Background: Depression has the potential to negatively effect quality of life. Medication non-adherence is a common emerging concern in healthcare contributing to poor outcomes. Patients with mental illness may require additional observation, direction, information, and investigation. Reiterating the importance of routine follow-up visits and compliance with recommended medication regimen can promote positive outcomes. This is an important topic as according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention individuals ages 15 to 24 are at an increased risk of committing suicide even more specifically individuals ages 18 to 24. Evidence-Based Framework: The Iowa model was utilized as the Evidence-Based Practice Framework. The identified clinical issue is assessing medication non-adherence in patients with diagnoses of depression. The information will be assessed at a state organization, North Carolina A&T State University over a four-week timeframe utilizing the Ask 20 Adherence Barrier Survey. IRB approval was retrieved at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. This topic is a priority in my field as high rates of suicide and psychiatric hospitalizations are associated with depression. The team consists of the project manager, my clinical faculty, and my clinical mentor. There is a high level of consistency with utilization of the Ask 20 Adherence Barrier Survey and there are no risks associated with utilization of this survey. There is sufficient evidence and mutliple studies that indicate that this project is necessary and beneficial. Method: The Ask 20 Adherence Barrier Survey tool was transferred to papaer, patients responded accordingly, thereafter the information was manually entered into the Survey Monkey database. Common barriers were identified, assessed, and documented with a greater score indicating greater barriers to adherence. Given the results, adding a tool such as the Ask 20 Adherence Barrier Survey quarterly to patients taking anti-depressant medications is recommended or an alternative tool to determine variances to barriers to medication non-adherence. Findings: The implementation of the Ask 20 Barrier Adherence Survey at NCA&TSU communicated the most common barriers to medication adherence at this institution. The most common barrier were patients forgetting to take their medications, forgetting things in general, and patients experiencing feelings of sadness or depression. Conclusions/Recommendations: Based upon the findings of this project use of an effective survey tool will identify known barriers for patients that are presently taking anti-depressant medications. Identified barriers will assist clinicians and other members of the healthcare team address and reduce barriers associated with medication adherence. Increasing knowledge of medication adherence will decrease morbidity and mortality rates, decrease psychiatric hospitalizations, and increase knowledge of the mechanism of action of medications.
