Improving Depression Screening and Follow-Up for Adolescents

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Identifier 2020_Gay
Title Improving Depression Screening and Follow-Up for Adolescents
Creator Gay, Noemi
Subject Advanced Practice Nursing; Education, Nursing, Graduate; Depression; Adolescent; Patient Health Questionnaire; Mass Screening; Aftercare; Primary Nursing; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Quality Improvement
Description AbstractBackground: Adolescent depression is a major problem in the United States. The incidence of depression in 12 to 17-year-old adolescents is estimated to be 1 in 5. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine screening of depression for the 12 to 21-year-old population. The lack of use of approved screening tools, and lack of follow-up, has been identified as a gap in care which could improve the detection of depression in adolescents. Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project was developed to increase screening, recognition, and follow-up for adolescents with depression in a suburban pediatric clinic. A chart review was conducted to assess the number screened for depression during their annual well-child visit. Screening was performed using the validated patient health questionnaire for adolescents (PHQ-A). If the screening resulted in moderate to severe depression follow-up was carried out by clinic staff. With the use of the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, a plan was developed to improve the use of the PHQ-A questionnaire. The plan was created and implemented to improve depression detection and follow-up. After project execution, a retrospective chart review was conducted to measure improvement. Results: Over the course of this QI project, 503 charts were reviewed of 11 to 17-year-old patients presenting for well-child visits. Post-intervention questionnaires delivered improved from 83% (n=219) to 95.6% (n=239). The total number that scored 10 or more on the PHQ-A, indicating moderate to severe depression, was 15.5% (n=78). Follow-up rates increased from 20% (n=6) to 62% (n=30). Conclusion: Implementation of the validated PHQ-A depression questionnaire, using a QI project, appears to improve depression screening, and follow-up rates. Measuring the improvement of PHQ-A results after the intervention, and determining clinical significance, should be considered for future projects.
Relation is Part of Graduate Nursing Project, Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP, Primary Care FNP
Publisher Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah
Date 2020
Type Text
Rights
Holding Institution Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah
Language eng
ARK ark:/87278/s6ck3z66
Setname ehsl_gradnu
ID 1575209
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6ck3z66
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