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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Emotional And Psychological Well-Being In Early Postmenopausal Women: A Phenomenological Study, Marjorie F. Leon Mar 2026

Emotional And Psychological Well-Being In Early Postmenopausal Women: A Phenomenological Study, Marjorie F. Leon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how early postmenopausal women experience and navigate emotional and psychological well-being during the postmenopausal transition. Although menopause has been widely examined as a biological process, women’s lived emotional and psychosocial experiences during the early postmenopausal period remain underexplored in psychological research. Conceptually informed by Engel’s biopsychosocial model, this study examined how biological, psychological, and social factors intersect in shaping resilience, identity, and coping during this transitional life stage. Thirteen women within 5 years of menopause onset participated in semi structured interviews. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase reflexive …


Internal Family Systems Therapy For Trauma Recovery And Addiction In Sexual And Gender Minorities, Walter Saunders Mar 2026

Internal Family Systems Therapy For Trauma Recovery And Addiction In Sexual And Gender Minorities, Walter Saunders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) experience disproportionately high rates of substance use disorders linked to trauma exposure, minority stress, and barriers to affirming behavioral health care. Although trauma-informed approaches have expanded, little is known about how SGM individuals experience and make meaning of their engagement in internal family systems (IFS) therapy for trauma and addiction. Guided by Schwartz’s theory of the multiplicity of the mind and minority stress theory, the purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how SGM individuals describe and interpret their engagement in IFS therapy within the context of trauma and addiction. Interpretative phenomenological analysis …


Child Protection Workers’ Perceptions Of Burnout And Work Dissatisfaction, Ashley-Camille Jackson Mar 2026

Child Protection Workers’ Perceptions Of Burnout And Work Dissatisfaction, Ashley-Camille Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child protection workers work in a stressful and demanding occupation, subject to high staff turnover and inexperienced staff. This situation has created problems for child protection workers in doing their jobs effectively—for example, handling their daily tasks and caseload—leading to potential burnout and work dissatisfaction. Existing literature has explained how burnout begins to develop as a response to chronic exposure to job-related stressors, to a point of emotional exhaustion and reduced personal accomplishment. Researchers have found that work-related conditions have contributed to the development of burnout, especially when attempting to define how one could be overworked and how much labor …


Hbcu Presidents’ Perceptions About The Unique Financial Challenges Influencing Enrollment, Tiffany Hardy Terrell Mar 2026

Hbcu Presidents’ Perceptions About The Unique Financial Challenges Influencing Enrollment, Tiffany Hardy Terrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are important to the educational landscape. The problem that was addressed through this study was the unique financial challenges that influence enrollment at HBCUs. Guided by the conceptual framework of transformational leadership, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore HBCU presidents’ perceptions about the unique financial challenges as well as recommendations on how to overcome these challenges that influence enrollment at their institutions. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five former and three current HBCU presidents who had been in their role for a minimum of 1 year. Using in vivo coding, …


Leadership Strategies Nonprofit Leaders Use To Motivate Employees, Clara Dube Mar 2026

Leadership Strategies Nonprofit Leaders Use To Motivate Employees, Clara Dube

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unmotivated nonprofit organization (NPO) employees threaten NPO mission fulfillment. NPO leaders are concerned with poor employee motivation as it negatively correlates with organizational performance. Grounded in the integration of self-determination theory and Vroom’s expectancy theory, the purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore the leadership strategies that some NPO leaders use to motivate employees. The targeted population was five leaders of an NPO in the Tigray region of Ethiopia who implemented successful leadership strategies to motivate employees. The participants comprised five leaders, purposively selected from an Ethiopian NPO, who had demonstrated the ability to motivate their employees. Data …


Communication Challenges Experienced By Telephone Triage Registered Nurses Providing Assessment Of Health Symptoms, Stacy Huddleston Mar 2026

Communication Challenges Experienced By Telephone Triage Registered Nurses Providing Assessment Of Health Symptoms, Stacy Huddleston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Telephone triage nurses routinely assess symptoms and make clinical decisions without visual contact, which introduces complex communication challenges. Language differences, emotional distress, cultural misunderstandings, and the absence of visual cues may influence how symptoms are described, interpreted, and acted upon during telephone encounters. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive description study, guided by Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations, was to explore how RNs experience and manage communication barriers in telephone triage practice. Six RNs with recent experience in telephone triage participated in semistructured interviews, and the data were analyzed using interpretive description and thematic analysis. Findings indicated that participants relied …


Lived Experiences Of Texas Construction Workers Reporting Near Misses On Their Jobsite, Joaquin Manuel Diaz Mar 2026

