Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Margaret Harvey

Abstract

A family practice was found to inconsistently screen adolescents for depression even with the necessary Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) screening tools being readily available in their electronic medical record. The development of a practice guideline that offers a systematic approach to screening using the PHQ2 and the PHQ9 will potentially result in an increased guidance and provider willingness to screen for adolescent depression in the family practice setting. The purpose of this DNP project was to determine if an algorithmic practice guideline would increase provider willingness to assess for adolescent depression and identify any barriers to the use of the algorithm. An in-depth literature review matrix was composed and the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument with GRADE was used to formulate a practice guideline and algorithm that was presented to an expert panel of 7 primary care providers in an active discussion. The Delphi technique was used to get consensus from the expert panel and unanimity was obtained in the first round with the barrier of time identified to the use of the algorithm. Discussion among the panel members offered a solution to the barrier and uncovered additional reasons as to when a depression screen should be completed. Implications for nursing practice would include primary care providers being able to identify depression in the adolescent population, which will reduce or prevent the risk of self-harm and suicidality in adolescents, thereby contributing to a positive social change. Identifying depression in the adolescent population is necessary to improve and prolong quality of life in this age group.

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