledged the effect of patient-provider interactions on health behaviors and risk perceptions. An independent sample t test compared the incidence of clinician-initiated obesity management counseling received by children with SHCN to that which was received by children without SHCN. This t test revealed a statistically …
Physician Assistants' Preventive Medicine Practices And Related Habits, Attitudes, And Beliefs,
2015
Walden University
Physician Assistants' Preventive Medicine Practices And Related Habits, Attitudes, And Beliefs, Judia Yael Malachi
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Physician assistants play a pivotal role in expanding access to care, yet research on their preventive medicine practices is limited. Guided by Lewis's conceptual model for predicting counseling practices, this cross-sectional study examined the relationship between physician assistants' preventive medicine practices, personal health habits, prevention and counseling attitudes, and perceived barriers to the delivery of clinical preventive services. A 104-item self-administered survey was used to collect data from 314 physician assistants attending the American Academy of Physician Assistants' 42nd Annual Conference. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple regression. Results indicated that physician assistants engaged in …
Psychosocial Determinants Of Elective Cesarean Section Deliveries In Selected Obstetric Facilities In Nairobi, Kenya,
2015
Walden University
Psychosocial Determinants Of Elective Cesarean Section Deliveries In Selected Obstetric Facilities In Nairobi, Kenya, Tom Joseph Oguta
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Cesarean section (CS) rates have generally increased across the world in the past decade. Reducing elective cesarean section (ECS) rates is imperative as many countries aim to maintain threshold CS rates at or below 15%, the level recommended by the United States' National Institutes of Health. Women are believed to consider ECS for various interconnected psychosocial reasons, but few quantitative studies have investigated these factors. This prospective cohort study was based on the social ecological model (SEM) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) models, and identified the psychosocial predictors of ECS among 1,268 expectant women in 2 hospitals in …
Contextual Factors And Direct Exposure To Hiv: Influences On Youth Sexual Intention,
2015
Walden University
Contextual Factors And Direct Exposure To Hiv: Influences On Youth Sexual Intention, Hadiza Ladidi Osuji
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Youth are having sexual intercourse at an early age and as such, are engaging in risky behaviors that are associated with adverse health outcomes, including HIV infection. Little research has been undertaken to examine the influence of contextual factors on youth intentions to delay sexual involvement. To address that gap, this study aimed to examine the influence of age, gender, race, immigration status, HIV knowledge, HIV-related stigma, concern about HIV, direct exposure to HIV/AIDS, peer pressure, and religious influence on youth intentions to delay sexual involvement. Delayed sexual involvement was conceptualized as youth attitudes towards abstaining from sex, their knowledge …
Laying The Foundation For New Approaches In Evidence-Based Sex Education Curriculum Programs: A Family Life Policy Change,
2015
Walden University
Laying The Foundation For New Approaches In Evidence-Based Sex Education Curriculum Programs: A Family Life Policy Change, Rina Marie Prosser
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The teen pregnancy rate in Henry County, Tennessee has increased over the years. The purpose of this project was to develop an evidence-based family life education policy for possible adoption by the board of education to address the persistent high teen pregnancy rate for girls aged 15-17 in the county. This present study resulted in a revised policy that was based on a comprehensive policy termed Abstinence-Centered Plus Contraception. An 18-member collaborative, organizational, and community project team, made up of community leaders, nurses, counselors, teachers, and students, assisted in the development and adoption of the policy, practice guidelines, and the …
Marketplace Clinics Complementing Community-Based Diabetes Care For Urban Residing American Indians,
2015
Walden University
Marketplace Clinics Complementing Community-Based Diabetes Care For Urban Residing American Indians, Robert Steven Rick
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The American Indians population in Minneapolis, Minnesota has experienced limited health care access and threefold diabetes health disparity. The purpose of this study was to measure the extent to which collaborating marketplace clinics and community-based support groups expanded diabetes care and provided self-management education for this largely urban Indian neighborhood. The marketplace clinics located in nearby CVS, Walmart, Target, and Supervalu stores committed financial support, certified educators, and pharmacy staff for the community-based support group. The study was conducted within the patient activation measure (PAM) analytical framework to assess the participants' acquired knowledge, skills, and confidence for diabetes self-management. A …
Improving The Experiences Of Informal And Formal Alzheimer's Disease And Dementias Caregivers,
2015
Walden University
Improving The Experiences Of Informal And Formal Alzheimer's Disease And Dementias Caregivers, Roxroy Anthony Reid
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Informal and formal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) encounter a more difficult and unique set of challenges than do caregivers of individuals with general disabilities. If adequate caregiver supports are not provided, caregivers may experience increased strain as the disease progresses, increasing the likelihood of unnecessary institutionalization of their care recipients and increasing the cost to the public. Using rational choice theory and political systems theory, the purpose of this study was to differentiate between the phenomenological experiences of formal and informal caregivers of ADRD patients. The overall research was a qualitative design that used …
A Pilot Study To Develop A Projective Method To Understand And Measure Resilience,
2015
Walden University
A Pilot Study To Develop A Projective Method To Understand And Measure Resilience, Tina Chen
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Many factors affect resilience, such as personality traits and environmental support. A projective assessment has many advantages to understand a person as a whole. Up to present, there is no projective assessment for resilience. This dissertation was a pilot study to develop a projective method. Sixty-five college students participated in this study. Participants used words to describe their feelings after hearing an open-ended story with a traumatic event; they also completed the story. In this study, the resilience ratio, defined as the ratio of the number of positive responses divided by the number of total responses, reflected the resilience level …
Vitamin D Deficiency And Immune Function In African American, Hiv-Infected Men,
2015
Walden University
Vitamin D Deficiency And Immune Function In African American, Hiv-Infected Men, Rana H. Ismail
