Date of Conferral
12-18-2025
Date of Award
December 2025
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Patricia Schweickert
Abstract
This doctoral project was conducted as a staff education initiative based on a comprehensive literature review that emphasized the importance of staff education in improving healthcare outcomes. The practice problem identified was a lack of staff knowledge and education regarding long-acting injectables (LAIs) in clients with schizophrenia, which contributed to inconsistent support for client medication adherence. It was essential to address this issue because nurses play a crucial role in medication management, patient education, and adherence support. The practice-focused question explored was: Will staff education regarding the use of long-acting injectables in clients with schizophrenia to enhance medication adherence improve staff knowledge as compared pre- to post-education? The purpose of the doctoral project was to investigate whether targeted staff education could enhance nurses’ knowledge about LAIs and improve medication adherence. The project's products included an educational PowerPoint presentation, handouts, pre- and post-assessment tools, case scenarios, and interactive learning materials. The participants consisted of five registered nurses, and the findings indicated that staff education significantly improved after the session with an average of 2.2 points and a statistically significant paired t test results (t = 11.00, df = 4, p = 0.0004).The project concluded that standardized staff education effectively enhanced provider knowledge, reduced knowledge gaps, and supported equitable mental healthcare. Ongoing education and nursing advocacy are recommended to address the evolving needs of mental healthcare. Strengthening provider expertise through standardized education promotes a more informed, supportive, and equitable healthcare environment, advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in mental healthcare
Recommended Citation
GHOGOMU, ADELA, "Staff Education to Improve Patient Medication Adherence for Schizophrenia Using Long-Acting Injectables" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18898.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18898
