The Effectiveness of Problem-Solving Therapy Program Intervention in Reducing Depression of Older Cancer Patients

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Appropriate intervention has not been developed and implemented because depression has been overlooked for older cancer patients. However, because depression is prevalent among this population, the need for the intervention is high. The objective of this study was to verify the effectiveness of the problem-solving therapy program in reducing depression level for older cancer patients. METHODS: The experimental participants were recruited by social workers in five university hospitals in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon. Using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), older cancer patients who scored between 10–19 points are selected. The subjects were assigned to the experimental group (30 patients) and the control group (30 patients) according to their will, and the experimental group participated in the problem solving therapy program for 6 weeks. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression 10 Scale and the Social Problem Solving Ability Scale were used to verify the effectiveness of the problem-solving program. RESULTS: The group homogeneity test indicated that the experimental group and the control group are homogeneous. The results of this study showed that the depression of older cancer patients had a significant positive correlation with the negative attitude toward the problem. The effectiveness of the problem solving program was significantly reduced in the experimental group (Z=−3.534, P < 0.001). And the social problem solving ability of experimental group was significantly improved (Z=−2.908, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The problem-solving therapy program is effective for depression in geriatric cancer patients and this result suggests that it can be implemented as an alternative medical treatment.