Date of Conferral

9-29-2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

SUE SUBOEZ

Abstract

This project was a staff education program aimed at the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) as a universal depression screening instrument within a mental health facility. The project was conducted in an urban area of the United States at an outpatient behavioral health facility and was focused on addressing the stagnation in the staff’s correct use of evidence-based measures of depression screening that inhibits the prompt detection and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The practice focused question was: Following participation in a staff education program, will staff demonstrate increased knowledge on depression screening and use of the PHQ-9? As analytical strategies, I used descriptive statistics to assess participants’ knowledge gains in the form of pre- and posttests and coded a qualitative review of program evaluation forms. Results demonstrated a mean knowledge increase of 25%–40% among participants. The implementation of the PHQ-9 increased the staff’s confidence, quality of documentation, and clinical decision-making. Some of the major deliverables are the curriculum plan, PHQ-9 slide deck, handouts, and case study booklet. The project contributes to the betterment of nursing practice by equipping nurses with a standardized, evidence-based tool to identify depression, enhancing their ability to provide accurate assessments and timely referrals. This ensures that patient care decisions are based on validated data rather than subjective observation, strengthening overall clinical judgment and workflow efficiency. The initiative also promotes equitable mental health screening and early intervention, which are essential to reducing disparities in patient outcomes.

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