TAILOR QI Program - Target Antidepressant Initiation choice to unLock positive patient Outcomes and Response

For a diagnosis of depression, current guidelines (RACGP Red Book 2012¹ and DSM-5²) identify depressed mood (negative affect), and/or diminished interest and pleasure (positive affect) as the key symptoms.

QI Program Aim

This QI (Quality Improvement) Program aims to tailor the choice of anti-depressant medication for a patient with depression to achieve more positive patient outcomes and response with a clear focus on involving the patient in all management decisions.

Why take part in this QI program?

1. Benefit from an online decision support tool that can assist in choice of an antidepressant medication.
2. Measure and improve your consultations with a step-by-step process of best practice and guidelines.
3. Earn up to 40 RACGP QI&CPD points or 30 ACRRM PDP points upon completion

Inclusion Criteria

The inclusion criteria for the TAILOR QI program are for patients to present with:

1. A new episode of depression (i.e. first episode or recurrence)
   AND
2. Based on a clinical assessment you are about to initiate an anti-depressant treatment (i.e. not currently on anti-depressant medication)

How long should it take?

The QI program has been designed to take approximately 8-10 weeks to complete. This includes patient recall from your practice, patient consult and program evaluation.

Steps to Proceed

What the GP needs to do

• Log in or register on this page
• Use the 'Click here to proceed' button to get started.

1. Pre-Test

• Read the background information and answer some questions.
• Please complete this 15 minute activity before your first patient.
  Why not do it now?

2a. Identify 10 patients with depression presenting with a new episode (i.e. first episode or recurrence)

• Based on a clinical assessment you are about to initiate an anti-depressant treatment (i.e. not currently on anti-depressant medication)

2b. Ask a series of questions that may assist your choice of anti-depressant medication tailored to the patient's needs

• Enter this information in the patient data entry section of the QI program.

2c. Action

• Based on this information, discuss your choice of anti-depressant medication with the patient tailored to be the best fit for their case

3. Data review and evaluation

• Once you have entered data for 10 patients, review your results and evaluate the QI program process

4. CPD points

• To gain CPD points you will be asked 4 weeks later to complete a follow up online questionnaire to evaluate how this QI program has affected your practice

Completion of this activity will award you 40 RACGP QI&CPD points, or 30 ACRRM PDP points.
If a nurse assisted you in completing the QI program and wants to claim CPD points download a certificate here.

References

1. Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice, 8th edition. East Melbourne (Australia): Royal Australian College of General Practitioners; 2012.
2. American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA. American Psychiatric Association; 2013.

This program has been developed with an educational grant from Servier Laboratories.