Date of Conferral

6-11-2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Mary Garner

Abstract

The underuse of standardized mental health screening tools, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), delays the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) in pediatric patients. This staff education project aimed to improve psychiatric providers' knowledge, confidence, and PHQ-9 utilization through an interactive training program. Over four weeks, three nurse practitioners and two medical assistants participated in an evidence-based educational intervention. Pre- and post-training assessments measured provider knowledge, confidence, and PHQ-9 usage through surveys and electronic health record (EHR) audits. Results showed provider knowledge increased from 65% to 90%, confidence improved from 60% to 85%, and PHQ-9 usage rose from 40% to 75%, leading to a 25% increase in diagnostic accuracy. Integrating the PHQ-9 into the EHR streamlined workflow and improved assessment consistency. This project demonstrates that targeted education enhances provider competency and supports standardized mental health screening in pediatric care. Future recommendations include expanding training to incorporate additional mental health tools and conducting long-term evaluations to ensure sustainability. Strengthening provider education and system integration can improve early detection and treatment of pediatric MDD, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.

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