Date of Conferral

9-8-2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Lilo Fink

Abstract

Depression is common yet frequently underdiagnosed in group home settings serving adult and geriatric residents. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to improve staff knowledge and promote routine use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a validated depression screening tool, through an evidence-based educational intervention. A practice gap was identified at the project site due to inconsistent use and documentation of the PHQ-9, primarily linked to staff knowledge deficits. The project explored whether educating staff on PHQ-9 administration, scoring, and documentation would lead to improved knowledge, as measured by pre- and post-intervention assessments. Guided by the ADDIE instructional design model and the Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice framework, a culturally responsive education program was developed and implemented. Twenty interdisciplinary staff members, including nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers, and geriatric nursing assistants, participated in two virtual education sessions. Each completed a 15-item knowledge assessment before and after the training. Results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in knowledge, with mean scores rising from 8.25 (55%) to 11.5 (76.6%), representing a 21.6 percentage point improvement. A paired one-tailed t-test confirmed the significance of the findings (t = 9.04, p < .001). The close-out presentation was delivered to stakeholders, site leadership, and faculty advisors and included a discussion on future dissemination plans, including presenting the project at professional nursing conferences. This project highlights the crucial role of DNP-prepared nurses in driving quality improvement efforts and facilitating the early detection of depression through standardized screening. By enhancing staff knowledge, this initiative contributes to more accurate identification of depressive symptoms and supports improved care coordination for vulnerable populations. The model can be adapted for use in similar care environments to sustain evidence-based screening practices and promote mental health equity.

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