Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
11-30-2025
First Advisor
Sandy King
Abstract
Depression remains widely underidentified in outpatient behavioral health settings, where variable screening practices limit early recognition and appropriate treatment. This quality improvement project addressed this gap by standardizing screening through targeted clinician education. The purpose was to improve clinician confidence and adherence to validated tools, specifically the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and, when indicated, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The project aimed to increase consistent tool use through an evidence-based educational intervention guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and the Iowa Implementation for Sustainability Framework. A quasi-experimental, single-group pretest–posttest design was employed with licensed clinical staff, including licensed social workers (LSWs), licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCCs), at an outpatient mental health clinic in Ohio. The intervention consisted of six structured educational sessions delivered over a three-week period. Confidence was measured using the five-item Confidence Scale (C-Scale), and adherence was evaluated through de-identified chart audits documenting PHQ-2 use and PHQ-9 follow-up for scores of three or higher. Results showed a statistically significant increase in clinician confidence, with mean C-Scale scores rising from 16.20 to 24.00 (p < .001). Chart audits demonstrated 79.17 percent adherence to screening protocols. Minimal post-intervention score variability reflected a strong and consistent training effect. This project strengthens evidence-based practice at the site by integrating standardized screening into routine workflows. It demonstrates the impact of nursing-led education on enhancing care quality and promoting sustainable mental health practices.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Poignard, Krishona, "Implementing PHQ-2 in an Outpatient Mental Health Practice" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 262.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/262
