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Teachers\u27 Perspectives of Mandated Health Education Curriculum Goals in Grades K-3
Get PDFThis study addressed the challenges faced by many Grades K–3 teachers in north central Georgia in consistently implementing mandated health education curriculum goals (Villegas et al., 2021). The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perspectives on the barriers to consistent health education delivery in elementary schools. The study was guided by the concerns-based adoption model, which provided a framework for understanding how teachers navigate changes in curriculum and instruction. The key research questions focused on identifying the specific challenges teachers encounter in implementing health education and their perceived needs for support. Semi structured interviews were conducted with 12 K–3 teachers, and the collected data were analyzed inductively, revealing nine recurring themes related to training deficiencies, lack of time, inadequate materials, and competing academic priorities. The findings underscored the need for targeted professional development, improved resources, and better alignment of health education with broader curriculum goals. These results have important implications for policymakers and educational leaders, suggesting that addressing these barriers will help improve the quality and consistency of health education in early grades, ultimately enhancing student health outcomes
Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis & Cervical Adenitis
Get PDFThe suffering of children with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) is well documented and includes diminished quality of life (QoL), emotional/behavioral problems, fatigue, food avoidance and school absenteeism. As an example of childhood adversity, and because the model of pediatric medical traumatic stress demonstrates traumatic responses do not always subside over time, this study examined the psychosocial health of PFAPA survivors post resolution. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional study design, the psychosocial well-being of PFAPA survivors was compared to children with persistent asthma and children without chronic illness or a history of medical trauma. Two validated parent-completed instruments (Pediatric QoL [PedsQL] and Spence Anxiety Scales [SPAS/SCAS]) were used to answer two research questions about if PFAPA is associated with a lower score of PedsQL compared to children suffering from asthma and/or healthy children and if PFAPA is associated with a higher score of the SPAS/SCAS compared to children suffering from asthma and/or healthy children. A two-way ANOVA compared mean scores and showed an improved PedsQL score for healthy and PFAPA groups (15.14% [p = 0.01] and 13.55% [p = 0.02], respectively) compared to asthma, supporting the null hypothesis. No significant differences in SPAS/SCAS scores were observed. No interaction between health status and age was detected. The sustained improvement in QoL post-PFAPA provides clinicians and families with important data for the benefits/risk assessment of interventions. Global registries should include QoL measures like PedsQL for positive social change in the management of auto-inflammatory disease
Successful Strategies Used by Black Female Entrepreneurs to Establish Wellness and Alternative Medicine Businesses
Get PDFBlack female entrepreneurs in the Gulf Coast region face systemic barriers and require successful strategies to establish a successful wellness and alternative medicine business post-COVID. Without addressing these challenges, many businesses may fail, resulting in lost economic opportunities and reduced access to culturally responsive wellness services for underserved Black communities. Grounded in the resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore the successful strategies used by Black female entrepreneurs to establish a successful wellness and alternative medicine business post-COVID within the Gulf Coast region. The participants were six Black female entrepreneurs who used successful strategies to establish their wellness and alternative medicine business. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of publicly available documents. Through reflexive thematic analysis, eight themes emerged: (a) adaptation and resilience to market changes post-covid, (b) community-centric and empowering business models, (c) cultural representation and intersectionality, (d) financial independence and community-supported growth, (e) personal healing as a business driver, (f) spiritual guidance and authenticity, (g) strategic use of digital tools and social media, and (h) knowledge acquisition and skill development. The themes highlight the cultural, strategic, and emotional aspects of entrepreneurship. The implications of positive social change include the potential to empower Black female entrepreneurs to establish sustainable businesses by utilizing strategies such as community-centric approaches and resilience which can drive economic growth and address community-specific wellness needs in Black communities
Victim-to-Perpetrator Relationships and Types of Crime in Developmentally Disabled Crime Victims
