Using Unannounced Standardized Patients to Explore Variation in Care for Patients With Depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Physicians across specialties need to be skilled at diagnosing and treating depression, yet studies show underrecognition and inadequate treatment. Understanding the reasons requires specifying the influence of patient presentation, screening, and physician competence.

Objective

We deployed an unannounced standardized patient (SP) case to assess clinic screening and internal medicine (IM) residents' practices in identifying, documenting, and treating depression.

Methods

The SP represented a new patient presenting to the outpatient clinic, complaining of fatigue, with positive Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) items 2 and 9 and a family history of depression. The SPs assessed clinic screening and IM resident practices; appropriate treatment was assessed thr

SUBMITTER: Zabar S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6008039 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature