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  Gender Differences in Cardiometabolic Syndrome Among U.S. Rural and Non-rural Adults

  Srikanta Banerjee and Raymond Panas

  Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) places an individual at a higher risk of stroke and heart failure. The 2013 Behavior Risk Surveillance System survey, the largest national population-based survey, was used for logistic regression modeling. An effect-modifying relationship was found among women between rural residence and CMS.

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  Examining the Impact of Accreditation on a Primary Healthcare Organization in Qatar

  Alia G. Banna

  While a modest body of literature exists on accreditation, little research has been conducted on the impact of accreditation on primary care in the Middle East. This descriptive correlational study assessed the changes resulting from the integration of Accreditation Canada International’s (ACI) program at Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) in the State of Qatar.

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  Hotel Managers’ Motivational Strategies for Enhancing Employee Performance

  Vanessa Lizzette Barbosa-McCoy

  This multiple case study using census sampling was to explore motivational strategies three hotel general managers used for enhancing employee performance in South Florida. The findings revealed that recognition and guest satisfaction unveiled a positive effect on employee performances and community engagement gave employees reasons to perform well.

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  The Association between Osteoporosis and Early Menopause following Hysterectomy

  Mia Meeyaong-Won Botkin

  This study is to examine the association between osteoporosis and demographic and behavioral factors in women of age 50 and older who had undergone hysterectomies prior to reaching natural menopause. The 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was analyzed using multiple logistic regressions analysis. Osteoporosis was inversely associated with demographic and behavioral factors. Non-Hispanic Whites of the age of 36-45 at the time of the hysterectomies were significantly associated with osteoporosis. This study may drive positive social change by facilitating public health to promote and implement effective behavioral interventions in women.

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  Succession Planning Strategies of Faith-Based, Nonprofit Leaders of the Boomer Generation

  Leigh Byers

  Succession planning for retiring Baby Boomer generation of leaders in nonprofit organizations (NPOs) is limited. Transferring their knowledge and experience mitigates the effects of the departure to organizational sustainability and mission. Using the conceptual framework of knowledge transfer, this study supplies a description of succession planning strategies used in 3 faith-based organizations. An inductive analysis of the data revealed that (a) key leaders were the initiators for succession planning, (b) boards of directors were critical to the process, and (c) leadership transition required preparation and regularly reviewed policies.

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  Understanding Attrition Among EFL Teachers in Online Training

  Joseline Castaños

  This study was an examination of factors influencing attrition/persistence among teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in online teacher training. Tinto's Community of Inquiry framework and Short, Williams, and Christie's Social Presence Model formed the conceptual framework. Six participants from 4 online courses in Latin America participated in the study.

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  Predicting the Probability for Adopting an Audience Response System in Higher Education

  Tan Fung Ivan Chan

  Instructional technologies can be effective tools to foster student engagement, but university faculty may be reluctant to integrate innovative and evidencebased modern learning technologies into instruction. It is important to identify the factors that influence faculty adoption of instructional technologies in the teaching and learning process. Based on Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory, this quantitative, nonexperimental, one-shot survey determined what attributes of innovation (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability) predict the probability of faculty adopting the audience response system (ARS) into instruction. The sample for the study consisted of 201 faculty who have current teaching appointments at a university in the southeastern United States. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the attributes of innovation that predict the probability of faculty adopting the ARS into instruction. The data indicated that the attributes of compatibility and trialability significantly predicted

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  Changing Embedded Student Attitudes within a Mathematical Setting

  Ruth Collins

  Existing student attitudes and beliefs about mathematics often block student learning and deep understanding of mathematical content in the college classroom (e.g. preservice elementary teachers). Changes in pedagogy, classroom participation, and curriculum were infused into two college mathematics classes for preservice teachers and the attitudinal beliefs of these preservice teachers were assessed to measure change after a course intervention.