Lived Experiences Of Texas Construction Workers Reporting Near Misses On Their Jobsite, Joaquin Manuel Diaz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Near miss incidents in the construction industry, when reported, serve as critical indicators of safety performance. When reported, organizations can identify hazards early and reduce the incidence of injuries and illnesses. Limited research exists on how construction workers perceive near miss incidents and how they are influenced to report them. Semi-structured audio-recorded interviews with 15 Texas-based construction workers in three cities about their lived experiences with near-miss reporting were conducted between July 18 and August 22, 2025. Data were organized using NVivo software and analyzed according to the phenomenological procedures outlined by Burns et al. and the qualitative analysis guidance …


Former Foster Youth Lack The Understanding And Training In How To Access Medical And Preventative Care Benefits, Gloria Harrison Mar 2026

Former Foster Youth Lack The Understanding And Training In How To Access Medical And Preventative Care Benefits, Gloria Harrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore Dallas, Texas, human services professionals’ perceptions of the services that former foster youth need to ensure that they have access to medical and preventative care benefits when they age out of the system. The conceptual framework of Aday and Andersen’s health behavior model provided a structure for the lack of medical care access, the need for improvement, and the desire to use services for various marginalized at-risk populations. The action research design was chosen to help solve real-life healthcare problems that directly affect participants within their community. A purposeful …


Perceived Black Maternal Narcissism And Their Daughters’ Delinquency: Chronicles From A Daughter’S Interpretation, Nzinga Cates Mar 2026

Perceived Black Maternal Narcissism And Their Daughters’ Delinquency: Chronicles From A Daughter’S Interpretation, Nzinga Cates

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study examined the intricate dynamics between perceived Black narcissistic mothers and their daughters, particularly regarding potential delinquent behaviors exhibited by the daughters. By utilizing in-depth interviews with seven participants, I sought to uncover the psychological and relational factors contributing to these behaviors’ development. Thematic analysis indicated that daughters of narcissistic mothers often endure emotional neglect, manipulation, and lack of healthy role modeling. This can result in feelings of inadequacy and rebellion. Themes of identity confusion, low self-esteem, and desire for autonomy surfaced as significant contributors to the daughters’ engagement in delinquent activities. The study underscored the importance of …


Moderating Effects Of Leadership Style And Organizational Culture On Information Technology Involvement, Erick Dyson Mar 2026

Moderating Effects Of Leadership Style And Organizational Culture On Information Technology Involvement, Erick Dyson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative correlational study investigated the relationships among leadership styles, organizational culture, information technology involvement (INV), IT adoption intention (ITA), and knowledge-sharing intention (KSI) among managerial staff in educational institutions in the northeastern United States. Grounded in the technology acceptance model (TAM) and knowledge management theory, the study utilized survey responses from 141 participants in supervisory roles. Regression analyses revealed that INV significantly predicted ITA (F = 31.725, p < .001), accounting for 17.7% of the variance. However, ITA demonstrated a statistically significant but inverse relationship with KSI (F = 7.995, p < .001), indicating that greater ITA was associated with lower KSI. Hierarchical regression showed that the inclusion of leadership styles and organizational cultures improved model fit, with the final model explaining 53.3% of the variance in KSI. Charismatic, transformational, and transactional leadership styles moderated the ITA and KSI relationship, while servant and transactional leadership directly predicted KSI. Among cultural types, hierarchy and market cultures moderated the ITA and KSI relationship, while adhocracy, hierarchy, and market cultures directly predicted KSI. Seventeen significant two-factor interactions were identified, highlighting the complex interplay of leadership and culture. Reliability analyses confirmed acceptable internal consistency (α = .71 -.85), and regression diagnostics indicted no assumption violations. These findings challenge traditional TAM assumptions and emphasize the need for context-aware strategies integrating leadership and culture to enhance knowledge sharing in digitally transforming institutions.


