Depressive symptoms among community-dwelling, post-stroke elders in Hong Kong

• Published in: International nursing review Vol. 57; no. 2; pp. 269 - 273
• Main Authors: Lam, S.C., Lee, L.Y.K., To, K.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2010
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged - psychology; Aged - statistics & numerical data; Attitude to Health; Community living; Community-Dwelling; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Depression; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - etiology; Depression - prevention & control; Depressive Symptoms; Elderly people; Elders; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Health Surveys; Hong Kong; Hong Kong - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Nursing; Nursing Care; Personal Satisfaction; Prevalence; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychosocial Assessment; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Social Support; Stroke; Stroke - complications; Stroke - psychology; Strokes; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survivors - psychology; Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Hong Kong
• ISSN: 0020-8132; 1466-7657
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1466-7657.2009.00789.x

LAM S.C., LEE L.Y.K. & TO K.W. (2010) Depressive symptoms among community‐dwelling, post‐stroke elders in Hong Kong. International Nursing Review57, 269–273 Background:  Depressive symptoms adversely affect functional recovery among post‐stroke elders. Such symptoms manifest when elders face difficulties in realistic daily living after being discharged. Aims:  The aim of this study was to examine (1) the prevalence of depressive symptoms among community‐dwelling post‐stroke elders, (2) the relationship between depressive symptoms and demographic and clinical characteristics among community‐dwelling post‐stroke elders, and (3) the demographic and clinical factors that differentiate post‐stroke elders with and without depressive symptoms. Methods:  A descriptive cross‐sectional survey was performed on 50 post‐stroke elders from a geriatric day clinic. Findings:  Depressive symptoms were highly prevalent (68%) among the community‐dwelling post‐stroke elders. Depressive symptoms were negatively correlated with social support network, social support satisfaction and functional independence. Lastly, poor social support satisfaction and lower functional independence was found to differentiate those post‐stroke elders with and without depressive symptoms. Conclusion:  The inclusion of psychosocial assessment and delivery of appropriate psychosocial interventions to post‐stroke elders are recommended.