December 4, 2023

Background

Depression is a common and disabling psychiatric disorder in the United States that is the third cause of disease burden worldwide and is expected to be ranked number one by 2030 (Bains & Abdijadid, 2022). People of all ages, genders, races, and cultural backgrounds are at risk for suffering from depression (Bailey et al., 2019). However, racial and cultural backgrounds play a large role in how the symptoms of depression are reported, interpreted, and consequently, if and how clinical depression is recognized and treated. Depression is often left undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in African American individuals, and therefore, left untreated (Bailey et al., 2019).

A major factor in the treatment of depression is early recognition through screening (Garcia et al., 2022). Providers need to be able to recognize uncommon presentation of the disease and help seeking patterns among African Americans to address adequate depression screening (Bailey et al., 2019;Garcia et al., 2022). Primary care staff are the gatekeepers for patients because this setting is where patients first seek help for any health issue, including mental health concerns (Woo & Robinson, 2020). Primary care settings offer an opportune location for timely identification of depression, given that individuals experiencing symptoms of depression are more likely to encounter a primary care provider first rather than a behavioral health professional (Park & Zarate, 2019).

 

Description

A quantitative, quasi-experimental approach will be used to conduct this project using a 30-item pre-questionnaire, estimated 30-minute education intervention via web-based PowerPoint presentation, and 30 item post-questionnaire design. The independent variable being the education module, and the dependent variables being primary care staff (knowledge & self-efficacy).

 

The 30 items pre/post-questionnaire is a combination of the Revised-Depression Attitude Questionnaire (R-DAQ) (see Appendix A attachment), along with eight separate questions based off themes of research (see Appendix B attachment). It will be administered through an anonymous Qualtrics, a web-based survey software, link. Consent form is within this link. Questionnaire data from Qualtrics will be exported to an Excel spreadsheet. This Excel spreadsheet will then be exported to IntellectusStatisitcs in which data analysis will be performed. Two tailed paired samples t-test at significance level α = 0.05 will be conducted for each survey question to examine whether the main differences between pre-questionnaire responses and post-questionnaire responses for the same questions are significantly different from zero. Additionally, demographic influence will be analyzed with correlational studies.  

 

The John Hopkins Evidence Based Practice (JHEBP) model will be used to guide this project. The JHEBP model takes on a three-step approach called the PET process, which refers to practice question, evidence, and translation (John Hopkins Medicine, n.d.). The Madeleine Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing Theory (TNT) or Culture Care Theory (CCT) is the theoretical framework of choice to guide this project. The goal of the TNT is to provide culturally congruent care that contributes to the health and well-being of people. This project will utilize the Donabedian Model conceptual framework, which identifies structure, process, and outcome as the three dimensions used to assess the quality of care (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2022).

 

Purpose  

- To complete an evidence-based practice DNP capstone project as a BSN-DNP student of Regis College.  

- To investigate the impact of a web-based education intervention tool on primary care staff's knowledge and self-efficacy of depression in African Americans.

 

Participant Instructions

In order to participate, nurse must work in the primary care setting and screen African American adults for depression. Participants will use an anonymous link to complete an online 30-minute educational module with pre-and post-test surveys. 

 

Project investigator

Ashley Miles

acav446@regiscollege.edu

 

Project Chair

Dr. Barbara Offner

barbara.offner@regiscollege.edu

For questions, contact Ashley Miles.