ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to use group reminiscence therapy (GRT) as a nursing intervention to evaluate the post-test, 3-month and 6-month effects on depressive symptoms for institutionalised male veterans after a 4-week intervention. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design and purposive sampling was conducted at a veteran's nursing home in Northern Taiwan. A total of 21 male veterans were studied to measure the effect of GRT. Eleven participants were in the experimental group and 10 in the control group. The experimental group activity was held twice weekly for 4 weeks. The Taiwan Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms and geriatric depression among male veterans. The generalised estimating equation was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The male veterans in this study had a mean age of 82 years (SD = 5.8); 47.62% were between 70 and 79 years old, 61.90% were illiterate and 90.48% were without a partner. After 4 weeks of GRT, the experimental group significantly improved their depressive symptoms and geriatric depression in the post-test, 3-month and 6-month follow-up data compared with the control group. These activities can reduce their depressive symptoms following the intervention. CONCLUSION: A 4-week, eight-session GRT can effectively reduce depressive symptoms among institutionalised male veterans for a 6-month period.
Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder/therapy , Psychotherapy, Group/methods , Veterans/psychology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Case-Control Studies , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Institutionalization , Male , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Taiwan , ThinkingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Elderly depression affects the overall health and quality of life of institutionalized men. PURPOSE: This study explored the relationship between depression and health status in institutionalized male veterans in Taiwan. METHODS: This survey study used a cross-sectional research design and recruited 152 elderly male residents of a veterans' home in northern Taiwan. A validated questionnaire assessed depression, health status, and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: More than one fifth of the subjects (21.7%) exhibited depression. Those with poor general health status (odds ratio [OR] = 7.9, p < .001), relatively high levels of dependence on others for daily physical activities (OR = 4.6, p = .002), or self-perceived negative influences of chronic diseases on daily living (OR = 11.7, p < .001) faced the highest prevalence of depression. Subjects with hypertension (OR = 2.3, p = .034), cataracts (OR = 3.7, p = .007), or liver disease (OR = 8.1, p = .006) had the highest prevalence of depression. Identified risk factors of depression among the elderly male veterans included self-perceived negative influence of chronic diseases on daily living (adjusted OR = 10.2, p < .001) and cataracts (adjusted OR = 4.3, p = .023). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Geriatrician nurses should develop strategies to maintain general patient health and reduce the negative impact of chronic diseases and cataracts on daily life to reduce depression in institutionalized male veterans.
