Margaret R Emerson, Melissa Langenberg, Tyler S Szymanski, Wendy Schardt, Anne Lano, Kiphany Hof
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, disproportionately affect young adults, creating significant barriers to academic success. Access to mental health care remains a critical challenge in rural university settings. Nurse practitioner (NP)-led integrated care programs (ICPs) offer a potential solution by integrating behavioral health into primary care to provide timely, accessible, and holistic care.
Purpose: This study examines the implementation and outcomes of a NP-led ICP aimed at addressing mental health challenges among college students in a rural university setting.
Methodology: Over a 9-month period, 61 students participated in the ICP. The program used validated screening tools, including the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), to assess and monitor depression and anxiety severity. Data on program outcomes were collected through these assessments, provider collaboration reviews, and satisfaction surveys.
Results: Participants demonstrated significant reductions in depression and anxiety severity, as measured by PHQ-9 and GAD-7 tools. Key findings included improved access to care, enhanced collaboration among providers, and high satisfaction rates among students and staff. However, challenges related to role clarity and the fit of behavioral health providers highlighted the need for targeted training and supervision.
Conclusions: The study demonstrates that integrated care models can be successfully adapted to rural university environments, leading to improved mental health outcomes for college students.
Implications: The findings support the broader application of ICPs in similar settings. Future work will focus on extending the program into surrounding communities to sustain and expand its impact.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (JAANP) is a monthly peer-reviewed professional journal that serves as the official publication of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Published since 1989, the JAANP provides a strong clinical focus with articles related to primary, secondary, and tertiary care, nurse practitioner education, health policy, ethics and ethical issues, and health care delivery. The journal publishes original research, integrative/comprehensive reviews, case studies, a variety of topics in clinical practice, and theory-based articles related to patient and professional education. Although the majority of nurse practitioners function in primary care, there is an increasing focus on the provision of care across all types of systems from acute to long-term care settings.
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