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Vitamin D deficiency is common in individuals diagnosed with HIV and is known for its detrimental health effects. Its recognition as a potent immune-modulator with possible immune health implications in HIV disease progression was the main impetus for this study. The association between Vitamin D and CD4 count falls short of being consistent and is too weak to allow conclusions. Similarly, the literature is inconsistent with regard to the impact of Vitamin D supplementation on CD4. This observational, retrospective chart review study aimed to explore the relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and CD4 count/percent, and to evaluate whether changes in …
Electronic Benefit Transfer: Food Choices, Food Insecurity, And Type 2 Diabetes,
2015
Walden University
Electronic Benefit Transfer: Food Choices, Food Insecurity, And Type 2 Diabetes, Diana Louise Malkin-Washeim
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The purpose of this research was to examine food security for people with prediabetes participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), focusing on their food choice decisions and coping strategies over a 30-day benefit cycle that potentially increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional, quantitative design based on food choice process model constructs was used. SNAP participants (n = 36) with prediabetes, aged 21-70 years, were recruited as outpatients from Bronx Lebanon Hospital and completed self-reported questionnaires on demographics and health, food security, and food frequency. Descriptive statistics, Pearson chi square tests, and regression analysis were performed …
The Distribution Of Type 1 Diabetes Onset In The United States By Demographic Factors,
2015
Walden University
The Distribution Of Type 1 Diabetes Onset In The United States By Demographic Factors, Margaret Beckstrand
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic and lifelong condition, often diagnosed in childhood. Patients with T1D are at elevated risks of associated health complications, comorbidities, and mortality. Occurrence, clinical presentation, and complications related to T1D differ by age of onset, ethnicity, and gender. The last reported population-based estimates regarding the burden of T1D in children using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were published in 2008, and these estimates were not well stratified by age of onset, ethnicity, and gender. The purpose of this study was to examine these demographics within the conceptual framework of the hygiene …
Post Hysterectomy Discharge Destination And Risk Of Hospital Readmission In Elderly Women,
2015
Walden University
Post Hysterectomy Discharge Destination And Risk Of Hospital Readmission In Elderly Women, Ruth Ann Churley-Strom
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In elderly women, discharge after gynecologic surgery is often associated with increased morbidity. Little information exists about elderly women's discharge destination after gynecologic surgery and the outcome of early hospital readmission. The purpose of this study, conceptualized using the quality health outcomes model, was to examine whether post hysterectomy discharge destination is an independent predictor of 30-day hospital readmission in women age 65 and older. Examination of covariates included patient age, race, medical comorbidity and complications of care, as well as surgical anatomic approach and operative technique. This study involved use of a retrospective cohort design and data from 10,598 …
Health-Related Beliefs Among Low-Income African American Women And Their Perceptions About Obesity,
2015
Walden University
Health-Related Beliefs Among Low-Income African American Women And Their Perceptions About Obesity, Cenora Kimberly Akhidenor
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The aim of this study was to explore the health-related beliefs and perceptions of low-income African American women regarding obesity. Phenomenology served as the conceptual framework for this study. African American women, especially those in low-income brackets, have been shown to weigh more than women of other racial/ethnic groups. The consequences of these high rates are increased risks of developing chronic health disorders, such as type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The study sample consisted of 7 low-income obese African American women, ranging in age from 20 to 62, who resided in the Pacific Northwest. Recruitment for participation occurred via …
Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, And Behaviors Of Diabetes Among Afro-Caribbeans Near Brooklyn,
2015
Walden University
Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, And Behaviors Of Diabetes Among Afro-Caribbeans Near Brooklyn, Sophia I. Allen
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Literature has found that some minority groups with diabetes have a negative perception of medical professionals when a health problem occurs. This trend is particularly problematic with the diabetes epidemic in the United States. African Americans are more than 2 times as likely to die from diabetes than are Whites, and diabetes prevalence has increased exponentially in New York City where a majority of Afro-Caribbeans live. To address this problem, a cross-sectional design was used to recruit Afro-Caribbeans diagnosed with type 2 diabetes across 7 churches to examine whether shared knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about diabetes screening and its …
Food Policy: Urban Farming As A Supplemental Food Source,
2015
Walden University
Food Policy: Urban Farming As A Supplemental Food Source, Bessie Didomenica
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The distance between farms and cities and the limited access that some residents have to fresh foods can be detrimental to a city's capacity to feed people over time. This study addressed the under-studied topic of urban farming as a secondary food source, specifically by exploring the opportunities and limitations of urban farming in a large Northeastern city. Brundtland's food policy was the pivotal theory supporting food production to end global starvation, and was the link between environmental conservation and human survival. The research question for this study examined the potential food policy opportunities and limitations that assist urban farms …
Health Literacy And The Level Of Hypertension In Urban Latinos,
2015
Walden University
Health Literacy And The Level Of Hypertension In Urban Latinos, Marlene Rosetta Glashen
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Health literacy (HL) plays a significant role in health care communication and patient compliance. Low health literacy leads to noncompliance with health instructions, poor health choices, failure to participate in recommended health screenings, frequent hospitalizations, and higher health care costs. Using the health belief model (HBM) as the conceptual framework, this quantitative, cross-sectional study addresses a gap in the literature related to the research questions of this study. The research questions are: (a) Is there a relationship between HL and the level of hypertension (HTN) in hypertensive urban Latinos?, and (b) Will HL predict the level of control of HTN …
