Health Outcomes | Depression Evaluation Measures

Health outcomes measures for depression^1-3

The effectiveness of depression programs depends on the intensity of program effort and the use of multiple interventions. A rule of thumb is that the more programs implemented together as a package or campaign, the more successful the interventions will be.

Baseline

• Determine levels of employee reports of depressive symptoms such as headaches, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, or overeating, etc. from employee health survey, health risk appraisal, or depression screening tool
• Determine baseline percentage of employees with who report life experiences that might increase the risk of depression, such as chronic illness, death of a loved one, or divorce
• Determine levels of diagnostic, counseling, and treatment procedures for depressive symptoms from health care and pharmaceutical claims data
• Determine compliance with disease management of other chronic conditions co-occurring with depression
• Determine employee knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about depression and depressive symptoms
  • Assess employees’ current knowledge and beliefs about the symptoms, causes and treatments for depression. For example, do they consider depression a sign of “weakness”?
  • Measure employees’ knowledge of the risk of depression associated with other chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes
  • Assess employee awareness of existing workplace depression prevention and treatment programs, policies and benefits

Process

• Periodic repeats of baseline measures

Outcome

• Assess changes in the percentage of employees who report depressive symptoms
• Assess changes in levels of diagnostic and treatment procedures for depressive symptoms from health care and pharmaceutical claims data
• Assess changes in compliance with disease management of other chronic conditions co-occurring with depression
• Assess changes in employee knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about depression and depressive symptoms
  • Measure changes in employee knowledge and beliefs about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for depression
  • Measure changes in employees’ knowledge of the risks of depression associated with other chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes
  • Assess changes in employee awareness of existing workplace depression prevention and treatment programs, policies, and benefits