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Self-care management and risk factors for depressive symptoms among elderly outpatients in Taiwan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2011

Yun-Fang Tsai ,
Li-Ling Liu ,
Hsiu-Hsin Tsai  and
Shih-Chi Chung
Yun-Fang Tsai*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Taiwan, Republic of China Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Keelung, Taiwan, Republic of China
Li-Ling Liu
Affiliation:
Nursing Management Department, Administration Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China
Hsiu-Hsin Tsai
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Taiwan, Republic of China
Shih-Chi Chung
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Taiwan, Republic of China
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Yun-Fang Tsai, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan 333, Republic of China. Phone: +1 886-3-2118800 ext. 3204, 5958; Fax: +1 886-3-2118868. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background: Early detection and appropriate treatment interventions for depressive symptoms in the elderly are important issues for healthcare systems. However, few studies to date have focused on understanding self-care strategies to manage depressive symptoms among elderly people worldwide. The purpose of this study was to explore self-care management strategies and risk factors for depressive symptoms among elderly outpatients in Taiwan.

Methods: A convenience sample of elderly persons (≥65 years old; N = 1054) was recruited from outpatient clinics of two hospitals in northern Taiwan.

Results: In our sample, the prevalence of depressive tendency was 16.3%. The majority of participants (70.1%) managed depressive symptoms with self-care strategies. The strategy most often used to relieve depressive symptoms was “take a walk.” The main information source for self-care strategies was self-learning. Depressive tendency in this sample was shown by logistic regression analysis to be significantly predicted by gender, marital status, perceived income adequacy, perceived health condition, stroke, and cancer.

Conclusion: Elderly people need to be made more aware of strategies to self-manage depressive symptoms. Healthcare providers can decrease/prevent the first risk factor for depressive symptoms (poor perceived health status) by improving elders’ perceived health and promoting their actual health. The second risk factor (poor perceived income adequacy) can be decreased/prevented by carefully assessing patients’ financial situation during clinic visits and providing suitable referral for further assistance.

Keywords

depressive symptomselderlycommunity-dwellingself-care
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , February 2012 , pp. 278 - 287
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2011

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