Our videoconference program alleviated depressive symptoms and loneliness in elderly residents in nursing homes. Our findings suggest that this program could be used for residents of long-term care institutions, particularly those with better ability to perform activities of daily living.

BackgroundA 3-month videoconference interaction program with family members has been shown to decrease depression and loneliness in nursing home residents. However, little is known about the long-term effects on residents’ depressive symptoms, social support, and loneliness.ObjectiveThe purpose of this longitudinal quasi-experimental study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a videoconference intervention in improving nursing home residents’ social support, loneliness, and depressive status over 1 year.MethodsWe purposively sampled 16 nursing homes in various areas of Taiwan. Elderly residents (N = 90) of these nursing homes meeting our inclusion criteria were divided into an experimental (n = 40) and a comparison (n = 50) group. The experimental group received at least 5 minutes/week for 3 months of videoconference interaction with their family members in addition to usual family visits, and the comparison group received regular family visits only. Data were collected in face-to face interviews on social support, loneliness, and depressive status using the Social Support Behaviors Scale, University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, and Geriatric Depression Scale, respectively, at four times (baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after baseline). Data were analyzed using the generalized estimating equation approach.ResultsAfter the videoconferencing program, participants in the experimental group had significantly lower mean change in instrumental social support scores at 6 months (–0.42, P = .03) and 12 months (–0.41, P = .03), and higher mean change in emotional social support at 3 (0.74, P < .001) and 12 months (0.61, P = .02), and in appraisal support at 3 months (0.74, P = .001) after adjusting for confounding variables. Participants in the experimental group also had significantly lower mean loneliness and depressive status scores at 3 months (–5.40, P < .001; –2.64, P < .001, respectively), 6 months (–6.47, P < .001; –4.33, P < .001), and 12 months (–6.27, P = .001; –4.40, P < .001) compared with baseline than those in the comparison group.ConclusionOur videoconference program had a long-term effect in alleviating depressive symptoms and loneliness for elderly residents in nursing homes. This intervention also improved long-term emotional social support and short-term appraisal support, and decreased residents’ instrumental social support. However, this intervention had no effect on informational social support.

Our randomized study suggests that a standardized SMS program may play a significant role in reducing CKD progression and morbidity of late-stage CKD patients.

Senior clinical nurses can consider this study's descriptions of new graduate nurses' experiences to help them become insiders and provide quality care.

Introduction: Aging may best be defined as the survival of growing number of people who have completed the traditional adult roles of making a living and child bearing. Depression is common in the older adults and is a major public health problem. Reminiscence therapy considered an alternative intervention for treating depression in older adults. Objectives: To assess the level of depression among older adults in selected old age home. To determine the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy on the level of depression among older adults. To associate the level of depression among older adults with their selected demographic variables. Methodology: The research approach was used Experimental approach and design was one group Pre-test and Post-test design. Purposive sampling technique was used. Results: The findings of the study revealed that among 30 older adults in pre-test level of depression among older adults, 3(10%) had mild depression, 19(63.3%) had moderate depression and 8(26.7%) had severe depression. The post-test revealed that majority 19(63.3%) expressed mild depression, 9(30%) expressed moderate depression and 2(6.7%) expressed severe depression. It represents that reminiscence therapy sessions reduced the level of depression of older adults. Conclusion: The effectiveness of reminiscence therapy on depression among older adults using paired "t" test shows 7.4 significance at the level of p <0.01. Finally, it was concluded that reminiscence therapy sessions are effective in reducing the level of depression among older adults.

No abstract

The aim of this study was to examine factors that influenced the perceptions of mental health nurses about involving families in their nursing practice. A sample of 175 Taiwanese mental health nurses who are employed in both inpatient and community settings completed structured questionnaires designed to measure empathy, attitudes about involving families in care, and perceptions of family nursing practice. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's product-moment correlation, t test, one-way ANOVA, and a hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Positive perceptions of family nursing practice were correlated with more years of clinical experience in mental health, empathy, supportive attitudes toward the importance of family nursing care, and personal experiences with family members with serious illness in need of professional care. These findings may assist in the development of effective educational programs designed to help nurses integrate family nursing knowledge and skills in the care of patients and families experiencing mental illness.

No abstract