Date of Conferral

8-6-2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Corinne Wheeler

Abstract

The DNP project revolved around educating healthcare staff on using a depression screening tool known as the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Undiagnosed depression can affect people’s quality of life, their functional condition, and general health outcomes, making it a significant problem that needs to be addressed. The U.S Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends using evidence-based screening tools such as the PHQ-9 to assess, diagnose, and monitor the condition’s severity. However, a few nurses use this tool despite being aware of it or misusing it, resulting in under-utilization, inappropriate assessment, and increased events. The project aimed to implement a staff education initiative to teach the healthcare staff about the correct application, scoring, and interpretation of PHQ-9 to curb depression under-recognition in the healthcare facility. The practice-focused question was as follows: Does a structured educational initiative on PHQ-9 increase nursing staff knowledge and confidence in its application at an outpatient facility? The analytical strategies used included formative and summative evaluation. SPPS was used for statistical analysis and the learning gain formula to determine the intervention’s effectiveness. The results demonstrated that the pretest mean scores were 6.3 out of 13, while the posttest mean scores were 11.7 out of 13. The mean increased by 5.4 points, reflecting a marked improvement in PHQ-9 knowledge after the educational intervention. The implications of this project include improved staff knowledge of correct PHQ-9 application, resulting in the use of depression assessment and treatment evidence-based practices, translating into improved patient outcomes and quality of life for all.

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