Improving Adherence to Atypical Antipsychotic Agent Screening Guidelines in Pediatric Patients: A Quality Improvement Project Within an Integrated Community Mental Health Setting
Abstract
**Please note that the full text is embargoed** ABSTRACT: Background: Approximately 14% - 20% of children and adolescents have a mental health
problem (Harrison, Cluxton-Keller, and Gross, 2012). Atypical Antipsychotic Agents (AAA) are
used to treat behavioral, emotional, and mental health problems in children and adolescents. A
discrepancy between best practices and actual practices exist.
Objective: To increase adherence, above baseline, to recommended screening guidelines in
children, ages 4-18, prescribed Atypical Antipsychotic Agents over 12 weeks.
Results: Aggregate comparison of the mean ranks of scores were tested with the Mann-Whitney
U test, U = 1,087.5, n1 = n2 = 70, total N =140, p < .001. All seven variables were observed and
tested using the Chi Square with Fisher's Exact tests and are significant at or above 99%
confidence (p <0.01).
Conclusion: Educating the Mental Health Provider (MHP) on the recommended screening
guidelines and implementing a checklist had a measurable effect on increasing adherence to the
recommended screening guidelines.