"Where-There-Is-No-Psychiatrist Integrated Personal Therapy" among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Pilot Study.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
; 18(18)2021 09 09.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34574438
ABSTRACT
In Singapore, many older adults suffer from subsyndromal depression and/or subsyndromal anxiety, which can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being if left untreated. Due to the general public's reluctance to seek psychological help and the low psychiatrist-to-population ratio in Singapore, this study aims to examine the preliminary efficacy, perceptions, and acceptability of a trained volunteer-led community-based intervention on community-dwelling older adults. Twenty-one participants (control n = 11; intervention n = 10) completed the randomized pilot study. A mixed-methods approach (questionnaires, semistructured interviews, examining blood samples, intervention fidelity) was adopted. No significant differences were found between the intervention and the control groups in depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, friendship, and quality of life. However, there was a positive change in quality-of-life scores from baseline to 6 months in the intervention group. The control group had significantly higher cortisol levels and lower annexin-A1 levels at 6 months, while the intervention group did not. Three themes emerged from the interviews (1) impact of the intervention on older adults' well-being, (2) attitudes toward intervention, and (3) a way forward. However, intervention efficacy could not be established due to small sample size caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Future randomized controlled trials should evaluate volunteer-led, technology-based psychosocial interventions to support these older adults.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Psiquiatría
/
Vida Independiente
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
/
Qualitative_research
Aspecto:
Patient_preference
Límite:
Aged
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Environ Res Public Health
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Singapur