Strategies For Bridging The Broadband Gap For An Inclusive Digital Economy, Hassana Asuku Mar 2026

Strategies For Bridging The Broadband Gap For An Inclusive Digital Economy, Hassana Asuku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Broadband access remains a critical driver of digital participation and economic inclusion; however, many rural communities continue to lack adequate connectivity and remain excluded from the digital economy. Although Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policymakers, regulators, and operators prioritize expanding broadband infrastructure, limited research exists on the strategies these stakeholders use to successfully bridge rural broadband gaps. Drawing on Jan van Dijk’s resources and appropriation theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies employed by ICT policymakers, regulators, and operators to bridge the broadband gap in rural areas. Eight telecommunications industry players who had successfully …


Innovative Strategies To Promote Financial Sustainability In Nonprofit Universities, Frank Koomson Mar 2026

Innovative Strategies To Promote Financial Sustainability In Nonprofit Universities, Frank Koomson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of sustainable funding can negatively affect nonprofit universities’ ability to support students and retain qualified staff. Anchored in the Baldrige Excellence Framework, the purpose of this consulting capstone qualitative single-case study was to identify innovative strategies that nonprofit university business executives use to generate funds to promote financial sustainability. This study is important for nonprofit university executives and higher education decision-makers because effective revenue strategies can strengthen financial sustainability and support long-term organizational viability. The participant was an organizational leader with extensive experience and knowledge of the research phenomenon. Data were collected using a semistructured interview and a …


Exploring The Perceptions Of Religious Trauma Among Former Members Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints Who Identify As A Sexual Minority, Samuel Clemens Mar 2026

Exploring The Perceptions Of Religious Trauma Among Former Members Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints Who Identify As A Sexual Minority, Samuel Clemens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study explored the perceived experiences of religious trauma among formerly active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) who identify as sexual minorities. Religious trauma, characterized by psychological, emotional, and social harm, arises from interactions with religious institutions and teachings. For sexual minorities within the LDS Church, strict adherence to heteronormative principles and rigid gender roles often results in identity suppression, emotional distress, and social isolation. Utilizing a generic qualitative inquiry approach, this study investigated how participants interpret their experiences of religious trauma and its perceived effects on their lives. Twelve participants aged 20–74 …


Health Histories, Tiffanie Walton Mar 2026

Health Histories, Tiffanie Walton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.


High School Teachers’ Perspectives Of Middle School Biomedical Science Career Exploration Programs, Stephanie Gurule-Leyba Mar 2026

High School Teachers’ Perspectives Of Middle School Biomedical Science Career Exploration Programs, Stephanie Gurule-Leyba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Biomedical sciences (BMS) are a common career pathway for U.S. Hispanic high school students interested in pursuing healthcare careers. Little was known about how middle school career exploration programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics motivate Hispanic students to continue pursuing BMS careers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore high school teachers’ perspectives of how middle school BMS career exploration programs can motivate Hispanic students’ interest in BMS careers. The study was grounded in Keller’s attention, relevance, confidence and satisfaction motivation model. Thirteen high school BMS teachers, who have taught or are currently teaching the PLTW …


Staff Education For Prevention And Management Of Obesity In Adolescents From Underserved Communities, Doris Mtarubukwa Feb 2026

Staff Education For Prevention And Management Of Obesity In Adolescents From Underserved Communities, Doris Mtarubukwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This DNP project implemented a targeted staff education intervention designed to bridge the practice gap in obesity management among adolescents in underserved communities. A comprehensive chart review of 45 patients revealed that only 3% of encounters adequately addressed obesity using evidence-based practice (EBP) guidelines, establishing the urgent need for healthcare provider education and competency development. Adolescents in underserved communities face complex barriers to health and wellness, with obesity representing a critical public health concern. The literature demonstrated that childhood and adolescent obesity serves as a significant risk factor for multiple chronic conditions in adulthood, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary …


Pressure Injury Prevention In Intensive Care Units, Michael Loya Feb 2026

Pressure Injury Prevention In Intensive Care Units, Michael Loya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project addressed the critical practice problem of formation of Stage III/IV pressure injuries in adult patients admitted to the long-term acute care (LTAC) intensive care unit (ICU) department, which has been linked to increased lengths of stay, mortality rates, and treatment costs for the facility. Thus, development of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) focused on a nurse-driven protocol to identify patients in the ICU department at high risk of developing a Stage III/IV pressure injury and initiating prevention measures formed the primary purpose of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project. The practice focused question addressed whether an evidence-based …


Staff Education On Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Identification And Referral Using The Vanderbilt Assessment Scale, Edith Nkeze Feb 2026

Staff Education On Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Identification And Referral Using The Vanderbilt Assessment Scale, Edith Nkeze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Staff Education on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Identification and Referral Using the Vanderbilt Assessment Scale


The Impact Of Second-Tiered Leadership Behavior On Postmerger Experience In The Jamaica Constabulary Force, James Theophilus Golding Feb 2026

The Impact Of Second-Tiered Leadership Behavior On Postmerger Experience In The Jamaica Constabulary Force, James Theophilus Golding