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  Examining the Credibility and Influence of Agile Leadership Blogs on Transformation

  Gail Ferreira

  The use of online sources for decision information continues to grow among consumers. One of these sources is the blog, a venue for user-generated content that simulates word-of-mouth communication. The growth and influence of blogs create opportunities for marketers to use them as part of strategy development. To facilitate an understanding of blogs and their potential influence on consumers‘ decisions, this study was an examination of the influence of the credibility of blogs on blog readers‘ behavioral intentions (e.g., agile transformation), as mediated by trust and moderated by involvement. The appraisal of blog credibility was characterized as tri-dimensional – assessed by characteristics of site, message, and source.

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  Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment, Illness Intrusiveness, and Quality of Life in Neurological Autoimmune Patients

  Pamela Jane Gennari

  There is scant literature regarding the psychological effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment experience on quality of life (QOL) for neurological autoimmune disease patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, multifocal motor neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. IVIG treatment experience predicted QOL in 1 Neuro-QOL subscale; illness intrusiveness mediated 9 of the Neuro-QOL subscales using bias-corrected bootstrapping for statistical significance; and person control did not mediate the relationship between illness intrusiveness and QOL.

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  Tribal Gaming Leader Strategies toward a Sustainable Future

  Janie A. Hall

  One aspect of leadership strategy is the need to account for the core values of the organization. The purpose of this case study was to explore the perceptions of tribal gaming leader strategies toward sustainability, an action that leads to tribal economic development and stability. This research explored the strategies necessary for tribal gaming leader choices that could have a significant influence on social progress, environmental protection, and economic growth.

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  Predictors of Latino English Learners’ Reading Comprehension Proficiency

  David A. Hernandez and Theresa A. Grasparil

  There is a gap in reading comprehension proficiency between English learners and their English-speaking peers. This study examined the strength of three significant predictors of reading comprehension—oral English proficiency, oral reading fluency, and academic vocabulary knowledge. Spending more instructional time on developing students’ skills in the strongest predictor, academic vocabulary knowledge, may reduce the achievement gap.

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  Comparative Analysis of Eating Patterns of Individuals With Obese Vs. Normal BMI and With and Without Type 2 Diabetes

  David A. Hernandez, Cheri Ann Hernandez, Chris M. Wellington, and Arthur Kidd

  This study explored eating patterns of obese-weight (OB) and normal-weight (NW) individuals with and without Type 2 diabetes (T2D). The dietary intakes of OB-T2D individuals were significantly higher than those of NW individuals. Health care professionals can use this knowledge to provide direction for treatment modalities (e.g., different dietary strategies, more intensive dietary therapy, lifestyle counseling).

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  A Cross-Regional Comparison of Fabricated Metals' Manufacturing Sector Resiliency

  Linda Ann Holt

  Fabricated metals manufacturing employment in the U.S. declined after the 2008 recession. Within a complex adaptive systems framework, this study compared job loss patters and workforce composition for two geographic regions. Statistically significant differences in post-recession recovery patterns and workforce demographics pointed to targeted economic incentive developments for regional manufacturing sectors.

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  Mental health service use among older African Americans and Caribbean Blacks who experience traumatic events

  Camille Huggins

  This study identifies factors associated with mental health service use among older African American and Caribbean Blacks who have experienced a traumatic event. Method: Data drawn from the Research on Depression and Anxiety Disorders in Elders Clinical Correlation project (RDADE). Hierarchical logistic regressions were used to compute odds ratio. Result: Age, gender, spirituality, depression and access to medical insurance determines the utilization of mental health services. Implications for depression screening in this population.

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  Teachers’ Perceptions of the Use of Small-Group Tutorial

  Karen Moaton Johnson

  This study addressed the implementation of the tutorial program currently in use at an urban school district in Mississippi. With focus on the implementation of the tutorial program, the perceived impact of the program on the academic achievement of at-risk students and what changes would benefit the program.

