Author Biographical Info

Murielle Nankeu is a dedicated nursing professional pursuing a BSN-DNP focusing on Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) at UT Health Houston Cizik School of Nursing, which she began in August 2022. With six years of nursing experience in medical and psychiatric units, Murielle has built a strong foundation in patient-centered care. Her clinical interests include improving mental health outcomes through evidence-based practices, quality improvement initiatives, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her DNP project focuses on enhancing outcomes for patients with Major Depressive Disorder by implementing standardized screening tools. Murielle is passionate about advancing mental health care and is committed to making a meaningful impact as a compassionate and knowledgeable nurse practitioner.

Date of Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Completion

Spring 5-7-2024

Faculty Advisor

Christen Goolsby

Abstract

Improving Outcomes in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Through The Utilization of The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Screening Tool in a Mental Health Setting.

PURPOSE This scholarly project focused on the implementation and adherence of the PHQ-9 screening tool by nurses and healthcare staff in patients diagnosed with MDD, aiming to improve patient outcomes and reduce readmission rates.

BACKGROUND There is a lack of a standardized validated screening tool. Utilizing depression screening is crucial in preventing poor outcomes. Q.I. was initiated in a 23-bed inpatient psychiatry geriatric unit in a large city in Texas.

METHODOLOGY The methodology utilizes a standard analytical approach, primarily focusing on quantitative analysis to assess clinical outcomes and evaluate the reduction in the severity of depressive symptoms through the use of the PHQ-9 screening tool. It also incorporated a Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, allowing for necessary adjustments to enhance its effectiveness.

RESULTS Adherence among nurses and healthcare staff reached 100%. To evaluate the tool's effectiveness tool, patient outcomes were analyzed using nine different components, with comparisons drawn from various nursing notes. This analysis revealed clear improvements. Although the intervention only modestly impacted hospital readmissions, with a slight decrease of 0.12%.

IMPLICATIONS The involvement of healthcare staff in utilizing the PHQ-9 screening tool for patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) plays a crucial role in enhancing patient outcomes. The PHQ-9 proved to be a significant and reliable resource, contributing to reducing the occurrence of MDD.

Keywords

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Mental Health Screening, Patient Outcomes, Readmission Rates, Quality Improvement (QI), Depression Severity Reduction, Inpatient Psychiatry Hospital, Nurse Adherence, Geriatric Psychiatry Unit

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.