Date of Conferral

8-17-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Jill Sanko

Abstract

Depression is a leading cause of disability and is associated with functional impairment, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare utilization. Consistent administration of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is an essential component of measurement-based care, supporting the identification, monitoring, and treatment of depressive symptoms. A retrospective chart review at a private outpatient psychiatric practice identified inconsistent PHQ-9 administration and documentation, with a baseline completion rate of 62%. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice staff education project was to evaluate the impact of a structured educational intervention on the consistency of PHQ-9 administration among staff involved in the depression screening process. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice model, a 30-minute educational session was delivered to clinical and administrative staff. Project outcomes were evaluated using retrospective chart audits conducted before and after the intervention. Following implementation, PHQ-9 completion increased from 62% to 96%, exceeding the project goal of 80%. Recommendations for sustaining improvements include incorporating PHQ-9 education into new employee orientation, providing periodic refresher training, conducting routine chart audits, and reinforcing screening expectations during staff meetings. This project demonstrates that structured staff education is an effective, low-cost strategy for improving adherence to standardized depression screening practices. Consistent PHQ-9 administration supports earlier identification of depressive symptoms, strengthens measurement-based care, promotes equitable mental health assessment, and improves evidence-based clinical decision-making in outpatient psychiatric practice.

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