Date of Conferral

5-2-2025

Date of Award

May 2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Lilo Fink

Abstract

The aim of this staff education project was to improve provider knowledge on using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for screening depression in older adults. Geriatric depression is often underdiagnosed due to atypical symptoms and reliance on generalized tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), leading to delays in treatment and increased health care costs. To address this gap, I collaborated with a librarian to conduct a literature search, initially identifying 149 articles and refining them to 20 for review. I followed the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model to structure the educational intervention. The training included didactic instruction, case studies, and pre-/post assessments to measure changes in provider knowledge. A total of 20 participants completed the program, with content validation conducted by two subject matter experts (SMEs). The educational program included two in-person presurvey sessions with 10 participants each, followed by two postsurvey sessions with the same structure. Quantitative data analysis was performed using pre- and postsurveys to assess for knowledge improvement. Results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in provider knowledge, with mean scores rising from presurvey (M = 3.55) to postsurvey (M = 9.35). The t value was negative, reflecting a substantial improvement, and the p value was below 0.05 (p < .001), confirming the intervention’s effectiveness. These findings underscore the impact of structured education in improving staff awareness and understanding of geriatric depression. The social significance of this project lies in its potential to enhance early detection of geriatric depression, reducing health care disparities and promoting better mental health outcomes for older adults.

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