Date of this Version

7-30-2023

Document Type

DNP Project

Abstract

Background: Although in United States, the prevalence of depression is less in African Americans than other ethnic groups, African Americans experience more chronic, disabling depression. Mental Health Professionals lack of knowledge regarding African American culture, beliefs, and perception may interfere with a trusted professional-patient relationship with African Americans diagnosed with depression, thereby potentially contributing to African Americans reluctance to start or to adhere to a medication regime.

Purpose: This quality improvement project investigated the effect of an evidence-based educational workshop regarding Mental Health Professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward African American culture, beliefs, and perception of depression and a Patient-Centered Care Approach for African Americans diagnosed with depression.

Methods: A Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology was used to implement the quality improvement project. A total of 12 Mental Health Professionals participated in the workshop at a community mental health clinic. The intervention was an evidence-based educational workshop regarding African American culture, beliefs, and perception of depression and the use of a Patient-Centered Care Approach. The educational workshop was a 45-minute PowerPoint presentation, which was followed by 15 minutes of discussion. A 20-item questionnaire on knowledge and a 20-item questionnaire on attitudes and behaviors were administered pre and post workshop to assess Mental Health Professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding African American culture, beliefs, and perception of depression and a Patient-Centered Care Approach.

Results: The educational workshop significantly improved participants’ knowledge on African Americans’ culture, beliefs, and perception of depression and the use of a Patient-Centered Care Approach {pretest (M=74.0); posttest (M-92.50), p=.002}. The participants also significantly improved attitude scores on pretest (M=79.5) and posttest (M= 95.7), p= .002, as well as behaviors from pretest (M= 83.60) to posttest (M= 94.50), p= .002.

Implications: This project reinforced the importance of ongoing education for Mental Health Professionals to improve their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding African American culture, beliefs, and perceptions regarding depression and a Patient-Centered Care Approach. This education may improve the care of African Americans with depression and their adherence to antidepressant medications.

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