Graduation Semester and Year
2019
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Social Work
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Diane B Mitschke
Abstract
Depression is a common and costly chronic medical illness seen in health care settings, including primary care. Disparity populations in community settings are at risk for depression, but less likely to seek treatment for symptoms. This paper explores the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up patterns of depression in nine community clinics throughout North Texas. A retrospective study design was used to analyze electronic health record data in 2017. A total of 11,803 patients visited nine community care clinics in 2017. PHQ-2 counts were collected to assess for screening rates, while PHQ-9 counts were collected to assess for follow-up rates in concordance with Measurement Based Care (MBC) guidelines. Treatment patterns were assessed by reviewing the number of behavioral health visits as well as antidepressant use six months (180 days) following the first record of a depression diagnosis in 2017. Overall, the results show that the utilization of the PHQ-2 as a depression screening tool was higher than expected (67%). Twenty-four percent of the total patients had a diagnosis of depression in 2017, however, a large percentage of patients with a depression diagnosis did not have a recorded treatment plan (52%). Hispanic patients are more likely to receive PHQ-2 screening and more likely to engage in antidepressant use as well as behavioral health visits when compared to non-Hispanic patients. Alternatively, Hispanic patients were less likely to receive a depression diagnosis. In conclusion, universal screening for depression in primary care settings for disparity populations is necessary, however, appropriate follow up of depression symptoms must be in place to have effective health outcomes. Future research is necessary to identify support for health systems in implementing recommended guidelines for depression management.
Keywords
Depression, Measurement-based care, Health disparities, PHQ, Hispanic
Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Rezaeizadeh, Afsaneh, "Depression Screening and Treatment Among Disparity Populations in Primary Care: A Retrospective Analysis of Electronic Health Records Data" (2019). Social Work Theses. 188.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/socialwork_theses/188
Comments
Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington