Clinical practice guideline for primary care providers in the management of antidepressant-induced hyperhidrosis: A quality improvement project

Background: Antidepressant-induced excessive sweating (ADIES) is a side effect that occurs in approximately 22% of patients taking antidepressant medications and can negatively affect patient medication adherence. Local problem: Primary care providers may not have adequate knowledge of ADIES management. The aims of this project were to increase primary care provider's overall perceived knowledge related to ADIES, improve confidence in the management of ADIES, and gather input on the perceived usefulness of the initial clinical practice guideline (CPG) for ADIES management. Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project consisted of two phases. Phase 1 included the development of a CPG for the pharmacologic management of ADIES based on processes recommended by the Institute of Medicine. Interventions: Phase 2 of the project consisted of a pretest-posttest design pilot of the guideline via a "Lunch and Learn" educational session at a Federally Qualified Health Care Center located in the Northern California. Results: The results indicated that after exposure to the CPG and participation in the educational program about the guideline, there was an overall significant improvement in provider knowledge and confidence about identification and management of ADIES in their practice. Conclusions: Although small in scope, this QI project provides important avenues for further implementation and dissemination of the guideline to manage ADIES. The potential for improved patient care and medication adherence support the usefulness of the implementation of this guideline in other locations.