Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This Doctor of Nursing Practice project is a quality improvement initiative designed to implement the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) as a standardized screening tool for early detection of depression among older adults by staff in a primary care setting.Depression in older adults is frequently underdiagnosed due to overlapping medical comorbidities, stigma, and lack of routine mental health screening.Failure to identify depression early contributes to worsening chronic disease outcomes, reduced quality of life, increased hospitalization, and higher healthcare utilization.The practice-focused question guiding this project was: Will implementation of routine PHQ-9 screening by staff improve identification and referral of depression in older adults compared to current practice without standardized screening?The purpose of the project was to integrate evidence-based depression screening into routine clinical workflow and evaluate its effect on screening rates and behavioral health referrals.A pre and post implementation evaluation design was used.Deidentified patient data were collected from medical records before and after implementation.Analytical strategies included descriptive comparison of screening frequency and referral outcomes.Following implementation by three staff members, depression screening increased from 0% to 80% of eligible patients, and behavioral health referrals increased to five identified patients requiring further evaluation.The project demonstrated that integrating PHQ-9 screening into routine visits is feasible, improves detection of depressive symptoms, and supports timely mental health intervention.Major outcomes include improved provider awareness, standardized screening workflow, and strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration.
Source: ScholarWorks (Walden University)
Author: KAMARA, ELSIE KUMBA
Institution: Walden University
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7168444000