Get PDFIndividuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) are more likely to be victimized and abused than their nondisabled peers, though not much is known about the main perpetrators of this population or the crime types most often committed against them. The purpose of this study was to explore the intersecting victimization risks for adults with IDDs. Guided by critical disability theory, this nonexperimental correlational study explored the relationship between the perpetrators and their IDD adult crime victims, established the crime types most often committed against them, and possible gender differences within victimization. Archival data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) were analyzed. Over half (57.6%) of IDD victims knew their attackers, with most crimes committed against IDD adults comprising theft (49.2%), burglary (17%), assault (10%), verbal threats (7.7%), and assault without a weapon or force (6.7%). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the perpetrator’s relationship to the victim and the type of crime committed against them have a moderately high, statistically significant positive correlation (r = .468, p =\u3c.001). Close relatives are the main perpetrators of assault, and those who are further removed (e.g., friends, coworkers, roommates, or extended family) are the main perpetrators of theft. Female victims tend to know their offenders significantly more often than male victims. Lastly, the chi-square test of independence showed that rape, robbery, assault, verbal threats, burglary, and theft were all statistically significant when moderating for victim gender. Recommendations include interventions aimed at educating those with IDDs about healthy boundaries, safety planning, victim support services, and healthcare services
The Lived Experiences of Nonprofit Managers in Post-COVID Pandemic Recovery
Get PDFNonprofit managers have been tasked with making difficult and creative decisions in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Policymakers, donors, and sector stakeholders need to understand the specific challenges nonprofit managers face during crises. The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the post-COVID-19 crisis management experiences of nonprofit managers in the United States and identify how nonprofit managers made meaning of such experiences. The research question for this qualitative exploration was based on the lived experiences of nonprofit managers with managing crises during the post-COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was developed with a multicultural theoretical foundation. The participants comprised 20 nonprofit managers. Data were collected using semistructured interviews until saturation was reached among 17 participants. This study’s data analytic procedures included Saldana’s three-cycle coding process. Seven themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (a) adaptation to remote work, (b) community and health concerns, (c) emotional burden, (d) operational challenges and resilience, (e) innovative strategies and solutions, (f) discrepant experiences, and (g) emotional and psychological impact. A key recommendation is to conduct research for a more comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of how nonprofit organizations navigated the pandemic and offer valuable insights into how they can build greater resilience and adaptability for future crises. The implications for positive social change include the potential for nonprofit managers to enhance their multicultural self-seeking behaviors and other conference competencies in management informational systems education for sustainability, especially during crises
Assessing the Influence of an Eastern State\u27s Disciplinary Alternative Education Program on Secondary Student Behavior
Get PDFServices at the local disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) include counseling and behavioral services to referred secondary students, aiming to improve their behavior. The problem addressed in this quantitative study was that a DAEP was in place in the local district since 2009, but there had been no formal assessment to determine whether differences in student discipline occurred in the semester before and the semester after students attended the DAEP. Guided by Bandura’s social cognitive theory, the purpose of this ex post facto, causal-comparative, quasi-experimental study was to investigate if there was a difference in student discipline as measured by the number of discipline referrals (DRs) and the number of suspension incidents (SIs) in the semester before and the semester after students’ attendance in a DAEP while controlling for students’ length of stay in the alternative education program. Deidentified archival discipline data for 72 middle and high school students who attended the DAEP were included in the census sample. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures ANCOVA. Results indicated no statistically significant difference (p = .096) in the number of DRs and a statistically significant decrease (p \u3c .001) in the number of SIs in the semester before and the semester after students attended the DAEP. Mean number of SIs decreased by 1.25 suggesting improvement in occurrence of severe incidents. Findings were used to develop a policy recommendation with details for enhancing services at the DAEP to improve student discipline outcomes. The study helps inform the local district’s procedures, allowing school leaders to make data-driven decisions to strengthen discipline practices and improve student outcomes creating the potential for positive social change over time
Junior High Educators\u27 Lived Experiences of Self-directed Learning for Teaching Online in 2020
