Improving routine mental health screening for depression and anxiety in a paediatric lupus clinic: a quality improvement initiative for enhanced mental healthcare
Authors' conclusion
Despite not sustainably meeting the target, MH screening rates increased in the cSLE clinic by nearly fourfold, demonstrating feasibility and acceptability.
Study context
- Population
- Adolescents (≥12–18 years) with childhood-onset SLE in a paediatric tertiary care cSLE clinic270 mental health (MH) screens
- Participants
- 146 adolescents
- Comparison
- MH screening workflow with referral algorithm, MH training workshops and preclinic reminders vs baseline screening
- Outcome
- Percentage of patients with cSLE screened for depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7); target increase from 15% to 80%
- Follow-up
- November 2023
Methodological detailsModel for Improvement framework, statistical process control charts, single-centre (paediatric tertiary care cSLE clinic)
- Model for Improvement framework
- Statistical process control charts
- Single-centre (paediatric tertiary care cSLE clinic)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
MH screening rate · over 21 months
Screening rate at baseline
15%
Screening rate peak
100%
Screening rate, median
56%
Further findings
Symptoms of depression and/or anxiety on initial screen
- Individuals reporting symptoms
- 66 (45%)
Moderate to severe symptoms meeting referral criteria
- Individuals, of 270 screens
- 44 (17%)
Referred and seen by MH service within 2-12 weeks
- Patients screened referred and seen
- 10%
Patient and caregiver satisfaction (balancing measure)
- Satisfaction with the MH screening process and quality of MH follow-up
Original publication
Improving routine mental health screening for depression and anxiety in a paediatric lupus clinic: a quality improvement initiative for enhanced mental healthcare. Lupus Sci Med. Published 22 October 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →