The Impact of Patient and Provider Factors on Depression Screening of American Indian and Alaska Native People in Primary Care

Abstract

Introduction: The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine depression screening in primary care, yet regular screening does not occur in most health systems serving Alaska Native and American Indian people. The authors examined factors associated with administration of depression screening among Alaska Native and American Indian people in a large urban clinic. Methods: Medical records of 18 625 Alaska Native and American Indian adults were examined 1 year after implementation of a depression screening initiative. Multilevel logistic regression models examined associations between patient and provider factors and administration of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Results: Forty-seven percent of patients were screened. Women were more likely than men to be screened (50% vs 43%, P