Changes in Depressive Symptoms, Social Support, and Loneliness Over 1 Year After a Minimum 3-Month Videoconference Program for Older Nursing Home Residents

Abstract

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.

Impact of Internet Use on Loneliness and Contact with Others Among Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Analysis

“…Regardless of older adults’ level of motivation and reasons for going online, ICT training and interventions could enable them to cross the digital divide [22,68-70] and employ ICTs as a way to alleviate loneliness.…”

“…Internet use enables older adults to stay in contact with others [20,21] and communicate with their social ties [22,23]. For example, email is more effective than in-person or phone communication for facilitating regular contact with family and friendship networks [24-29].…”

“…For example, email is more effective than in-person or phone communication for facilitating regular contact with family and friendship networks [24-29]. A wealth of research indicates that ICT usage may help older adults maintain contact with social ties [20-22,24,27,30-46] with relationships taking place both online and offline [38]. Internet use can also reduce the impact of geographic distance for older adults [45,47], with dispersed families increasingly using the Internet as the primary conduit through which they sustain generational bonds [48].…”

The effect of nurse–patient interaction on anxiety and depression in cognitively intact nursing home patients

“…, Tsai et al . , Tsai & Tsai ), as well as the nurse–patient relationship (Haugan Hovdenes , Cox & Bottoms , Franklin et al . , Medvene & Lann‐Wolcott , Burack et al .…”

Treatment of depression in nursing home residents without significant cognitive impairment: a systematic review

“…The following types of interventions were tested: exercise programs (n=78–127 participants) (Cakar et al , 2010; Chen et al , 2015; Huang et al , 2016), guided imagery sessions provided in a group setting (n=31) (Elsegood and Wongpakaran, 2012), individually provided avian therapy (n=40) (Jessen et al , 1996), group visitations with a companion dog (n=16) (le Roux and Kemp, 2009), self-directed activity (n=22) (Rosen et al , 1997), videoconferencing with family members (n=90) (Tsai and Tsai, 2011), and weekly dance sessions (n=162) (Vankova et al , 2014). The evidence supporting the effect of these interventions was also mixed.…”