Function of a Psychological Nursing Intervention on Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Older Adult Patients With Osteoporotic Fracture.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporotic fracture is a serious complication of osteoporosis. The long-term therapy process and the heavy restriction to physical activities give rise to a psychological burden on osteoporotic fracture patients, especially older adult patients. Psychological nursing interventions significantly alleviate negative emotional reactions in cancer patients. This research aimed to investigate the function of psychological nursing interventions in the reduction of depression and anxiety and the improvement of quality of life in older adult patients with osteoporotic fracture. METHODS: Osteoporotic fracture patients (n = 106) were divided into control group (n = 53) or intervention group (n = 53). In the control group, the participants were given conventional nursing care. In the intervention group, the participants were given psychological nursing interventions. Anxiety, depression, and quality of life were evaluated and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After 5 weeks of psychological nursing intervention, the anxiety and depression scores significantly decreased in the intervention group. The Mental Function in Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis score also decreased in the intervention group. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Psychological nursing interventions alleviate anxiety and depression in older adult osteoporotic fracture patients and enhance their mental function.

A Call to Intervene: Suicide Risk Among Nursing Students.

Researchers have found that nursing students are experiencing stress and mental health issues at higher rates than the general college student population. Emphasis should be placed on assessing nursing student stress, with increased efforts toward early detection of depression, before these students experience academic failure. Nurse educators must be the first line in addressing students' mental health problems, being the "eyes and ears" in the classroom as they advocate for students. Faculty have a responsibility to be aware of warning signs of and risk factors for suicide in nursing students, and how to locate resources for at-risk students. Suicide is a preventable public health concern, and nurse educators can make a difference.

The Effect of FAmily-CEntered (FACE®) Pediatric Advanced Care Planning Intervention on Family Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial for Adolescents With HIV and Their Families.

Clinicians fear pediatric advance care planning (pACP) for adolescents is too distressing for families. Multisite longitudinal randomized controlled trial of adolescents with HIV tested the effect of FAmily-CEntered (FACE®) pACP intervention on families' anxiety and depression. One hundred five adolescent/family dyads were randomized to FACE® (n = 54 dyads) or control (n = 51 dyads). Families were 90% African American, 37% HIV-positive, and 22% less than high school educated. Families reported lower anxiety 3 months post-FACE® intervention than control (ß = -4.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [-8.20, -1.23], p = .008). Male family members were less anxious than female family members (ß = -4.55, 95% CI = [-6.96, -2.138], p ≤ .001). Family members living with HIV reported greater depressive symptoms than HIV-uninfected families (ß = 3.32, 95% CI = [0.254, 6.38], p = .034). Clinicians can be assured this structured, facilitated FACE® pACP model minimized family anxiety without increasing depressive symptoms. Adolescent/family dyads should be invited to have access to, and provision of, evidence-based pACP as part of patient-centered/family-supported care in the HIV continuum of care.

Systemic assessment of depressive symptoms among registered nurses: A new situation-specific theory.

BACKGROUND: A mentally-healthy nursing workforce is vital to providing quality healthcare. While there has been research conducted internationally on depressive symptoms in nurses, most studies have lacked a theoretical framework. PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a situation-specific theory, the Systemic Assessment of Depressive Symptoms among Registered Nurses (SAD-RN). METHODS: The SAD-RN was developed through theory synthesis using the Roy's Adaptation Model (RAM) as a framework. Sixty-four research articles were selected to abstract relevant concepts based on a priori RAM concepts. FINDINGS: Using depressive symptoms as the anchor concept, related emergent concepts of SAD-RN include context, stressors, protective factors, negative health outcomes, and low patient care quality. DISCUSSION: SAD-RN is an evidence-based comprehensive model that offers researchers a guiding theory to be used in their future research on depressive symptoms among RNs.

The burden of caregiving among mental health nurses providing services to consumers with depression in Ghana.

PURPOSE: The study aims to explore the burden of caregiving among mental health nurses providing services to consumers with depression in Ghana. DESIGN AND METHODS: Interpretative phenomenological design and qualitative data FINDINGS: The study shows that several health system constraints and individual factors contribute to the burden of caregiving among mental health nurses. Health system challenges are the poor state of the psychiatric facility, while individual factors are stigmatizing attitudes, nonadherence to medication instructions, limited family support, and physical and verbal abuse. The coping strategies used by mental health nurses are self-motivation, emotional boundaries, and the perceived clinical outcomes of treatment. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Clinical policies, procedures, and health facility practices should adequately address caregiving challenges, to facilitate effective mental health services.

