Date of Graduation

Winter 12-1-2025

Document Type

Restricted Project - USF access only

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. Victoria Chaudhary

Abstract

Abstract

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and significantly impacts years of productive life. Despite the availability of evidence-based treatments, a substantial proportion of individuals with depression do not receive adequate screening assessments. Primary care providers (PCP) play a critical role in identifying and managing depression, often being the first point of contact for individuals for all medical needs but face barriers to conduct screenings regularly. Educating medical assistants (MAs) on the impact that depression has in primary care as well as providing the skills to administer established depression screenings can improve early detection and treatment in the primary care settings. This integrative review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of training MAs in using validated screening tools to improve detection of depression and care coordination among adult and older adults (65 years and over).

The literature suggests that the inclusion of well-educated and trained MAs on the health care team specific to depression and mental health disorders in the primary care setting can improve screening rates and patient outcomes. This collaborative approach enhances both the patient experience and the overall efficiency of care delivery to accommodate with the expanding number of patient populations.

Keywords: depression, adults, screening, primary care provider, education, training, medical assistant

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