Toone, Brenda_DNP_2021

Title Toone, Brenda_DNP_2021
Alternative Title Improving Depression Screening Among Women in the Primary Care Gynecological Setting
Creator Toone, Brenda, DNP-FNP, RN
Collection Name Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Description The following Doctor of Nursing Practice dissertation examines the implementation of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a depression screening tool. The PHQ-9 was used during women's annual exams at Circle of Life Women's Center in Ogden, Utah.
Abstract Globally, women are particularly susceptible to depression compared to their male counterparts. A long list of risk factors increases its prevalence in the female gender, and the World Health Organization describes current health efforts to address depression in women as inadequate and unacceptable. One in five American women in 2017 reported depression, and at 23%, Utah's female population experiences a slightly higher rate. Depression causes lower quality of life, social detriment, reduced economic productivity, overuse of health resources, and poor physical health. Many of depression's physical symptoms are also risk factors for its development. Several psychosocial, cultural, and economic barriers affect female patients' willingness to discuss their mental health symptoms; thus, depression's identification and diagnosis in women can prove challenging. Considering these challenges, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Healthy People 2020, and the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommend annual preventive screening for depression in women. This quality improvement project introduced the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression screening tool for annual exams at Circle of Life Women's Center in Ogden, UT. Education materials, mental health referrals, and treatment were offered to patients who screened positive. Pre- and post-project screening rates were analyzed, and verbal feedback was obtained from participating healthcare providers. One hundred percent of the clinic's 12 providers participated in the project. Circle of Life's six-month depression screening rate improved from 2.3% to 23.8%. Of patients screened, 42% of women scored positive, and 23% of those received treatment. Clinicians reported that time and workflow interruption were barriers to screening. This project demonstrated that using a screening tool can improve depression identification in the gynecology setting with minimal intrusion. The findings from this project contribute to better mental health for women in the greater Ogden area and could be applied in other primary care clinics. With leadership, organizational support, and mitigation of time-related barriers, we can continue to improve depression for women in our community.
Subject Depression, Mental; Mental health; Women's health services; Medical screening
Keywords Depression screening in women; Mental health screening; Depression identification; Women's health; PHQ-9 screening tool; Primary or ambulatory care; Gynecology; Well woman or annual or yearly exam
Digital Publisher Stewart Library, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, United States of America
Date 2021
Medium Dissertation
Type Text
Access Extent 1.61 MB; 59 page PDF
Language eng
Rights The author has granted Weber State University Archives a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce his or her theses, in whole or in part, in electronic or paper form and to make it available to the general public at no charge. The author retains all other rights.
Source University Archives Electronic Records; Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. Stewart Library, Weber State University
OCR Text Show
Format application/pdf
ARK ark:/87278/s6bx2bdh
Setname wsu_atdson
ID 12061
Reference URL https://digital.weber.edu/ark:/87278/s6bx2bdh
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