Date of Conferral

2-20-2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Sue Bell

Abstract

Medication adherence is a practice issue in the treatment of patients suffering severe mental illness. A suburban outpatient clinic in the Eastern United States did not have standardized staff education regarding medication adherence strategies for treating psychiatric patients diagnosed with major depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. The purpose of this project was to enhance the staff’s knowledge regarding methods for helping patients achieve medication adherence. The clinical question that guided the project was: Will staff education regarding medication adherence strategies related to mental health conditions in an outpatient clinic increase the knowledge of the staff? Data were collected from 19 staff participants using a 10-item pretest and posttest knowledge survey. A paired t test measuring the difference in mean scores showed a statistically significant increase in knowledge mean scores from pretest (M = 7.21, SD = 1.87) to posttest (M = 9.79, SD = .54), t (18) = -5.38, p = .001. The clinical significance was evident in the 62.4% reduction in patients with adherence concerns, the 84.6% decline in relapse rates, and the reduction of readmissions to 0%. Nursing implications of this project included preventing relapse and deterioration in the patients’ mental health through standardized strategies to address medication adherence issues. Social change may occur as the staff support medication adherence through care that respects the patients’ diverse backgrounds, preferences, and health beliefs. Improved staff knowledge for practice fosters health care equity and promotes positive patient outcomes.

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