Are student nurses ready for new technologies in mental health? Mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Technical innovations such as ecological momentary assessment (EMA), machine learning (ML), computerized adaptive testing (CAT), Digital Phenotyping, Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), Algorithms, and Biomarkers have caused a paradigm shift in psychiatric care. The aim of the present study was to explore how student nurses view this paradigm shift, by assessing the acceptability of smartphone-based EMA, CAT, and biosensor-based Digital Phenotyping. We also investigated the factors affecting this acceptability. METHOD: Student nurses recruited via nursing schools participated in a quantitative study involving the screenplay method, in which they were exposed to two scenarios about depression care, one featuring EMA and CAT, the other featuring a connected wristband (CW) for Digital Phenotyping. Four acceptability domains (usefulness, usability, reliability, risk) were investigated. RESULTS: We recorded 1216 observations for the first scenario and 1106 for the second. Regarding overall acceptability, the CW was viewed less positively than CAT and EMA. Regarding reliability, whereas respondents believed that the CW could correctly detect depressive relapse, they did not think that EMA and CAT were sufficiently reliable for the accurate diagnosis of depressive disorder. More than 70% of respondents stated that they would nevertheless be interested in offering EMA, CAT or CW to their patients, but more than 60% feared that these devices might hinder the therapeutic relationship. CONCLUSION: This was the first study assessing student nurses' views of EMA, CAT and CW-based digital phenotyping. Respondents were interested in these new technologies and keen to offer them to their patients. However, our study highlighted several issues, as respondents doubted the reliability of these devices and feared that they would hinder the therapeutic relationship. Subgroup analysis revealed correspondences between acceptability profiles and demographic profiles. It is therefore essential for nurses and student nurses to receive training and become involved in the development of this new technologies.

Multiple brief training sessions to improve nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and confidence regarding nursing care of older adults with depression in long-term care facilities.

In long-term care facilities (LTCFs), nurses are key healthcare providers for older residents who have depressive symptoms or depression; therefore, they need accurate knowledge of late-life depression, positive attitudes towards depression, and confidence in providing depression care. This cluster-randomized trial was designed to examine the effectiveness of multiple, face-to-face, brief training sessions in improving nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in providing late-life depression care in LTCFs. Nine LTCFs were included in the study. In total, 30 nurses from the four LTCFs assigned to the intervention group received three 30-min training sessions and 36 nurses in the five comparison group LTCFs did not. A self-report questionnaire was administered before and after the intervention. There were significant differences between groups concerning improvement in nurses' knowledge of late-life depression, attitudes towards depression, and confidence in providing depression care. The effect size (Cohen's d) was 1.55 for knowledge, 1.38 for attitudes, and 0.89 for confidence. This training program was effective in improving LTCF nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in providing depression care. On the basis of these findings, we recommend that nurse managers and directors implement similar training programs for nurses in LTCFs to enhance the care quality for older residents.

Strain Among Caregivers of Older Adults Diagnosed With Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To illustrate the predictors of strain among caregivers of older adults diagnosed with breast cancer. SAMPLE & SETTING: This study involved 39 women diagnosed with breast cancer who were aged 69 years or older, receiving any type of treatment, and seeking an initial assessment in a geriatric oncology program at a large cancer center in the midwestern United States and their caregivers. METHODS & VARIABLES: This cross-sectional study evaluated relationships among the variables of caregiver strain, age, employment status, patient characteristics, and patient scores on the comprehensive geriatric assessment. Bivariate statistics and logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: Increasing age of the caregiver was associated with less caregiver strain. Caregivers employed part-time experienced greater strain than those employed full-time. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses must assess for strain in caregivers of individuals diagnosed with cancer, particularly if they are younger and employed part-time. Caregivers of depressed patients should be assessed for strain and offered support.

Prevalence of Depression and Its Influence on the Quality of Life of Jordanians Living in Residential Care Facilities.

BACKGROUND: As a third-world country experiencing a rise in the elderly population and changes to traditional family structures, improving psychological health is critical to improving quality of life (QoL) in the older adults living in residential care facilities in Jordan. PURPOSE: This study aimed to (a) estimate the prevalence of depression among nursing home (NH) residents in Jordan; (b) measure perceived QoL in these NH residents in the dimensions of mobility, self-care, usual activity, pain and discomfort, and anxiety/depression; and (c) assess the influence of depression on each of these QoL dimensions. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample of 155 participants living in a residential care facility in Jordan. The instruments used included a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Examination, a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and the EuroQol, which is a five-dimension, five-level questionnaire. The data were presented as means, standard deviations, and percentages as well as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A high prevalence of depression was found in the study population, with 72.3% having a score between 6 and 9 on the GDS, which is suggestive of depression. Moreover, 18.1% scored ≥ 10 on the GDS, which is indicative of a nearly continual state of depression. With regard to the QoL dimensions, 84.5% of the participants reported experiencing pain, 81.9% reported anxiety/depression, 80.6% reported problems performing usual activities, 75.5% reported problems with self-care, and 63.2% reported mobility difficulties. Pain, anxiety, and depression were found to be significantly associated with level of depression (AOR = 2.78 and 95% CI [1.18, 6.57], AOR = 5.81 and 95% CI [2.14, 15.78], and AOR = 4.75 and 95% CI [1.87, 12.07], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Depression is common among NH residents in Jordan and is associated significantly with poor QoL. This study yielded empirical data that may be used to develop strategies to enhance or promote the mental health status and QoL of NH residents in Jordan.

