RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Improving Clinician Understanding of Management in Patients Who Screen Positive for Depression in Primary Care: A QI Project
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 4772
DO 10.1370/afm.22.s1.4772
VO 21
IS Supplement 3
A1 DeJesus, Ramona
A1 Chavez, Augustine
A1 Stacey, Stephen
A1 Erickson, Rodney
A1 Westfall, Erin
A1 Jorgensen, Michelle
YR 2023
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/21/Supplement_3/4772.abstract
AB BACKGROUND: Depression rate among patients seen in primary care remains high; of Mayo Clinic’s 128,000 paneled adult patients in midwest region, 28,000 (22%) have been diagnosed with depression. Processes for screening and managing patients with depression constitute reportable quality metrics. How well these processes are implemented depends on how well they are understood.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate clinicians’ understanding of process to screen for and manage patients with depression and improve clarity in the management of patients who screen positive.METHODS: A Redcap survey was sent to 183 primary care providers regarding components of depression screening and management in patients aged 12-75 without diagnosis of depression who screen =/>9 on PHQ-9 or PH9-M on annual screening. The survey asked about identifying those who screen positive, enacting and documenting a management plan, and identifying those mot meeting remission at 5 months.Intervention: Based on initial survey result, participants were sent brief educational emails describing the three depression care processes with focus on managing those patients who screen positive for depression on screening.RESULTS: 86/183 providers completed the initial survey. 64% indicated that the screening process was clear while only 29% agreed that process for managing those who screened positive was clear. 72/183 providers completed post intervention survey. 71% agreed that the process for managing those who screened positive was clear.CONCLUSIONS: Following a brief electronically delivered educational intervention, providers reported improved understanding of the process for managing patients who screen positive for depression. This could be a low-cost method for enabling clinicians to respond appropriately to Best Practice Advisories and avoid gaps in care. It can also be potentially used to improve other chronic diseases quality metrics.