Date of Conferral
12-24-2024
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Mark Wells
Abstract
This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focuses on a staff education initiative to enhance clinicians' knowledge and application of standardized screening tools for co-occurring mental health disorders in addiction treatment settings. The project addresses inconsistencies in screening practices that contribute to undiagnosed mental health conditions, adversely affecting patient outcomes. Clinicians were trained to use three validated tools: PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety, and MDQ for bipolar disorder. The intervention involved a structured educational program with pre- and post-intervention assessments. Results showed significant improvement in clinicians' knowledge, with pretest scores averaging 4.6 and posttest scores averaging 6.0 (p < 0.05). The findings highlight the effectiveness of standardized tools in improving diagnostic consistency and care quality. Key recommendations include integrating these tools into routine clinical assessments, standardizing documentation practices, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and establishing continuous quality improvement processes. Despite limitations such as small sample size and single-site implementation, this project underscores the critical role of staff education in promoting evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes and supports positive social change in addiction treatment settings.
Recommended Citation
Kalu, Uwaezu Mercy, "Staff Education to Expand Clinicians’ Knowledge of Standardized Screening Tools in Addiction Treatment" (2024). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 17127.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/17127
