Date of Graduation
Fall 12-15-2023
Document Type
Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
Department/Program
Nursing
Program
Family Nurse Practitioner
First Advisor
Dr Trinette Radasa
Second Advisor
Dr Juli Maxworthy
Abstract
Background: Hysterectomies are prevalent in the United States ranging from
5.1 to 5.8 per 1000 women (Harnod et al., 2018). A standardized screening tool for assessing preoperative depression could mitigate the worsening of postoperative depressive symptoms in patients scheduled for a hysterectomy. Local Problem: Currently, there is no standard practice for preoperative depression screening in hysterectomy patients. Studies have identified that a hysterectomy may increase the risk of cardiovascular events, menopause, depression, and other outcomes (Madueke-Laveaux et al., 2022). Methods: To address the gap, clinicians attended a fifteen-minute Zoom course on the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and its application in preoperative assessment. A pre-and post-test survey was given to assess provider knowledge concerning the PHQ-9 and its feasibility in clinical practice. Intervention: Clinicians incorporated the PHQ-9 into the preoperative assessment for hysterectomy patients. Clinicians administered the tool referring patients scoring five or higher to mental health and documented in the chart and alerting the surgeon. Measures and Outcomes: Post-intervention, clinicians completed surveys assessing the feasibility of implementing PHQ-9 and knowledge acquisition. Results: Five clinicians administered the PHQ-9 to 30 patients showed that four out of five clinicians felt more knowledgeable and found it easy to integrate into practice. Pre and post-survey of knowledge acquisition and feasibility showed a 20% improvement, indicating the clinicians not only gained understanding but also recognized the value of the screening tool. Conclusions: The PHQ-9 is a feasible screening tool for identifying depression risk in hysterectomy patients.
Keywords: Screening tool, Hysterectomy, Preoperative depression assessment, depression
Recommended Citation
Mihedji, Dede, "Enhancing Mental Health Assessments for Hysterectomy Patients: Implementing a Depression Screening Tool for Healthcare Clinicians" (2023). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects. 343.
https://repository.usfca.edu/dnp/343
