Walden University

About: Walden University is a education organization based out in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 3200 authors who have published 3707 publications receiving 55313 citations.

Potential Effects of the Electronic Health Record on the Small Physician Practice: A Delphi Study.

Abstract: The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act established the requirement of all medical practices to have certified electronic health records (EHRs). Some primary concerns that have been delaying implementation are issues of cost, revenue impact, and the effect on the patient encounter. Small physician practices (one to four physicians) account for 46 percent of all physicians. The purpose of this qualitative study using a modified Delphi research design was to examine the potential effect of the adoption of the EHR on revenue, unintended costs or savings, and changes in the patient encounter. Fifteen expert panelists completed the three-round survey process. The expert panelists reached a consensus that EHRs would reduce the number of patients seen per day, thereby reducing their revenue. Although the panelists limited their discussion on the effect of patient outcomes, their most dominant concern was the loss of face-to-face time with the patient. They felt that the use of an EHR would reduce the focus on the patient and potentially cause physicians to miss medical conditions. The results of this study indicate an avenue for EHR vendors to develop educational avenues to teach physicians how to optimize the EHR as well as to share success stories that demonstrate improved financial impact.

The Effects of Nursing Education on Decreasing Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection Rates

Abstract: The Effects of Nursing Education on Decreasing Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection Rates by

New Media Tools Impact on Online, Health Science Students’ Academic Persistence and Support: Lessons Learned from Two Pilot Studies

Abstract: New media communication tools used in health science education may help enhance student engagement and sense of community, improve retention and persistence, and provide a richer academic experience, but the research is limited on non-traditional online learners. The studies described here therefore, focus on fully online, undergraduate health science students. Study 1 examined if the use of new media tools - EZ Texting, Adobe Connect, and an eCampus community - had a significant effect on students’ persistence/retention, importance to being connected to faculty and other students, sense of community, and satisfaction with the program and the university. Study 2 evaluated if the use of the communication technology, Celly, increased online undergraduate health science students’ feelings of connectedness with the instructor. Study 1 was a pre-test, post-test quasi-experimental design with a volunteer sample of 15 students. In Study 2, ninety students received Celly communication throughout a six week course while the control group (n = 338) did not receive any text communication. Both groups received a pre-test and post-test. In Study 1, the use of EZ Texting, Adobe Connect, and eCampus did not have any statistically significant results due to a combination of factors; however, in the experimental group there was an increase in participants’ belief that the new media tools can create a sense of community and foster an increase in the feeling of closeness to other students and faculty. In Study 2, feelings of connectedness to the instructor varied over time with no statistically significant results, but valuable insight was gained through qualitative feedback. Although new media tools did not have any statistically significant results, students did feel more connected and supported in an online learning environment.

Understanding Presidential Voting Motivation by Factors of Agency

Abstract: Understanding Presidential Voting Motivation by Factors of Agency by Sharlene Wilson MA, Long Island University, 2002 BA, C.W. Post Long Island University, 1999 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy Administration Walden University March 2015 Abstract The President of the United States sets the tone for policy and has significant power in adopting and implementing policy. Despite this acknowledged power, prior studies, have not examined whether or not agency theory is predictive of voting in U.S. presidential elections. Agency theory is important in the scope of voting behavior as it identifies the relationships which support significance in practicing the activity. This correlationalThe President of the United States sets the tone for policy and has significant power in adopting and implementing policy. Despite this acknowledged power, prior studies, have not examined whether or not agency theory is predictive of voting in U.S. presidential elections. Agency theory is important in the scope of voting behavior as it identifies the relationships which support significance in practicing the activity. This correlational study examined the statistical impact of personal agency, social agency, and sociocultural agency on predictive voting behavior. This study used secondary data originally collected between 1956 and 2008 by the American National Election Study through a multistage probability design that yielded a survey of 28,000 individuals. A single, combined model was created from variables measuring personal, social, and sociocultural agency on the dependent variable of voting to test which type of agency had the highest predictive power on voting. The outcome of a logistic regression analysis demonstrated that sociocultural and personal agency, but not social agency, were statistically powerful predictors of voting (p < .05). These findings suggest that an individual’s personal perceptions and cultural status influence their likelihood to vote, but that their social units do not. These findings suggest that efforts to increase turnout by members of sociocultural groups that are less likely to vote should focus on increasing personal agency. This study promotes positive social change by empowering the design of more effective get-out-the-vote campaigns to increase voter participation, especially among the underrepresented. Understanding Presidential Voting Motivation by Factors of Agency by Sharlene Wilson MA, Long Island University, 2002 BA, C.W. Post Long Island University, 1999 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy Administration Walden University March 2015 Dedication I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my mother and father for always having encouraged me to learn. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for being my biggest supporters in life and academics! Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge Professor Karen Shafer for having provided extremely helpful and supportive commentary throughout the dissertation process. Without Dr. Shafer’s detailed suggestions, I could never have executed the logistic regression model at the heart of the study.

Experiences Teaching Stoichiometry to Students in Grades 10 and 11

Abstract: Experiences Teaching Stoichiometry to Students in Grades 10 and 11 by Cynthia Denise Bridges MEd, University of Massachusetts, 1989 BS, Clark Atlanta University, 1988 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education