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  Perioperative Orientation, Education & Mentoring (POEM) Program

  Esther M. Johnstone

  To respond to the need to create a pathway from the transition-to-practice model for novice registered nurses, I developed the Perioperative Orientation, Education, and Mentoring (POEM) program to address attrition and turnover through mentoring and professional development. The POEM program was an educational and qualitative improvement project, implemented at a large academic medical center. A surgical skill assessment tool was developed to evaluate the POEM program. Content data analysis revealed themes and subthemes from each of the two focus groups as well as recommendations from the project leaders.

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  The Difference Between CACREP and Non-CACREP Scores on Professional Counselor Licensure Examinations

  Jason King

  This study compared a nine-year period of scores from the National Counselor Examination (NCE), the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE), and the state jurisprudence examination (SJE). with graduates (n=1,740) from a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) mental health counseling (MHC) specialization and with graduates (n=200) from a non-CACREP professional counseling specialization. Results from a t-test, Chi-Square, and Levene's test for equality of variances indicated a better performance from the non-CACREP graduates.

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  Healthy Weight Maintenance: A Narrative Analysis of Weight Cycling in the Formerly Obese

  Cheri Renee Lewis

  This study addressed weight cycling and sustained weight loss among 6 formerly obese weight cyclers. Self-determination theory (SDT) and social cognitive theory (SCT) provided theoretical frameworks. Findings revealed five overarching themes and that no single solution exists for successful sustained weight loss in this population.

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  An Empirical Investigation of Wyoming Fourth Grade Math Assessment Scores

  Keren Meister-Emerich

  Newspaper articles and school/district reports often give only descriptive information about scores on annual statewide assessments. Public data will be used to answer research questions and test hypotheses about fourth grade math scores for Laramie County School District #1 (LCSD#1) fourth grade students using chi-square analysis.

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  Maternal and Child Health Access Disparities among Recent African Immigrants in the United States

  Bakali Mukasa

  Health care disparities and U.S. national public health concerns and disproportionately affect minority populations. Analysis of published studies on the health of larger immigrant populations from Europe, Asia, South American, and the Caribbean revealed a knowledge gap on the health of African and other minority immigrants. This phenomenological study of 11 recent African immigrants concerned access to maternal and child health (MCH) care as well as the causes and effects of disparities to care-seeking experiences. The results may support interventions to improve health care access and health outcomes of minority immigrants in the United States and beyond.

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  Lived Experiences Of Women Over 50 Who Have Experienced Involuntary Job Loss

  Roxine D. Phillips

  This study explored the lived experiences of women over 50 following job loss. Findings indicate women experienced financial, emotional and psychosocial experiences. Age discrimination, organizational practices, technological challenges, and stereotypical beliefs emerged as barriers to reemployment. Organizational leaders and policy makers can use the findings to gain a greater understanding of the experiences of women over 50 following job loss.

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  Using Multi-Theory Model for Physical Activity Behavior Change

  Manoj Sharma

  Physical inactivity is a major public health problem. College students are a vulnerable group. This study was aimed at using multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change to predict physical activity behavior change in college students. Regression revealed that 26% of the variance in the initiation of physical activity was explained by advantages outweighing disadvantages, behavioral confidence, work status, and changes in physical environment. About 30% of the variance in sustenance of physical activity was explained by emotional transformation, practice for change, and changes in social environment.

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  The Experience of Being Unsheltered in AtlantaIkeranda

  Ikeranda Smith

  This study was an examination of the experiences of unsheltered homeless men with social services providers, and faith as a resource for coping. The themes that emerged were difficulties and complexities of being unsheltered, barriers to becoming sheltered, specific needs of unsheltered men, and how faith sustains and encouraged the unsheltered.

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  Separating Home and Work for Online Faculty

  Lee Stadtlander, Lori LaCivita, Amy Sickel, and Martha Giles

  Through the lens of environmental psychology and photo voice, this study explores online faculty’s work vs. home environment. Results indicated many participants had previously considered separating work and home and developed methods to maintain separation. This is a preliminary exploration to a larger survey study.