Prevalence of Chronic Health Conditions in Australian Adults with Depression and/or Anxiety.

The association between psychotic illness and poor physical health is now clearly articulated in the literature. By contrast the impact of depression and/or anxiety on physical health is considerably less understood, despite depression being the leading cause of disability worldwide and is associated with significantly higher prevalence of physical comorbidities than found in the general population. An Australia national cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted to ascertain the prevalence of chronic physical health conditions in persons with, and without depression and/or anxiety, allowing for demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors. The telephone-based survey was conducted using trained interviewers. Survey questions included those eliciting information about demographics, health status, and health behaviours. Independent t-tests and chi square tests showed demographic, health behaviours, and physical illness differed between those with and without depression and/or anxiety. Heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, arthritis, chronic neck and/or back pain, and asthma were significantly higher in participants diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety. Binary logistic regression showed the strongest predictor of chronic illness was having a diagnosis of depression and/or anxiety. Depression and anxiety present major health problems impacting a considerable proportion of the population. A greater understanding of the associated physical health issues should provide impetus to broaden the physical health and mental illness research agenda to include these diagnoses.

The Effect of a Nurse-Led Cognitive Behavioral Protocol on Depressive Symptoms and Coping Strategies of Dementia Caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Family caregivers of patients with dementia (PWD) often experience depressive symptoms and use poor coping strategies. Cognitive behavioral interventions may enhance positive appraisals of caregiving-related issues and the utilization of active coping strategies among caregivers, which may help prevent caregiver depression. However, there is a shortage of primary, community-based mental health services in China, and little research has been conducted on the effect of nurse-led mental health programs in this population. PURPOSE: This study explored the effect of a nurse-led cognitive behavioral intervention on depressive symptoms and coping strategies among family caregivers of PWD in China. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial used data from a sample of 112 caregivers screened from 276 potential participants in a city in southeastern China. The sample was randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 56) and a control group (n = 56). The intervention group received five monthly in-home, nurse-led cognitive behavioral sessions and telephone consultations after each session. The control group received five monthly, short, general conversations with nurse interventionists at the participants' homes, in the hospital, or via telephone. Depressive symptoms, coping strategies, and the demographics of caregiving dyads were collected at Time 1 (baseline), Time 2 (the end of the 5-month intervention), and Time 3 (2-month follow-up). IBM SPSS Statistics Version 19.0 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-two participants (intervention group: n = 47, control group: n = 35) completed the three evaluations. No significant group differences were found in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The general linear model repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated a significant difference in depressive symptoms and active coping between groups over time, with p < .001 for the interaction between depressive symptoms and groups and p < .01 for the interaction between active coping and groups. A similar result did not occur for passive coping. The t tests further supported a significant interventional effect on participants' depressive symptoms and active coping. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This nurse-led cognitive behavioral intervention was effective in decreasing depressive symptoms and improving active coping among study participants. The findings suggest the improvement of mental health services and social policies in China to support family caregivers of PWD.

Co-cultural Communicative Practices of African American Women Seeking Depression Care.

African Americans face unique communication challenges when interfacing with the health care system that has a history of discrimination and power differentials. In response to the trifecta of race, class, and gender oppression when seeking health care, African American women make critical decisions regarding how to communicate during the clinical encounter for depression care. The purpose of this study was to use focused ethnography to explore the co-cultural communicative practices that African American women use when seeking depression care. The concept of intersectionality was used to contextualize 5 domains that explained the depth and breadth of African American women's experiences and communication strategies when seeking care for depression.

Impacting Depression in Homebound Elderly: A CREATION Health Intervention for Faith Community Nurses.

Depression among homebound older adults is a significant problem. This pilot project examined the effect of a faith community nurse (FCN) educational intervention based on the CREATION Health Model, on depression in older homebound adults. Results showed a downward trend in depression scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale: Short Form, suggesting that FCN interventions and the CREATION Health Model may be helpful for decreasing depression in this group.

Prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety and symptoms of stress in vocational college nursing students from Sichuan, China: a cross-sectional study.

Nursing students from vocational college programs contribute to over 60% of the nursing student population in China. However, there remains a lack of systematic, quantitative studies examining the prevalence of mental health problems in this population. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms and associated factors in vocational college nursing students in Sichuan, China. A total of 554 nursing students from vocational colleges participated in this cross-sectional study. Outcomes were measured with the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS 21). Logistic regressions analysis was performed to examine correlates of mental health problems. The prevalence rates of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms among vocational college nursing students in China were 28.7% (95% CI 24.9%-32.5%), 41.7% (95% CI 37.6%-45.9%) and 20.2% (95% CI 16.8%-23.6%). Mental health problems were elevated as compared to a reference population of Chinese college students of all majors. However, only two percent indicated to seek treatment. The most consistent correlates of mental health problems were reduced engagement in physical and other leisure activities, poor sleep quality, experience of negative life events and poor self-perceived mental health.