Date of Conferral

7-28-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Corinne Wheeler

Abstract

Patients’ non-adherence to prescribed medication regimens remains a significant challenge in healthcare. Patients often misuse or skip their medications, which undermines treatment outcomes. This was evident at a mental health medical practice located in a suburban area of the southeastern coast. To address this problem, I developed, implemented, and evaluated a staff education program on evidence-based strategies to improve medication adherence among individuals with mental illness. The practice question focused on whether staff knowledge increased following participation in the education program. Four nursing staff participated in the 2-hour education program. Pre- and posttest questionnaires consisted of 15 multiple-choice questions. The scores were analyzed using the normalized learning gain of averages formula. The mean test score increased from 9.25 before participating in the education program to 14 after. Thus, resulting in an 87.2% learning gain. The number of participants was small, but the findings demonstrated improved knowledge about the topic. Recommendations include ongoing training, continued evaluation, and the expansion of digital tools to support long-term learning and application.

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