Practice methods among nurse practitioners treating depressed women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine practice methods and beliefs about degree of competence in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of depressive symptoms in women by nurse practitioners (NPs).


METHODS
A survey about the diagnosis and treatment of depressive symptoms in women was mailed to 3,000 NPs randomly selected from the membership of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Family, adult, women's and gerontological NPs were included; 1,647 surveys were returned (55%).


CONCLUSIONS
Assessment and treatment protocols used by NPs were consistent with the AHCPR guidelines and similar to the protocols used by psychiatrists and non-psychiatric physicians, yet only 65% believed their education had adequately prepared them to assess/diagnose depression and only 52% believed they had been adequately prepared to treat depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest areas for improvement in the formal education and continuing education of NPs.
Groh
Carla J
CJ
University of Detroit Mercy College of Health Professions, Detroit, MI, USA. grohcj@udmercy.edu
Hoes
M Linda
ML
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy*; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome