TY - JOUR TI - Implementation of the use of depression screening tool in a HIV care setting DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-wt6v-gz36 PY - 2020 AB - Purpose of Project: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders prevalent among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This project was centered on implementing the use of a depression screening tool in detecting depression among PLWHA in a HIV care setting. The purpose of the study was to identify depression, and to establish the need for routine depression screening exercise among PLWHA. The project also explored the differences in PHQ-9 scores within the sociodemographic subgroups. Age, gender, ethnicity, income level, educational level, marital status, and employment status, and health insurance were the studied sociodemographic factors. Methodology: The participants comprised 32 PLWHA who are between the age 18 and 89 years, and who resides in a long-term HIV/AIDS care setting. A standardized depression screening tool known as Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was utilized to screen for depression among the participants who met the study criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, and a nonparametric test (Kruskal-Wallis test) was used to analyze the differences among each of the sub-groups within the sociodemographic factors. The use of PHQ-9 as part of standard HIV care detected depression among PLWHA Results: The use of PHQ-9 as part of standard HIV care detected depression among PLWHA. Depression was defined as PHQ-9 score of ≥ 5. Possible depression was detected in 12(52.2%) of the participants who completed the PHQ-9. The majority of the participants who met the depression criteria were within the age group of 40-60 years, Black or African American, male, and single. Participants with a high school diploma, low income level, and those who were unemployed and depended solely on government funding for treatment also met the criteria for possible depression. The preliminary prevalence of depression was 28%. Implications for Practice: Routine depression screening and early linkage to depression treatment and management will improve HIV treatment outcome and reduce HIV transmission in the long run. KW - Depression KW - PHQ-9 KW - HIV/AIDS KW - People living with HIV/AIDS KW - Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner LA - English ER -