Background: Post stroke depression (PSD) is common, and the transition home following discharge may be especially challenging for stroke survivors.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine how well specific Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for PSD screening were adopted within a stroke rehabilitation outpatient clinic before and after the utilization of a standardized clinical form.
Methods: Practices were evaluated through retrospective chart review before and after the implementation of the standardized form which cued physicians to administer the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) at the first outpatient visit. Participants included those aged ≥18 years with a primary diagnosis of stroke.
Results: One hundred thirty-five subjects' charts were reviewed. Form implementation was associated with increased rates of PSD screening (93.8% versus 0%) and charting regarding mood (55.4% versus 15.7%).
Conclusion: This study highlights the frequency of depressive symptoms in an outpatient cohort and demonstrates how screening rates can be improved by using a standardized form. Routine PHQ-9 completion at the first outpatient visit was associated with more physician-patient discussion and documentation regarding mood.
Keywords: Best practices; depression; depression screening; outpatients; post stroke depression; rehabilitation; stroke.