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Following the merger of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) in May 2014, complaints emerged about inequitable treatment of former ISCF members, raising questions about social justice and breaches of the moral contract. Although prior research highlighted the importance of leadership in mergers, it neglected to examine the role of second-tier leadership. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the potential role of second-tiered JCF leadership behavior in these perceived social justice breaches. A transformational leadership framework, which centers on leaders’ behavior and communication to motivate followers, underpinned the study. Purposeful …


Exploring Effective Retention Strategies Of Skilled And Productive Personnel In The Healthcare Industry, Joshua Emmanuel Banks Feb 2026

Exploring Effective Retention Strategies Of Skilled And Productive Personnel In The Healthcare Industry, Joshua Emmanuel Banks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee retention remains a significant challenge for healthcare organizations. Healthcare human resource (HR) managers are concerned about high turnover because it increases staffing costs, disrupts continuity of care, and threatens patient safety and workforce stability. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore strategies that healthcare HR managers use to retain skilled and productive employees to ensure continuity of care, patient safety, and overall organizational success. The participants were seven HR managers from the healthcare industry in Virginia; West Virginia; Washington, DC; and Maryland who retained skilled and productive employees to ensure …


Teachers' Experiences Implementing Play-Based Learning Practices In Prekindergarten–Kindergarten Classrooms, Atiana T. Carroll Feb 2026

Teachers' Experiences Implementing Play-Based Learning Practices In Prekindergarten–Kindergarten Classrooms, Atiana T. Carroll

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that prekindergarten and kindergarten (PK-K) teachers in one large southern U.S. school district were not implementing play-based learning (PBL) practices despite the well-documented benefits of PBL in early childhood education. Guided by Knowles’s adult learning theory and Kolb’s experiential learning theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore PK-K teachers’ experiences with implementing PBL and to identify what teachers need to embed PBL practices in PK-K classrooms. Semistructured interviews were conducted with nine PK-K teachers, and thematic analysis was applied to identify key patterns. Four themes emerged from the analysis: …


Exploring African American Officers’ Lived Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions In A Metropolitan Police Department, Kareem Mc Kenna Feb 2026

Exploring African American Officers’ Lived Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions In A Metropolitan Police Department, Kareem Mc Kenna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American men in law enforcement encounter subtle racial microaggressions that contribute to emotional distress, identity conflict, and burnout. Although researchers have examined microaggressions, few studies have centered on African American men within a large metropolitan police department or explored how they interpret these experiences across tenure ranges. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how African American men with at least 2 years of service in frontline or first-line supervisory roles in a Southern California metropolitan police department experienced, interpreted, and coped with workplace racial microaggressions over the past five years. Guided by critical race theory, intersectionality, and Sue et al.’s …


The Relationship Between Police Encounters And Anxiety Levels Among Urban Black Males Aged 18–40, Wilbert Smith Feb 2026

The Relationship Between Police Encounters And Anxiety Levels Among Urban Black Males Aged 18–40, Wilbert Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study examined the relationship between police encounter characteristics and anxiety symptoms among urban Black males aged 18–40 in the United States. Although prior research has documented racial disparities in police contact and adverse mental health outcomes, limited empirical work has examined how multiple dimensions of police encounters jointly relate to anxiety within this population. Guided by Critical Race Theory, the study assessed whether the frequency, severity, and perceived fairness of police encounters were associated with self-reported anxiety symptoms. Data were collected from 138 self-identified urban Black males using a nonprobability, self-selected sampling approach. Participants completed an …


Medical-Surgical Nurses’ Perceptions On Incivility In A Hospital Setting, Monsurat Atinuke Mohammed Feb 2026

Medical-Surgical Nurses’ Perceptions On Incivility In A Hospital Setting, Monsurat Atinuke Mohammed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incivility in nursing has become a chronic issue that harms nurses, patients, teams, and organizations. Individuals often feel belittled, which contributes to frequent job dissatisfaction and resignation, ultimately resulting in financial losses for an organization. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study, guided by Johnson’s behavioral model, was to explore nurses’ perceptions about incivility in a medical-surgical hospital setting. Ten semistructured audio-recorded interviews were conducted with registered nurses recruited through a professional organization. The data were manually transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Saldana’s approach. Results indicated four themes: (a) workplace culture and interpersonal dynamics, (b) need for support and mentorship, …


Perceptions Of High School Graduates And Educators Regarding A Mathematics Intervention For College And Career Readiness, Annie Elizabeth Carpenter Feb 2026