Get PDFResearchers have identified common educator challenges in switching from face-to-face to online teaching, including time management, course content, communication, and the use of technology effectively. There is little or no research on the lived experiences of junior high school educators who applied self-directed learning skills to adapt to the changes in educational formats from March 2020 to September 2020. This qualitative study aimed to explore these experiences as educators transitioned to online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mezirow’s transformational learning theory and Knowles et al.’s adult learning assumptions are used as the theoretical and conceptual frameworks, respectively. Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenology was used to look at the experiences of six junior high teachers from the western United States. Data from semi structured interviews over Zoom were analyzed using phenomenological reduction. Findings revealed that educators applied adult learning skills primarily to meet students’ needs, rather than for personal development. This suggests that learning for others was a key motivator in adapting to online methods. Additionally, the study found that individual strengths and weaknesses in learning development varied among educators. These insights can help educational leaders refine professional development resources to better foster self-direction in teaching, ultimately improving learning outcomes and contributing to positive social change for both teachers and students
Staff Education to Increase Awareness and Readiness of Clinicians to Use the Clinical Decision Support for Immunization (CDSi) Tool
Get PDFAccurate evaluation and forecasting of immunization and ensuring the right vaccines are administered at the right time are essential for the success of immunization programs. Interpreting the clinically written Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) recommendations by individual clinicians is time-consuming and complex, increasing the risk of misinterpretation, inconsistent practice, and inaccurate immunization evaluation and forecasting. Thus, the purpose of this project is to introduce clinicians at the selected project site to an evidence based clinical decision support tool and evaluate participants readiness to utilize the tool. Staff education on the clinical decision support for immunization (CDSi) tool was conducted using PowerPoint presentation, handouts, and practice sessions. Pre/post surveys were conducted to determine changes in awareness of the CDSi tool and readiness to utilize the tool. Seven staff members attended the staff education session and completed the pre/post-test (N = 7). Results indicated increased awareness by 100% and readiness to use the CDSi resources by 71%. Participants voiced positive feedback on their readiness to use the CDSi tool to improve vaccine recommendation accuracy, timeliness, and consistency. Accurate vaccine evaluation and forecasting is a relevant quality care measure for immunization programs. Thus, the project may positively impact the target population by ensuring the right vaccinations are administered at the right time. Furthermore, the project may have potential implication for positive social change by enhancing effectiveness and success of immunization programs in the reduction of many infectious diseases
Examining Organizational Changes in a Lead Organization With Local Chapters
Get PDFThis qualitative study examined the balance between local autonomy and organizational uniformity in a statewide nonprofit organization. Local chapters operated within the lead organization’s framework while retaining flexibility to establish their own bylaws, presenting challenges in communication, representation, and consistency. Guided by the research questions—How do the autonomous structures of the local chapters affect internal communication both within individual chapters and across local chapters? and To what extent do operational practices, methodologies, and goals vary across the local chapters, and are there identifiable lead practices that can be universally adopted to enhance the overall efficiency of chapters? —this study explored these dynamics. Interviews with presidents of eight local chapters examined how autonomy influenced communication, collaboration, and operational variations. Reflexive thematic analysis, guided by theories of representation and stakeholder engagement, revealed barriers such as fragmented communication and misaligned priorities, alongside strategies to address these challenges. Recommendations included fostering transparent communication, aligning flexibility with organizational goals, and strengthening stakeholder engagement. Implications for public administrative practice provide nonprofit leaders with actionable strategies to improve governance, strengthen representation, and increase operational efficiency. The findings emphasize empowering local chapters to address community-specific needs, fostering inclusivity, and amplifying the nonprofit’s community impact
Executive Summary: Staff Education Project Staff Education to Improve Knowledge Regarding the Education Patient Intake Assessment
Get PDFEvaluation of diabetes management processes at a western primary care clinic found that medical assistants lacked knowledge regarding the use of diabetes assessment tools. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project focused on enhancing medical assistants’ knowledge of the Education Patient Intake Template Assessment Tool to support best practices in T2DM care. A review of current literature using the Johns Hopkins Hierarchy of Evidence Guide identified that evidence from Level I to III informed the project. Six medical assistants, the primary patient screeners in the primary care clinic, participated in the intervention. I used pre- and postintervention tests to assess the impact of the educational session. The mean test score increased from 8.5 (pretest) to 9.7 (posttest), reflecting an 80% improvement in knowledge gain using the formula: (Posttest score - Pretest score) / (100% - Pretest score) × 100%