Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Project

College/School

College of Nursing

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Project Mentor

Jaime Navetta

Readers

Natalie Dreyfoos

Abstract

Background: Despite a higher risk for depression and suicide than the general population, oncology patients are not screened as frequently as national guidelines suggest. The purpose of this project was to improve nursing assessment of depression in oncology patients on an inpatient medical oncology unit using a newly developed pathway.

Objectives: The aims of this project were to: 1) create and provide nursing with a clinical decision pathway for depression that will be sustainable; 2) increase nurses’ confidence in depression assessment and screening for depression; 3) increase depression screening and advocacy frequency on the medical oncology unit; and 4) incorporate stakeholder feedback after implementation to revise the decision pathway.

Methods: A new clinical pathway was developed titled the Depression Clinical Decision Pathway for Oncology, that outlined when to use a two-step Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) screening. Nursing staff members completed pre- and post-implementation surveys to assess confidence in depression assessment and screening, as well as depression screening and advocacy frequency.

Findings: Considering a large difference in pre- and post-survey sample sizes, confidence in results and ability to determine statistical significance was limited. However, screening frequency increased and nursing confidence in both screening and assessment increased with the use of the Depression Clinical Decision Pathway for Oncology.

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