Perceptions Of High School Graduates And Educators Regarding A Mathematics Intervention For College And Career Readiness, Annie Elizabeth Carpenter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that, from 2017 through 2024, over 68% of 11th-grade students consistently did not meet the college- and career-readiness American College Test standards benchmark in mathematics at Midwest High School (MHS, a pseudonym), which used the Kendall Hunt Illustrative Mathematics (KHIM) curriculum. Guided by Bruner’s theory of instruction and KHIM’s structural components, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate high school graduates’ and non-administrative educators’ perceptions about learning and teaching with the KHIM curriculum and explore non-administrative educators’ suggestions for enhancements and evolutions to the curriculum at MHS. Semistructured interviews were …


The Role Of Corporate Managers In Improving Profit Performance Of Commercial Banks In Kosovo, Flutura Beka Kamberaj Feb 2026

The Role Of Corporate Managers In Improving Profit Performance Of Commercial Banks In Kosovo, Flutura Beka Kamberaj

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The profitability of commercial banks is a key indicator of financial system stability and economic growth, albeit Kosovo’s banking sector continues to face challenges from nonperforming loans, regulatory constraints, and limited innovation. Corporate managers at Kosovo’s commercial banks are reporting low profit performance despite overall sector stability. The purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore how corporate managers contribute to improving profit performance in Kosovo’s commercial banks. The resource-based view and corporate governance theory provided the theoretical foundation. The participants comprised 20 corporate managers at commercial banks in Kosovo. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and public documents. …


Barriers And Incentives For Smartphone Mhealth Adoption Among Health Care Providers In Central And Southern Appalachia, Temitope S. Ajagbe Feb 2026

Barriers And Incentives For Smartphone Mhealth Adoption Among Health Care Providers In Central And Southern Appalachia, Temitope S. Ajagbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rural Appalachian communities in the United States experience disproportionately high chronic disease burden. Mobile health (mHealth) technology adoption among providers remains low despite potential to improve care access. Understanding adoption factors is critical for addressing health inequities. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine whether diffusion of innovations (DOI) theory attributes predict current mHealth adoption among health care professionals involved in rural Appalachian primary care delivery and whether structural constraints moderate these relationships. Despite extensive DOI validation in well-resourced settings, its applicability to severely resource-constrained contexts remained empirically uncertain. Data from 100 health care professionals across eight …


The Lived Experiences Of Visually Impaired Professionals, Robert Anthony Hoyt Feb 2026

The Lived Experiences Of Visually Impaired Professionals, Robert Anthony Hoyt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of visually impaired professionals (VIPs) as they navigate workplace inclusion, identity, and systemic accessibility. Drawing on Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological psychological method, the study analyzed in-depth interviews with eleven purposefully selected participants across diverse professions. The research aimed to address a gap in disability studies by centering on the psychological meanings embedded in the narratives of VIPs; voices that are often underrepresented in organizational research. Through rigorous thematic analysis, three essential themes emerged: (1) the silent erasure of competence, reflecting the emotional labor required to assert professional legitimacy in ableist environments; (2) resilience …


Building Sustainability Via Financial Resilience Among Nongovernmental Organizations In Cameroon, Ruthaford Bankufon Feb 2026

Building Sustainability Via Financial Resilience Among Nongovernmental Organizations In Cameroon, Ruthaford Bankufon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in unstable developing nations face major sustainability challenges. In Cameroon, an ongoing sociopolitical crisis has increased demand on NGOs, including VWXZY, which supports girls and women fleeing civil unrest. This study investigated sustainable strategies to strengthen VWZYZ’s financial stability. Drawing on financial resilience literature and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) framework, it addressed two questions: (a) How can VWXZY-Cameroon effectively leverage SWOT analysis to address financial challenges, improve financial oversight, diversify funding sources, and strengthen operational efficiency? (b)What strategies can VWXZY-Cameroon use to enhance its financial resilience and ensure sustainability amid sociopolitical and economic instability? …


Staff Education On Phq-9 To Improve Depression Screening And Patient Outcomes, Ahmad Ghandour Feb 2026

Staff Education On Phq-9 To Improve Depression Screening And Patient Outcomes, Ahmad Ghandour

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is a prevalent mental health condition that significantly affects patient quality of life and healthcare utilization. Clinical guidelines recommend routine depression screening in adults when appropriate systems for follow-up and treatment are in place. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated instrument used to identify depressive symptoms and assess severity in outpatient settings. Despite national recommendations supporting routine depression screening using the PHQ-9, a significant practice gap remains in the consistent administration, accurate scoring, and proper documentation of the tool in outpatient. Research indicated that variability in screening practices is frequently associated with inadequate staff training and lack …