Date of Conferral
12-12-2025
Date of Award
December 2025
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Mark Wells
Abstract
Summary This doctoral project was a staff education program designed to improve depression screening among patients in an adult primary care setting. The practice problem addressed was the lack of standardized depression screening that led to inconsistent detection, delayed diagnosis, and fragmented mental health care. A move to address the issue is critical in nursing practice since nurses play a central role in early identification, patient advocacy, and integration of behavioral health into primary care. The practice-focused question guiding the project was, Will implementing a nursing staff education program impact their knowledge of Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for depression screening and willingness to use /adopt PHQ-9 as a standard routine for monitoring and managing depression among adult patients? The project’s purpose was to educate nurses on standardizing depression screening through the adoption of the PHQ-9 tool and to strengthen staff confidence in its use. The analytical strategies used in the project included pre-and post-training questionnaires, with quantitative data analyzed using descriptive statistics and normalized learning gain calculations in Excel, and qualitative responses coded for emergent themes. The findings showed significant improvements in knowledge (average scores increased from 57% to 90%), substantial normalized gains (average of 34%), and enhanced staff confidence. The qualitative results highlighted leadership support, improved recognition of mental health parity, and the need for clear referral pathways. Overall, the project produced a structured depression screening guideline using PHQ-9. Its implications include strengthening nursing practice through consistent, evidence-based screening and promoting positive social change by advancing equity, inclusion, and access to mental health care in diverse populations.
Recommended Citation
Unaegbu, Nkeiruka Chinwendu, "Staff Education to Impact Staff Knowledge of Depression Screening in Primary Care" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18698.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18698
