Faculty of Sciences, Al Maaref University, Beirut, Lebanon.
Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, to be Nursing College, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2024 Apr 1;25(4):1271-1276. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.4.1271.
This study aimed to explore the relationship between depressive symptoms and demographic as well as health-related variables in elderly individuals diagnosed with cancer.
A cohort of 50 elderly cancer patients participated in the study. Data collection involved the completion of surveys and assessments encompassing demographic characteristics, medical profiles, levels of depression, cognitive functioning, activities of daily living, and perceived social support.
Findings revealed that among the elderly participants, 45% experienced mild depression, 20% exhibited moderate depression, and 5% showed severe depression. Depression levels were found to be linked to marital status (P = 0.03), with widowed individuals reporting the highest depression rates (80%) and single individuals reporting the lowest (4%). Living arrangements were significantly associated with depression (P = 0.012), with participants cohabiting with their partner and children showing lower depression rates (6%) compared to those living solely with their children (40%). Additionally, depression showed a significant correlation with income (P = 0.01), as individuals reporting insufficient income for living expenses displayed higher levels of depression (58%). Furthermore, depression was notably linked to chronic health conditions like diabetes and respiratory ailments (P = .023), with individuals grappling with respiratory issues reporting the highest depression scores.
Recognizing and addressing factors such as marital status, living situation, income level, and the presence of chronic illnesses hold the potential for healthcare professionals to tailor interventions effectively to meet the specific requirements of this vulnerable demographic. This tailored approach has the capability to contribute significantly to enhancing the overall well-being and mental health outcomes of elderly cancer patients.
本研究旨在探讨老年癌症患者的抑郁症状与人口统计学及健康相关变量之间的关系。
本研究纳入了 50 名老年癌症患者。数据收集包括完成调查和评估，涵盖人口统计学特征、医疗档案、抑郁水平、认知功能、日常生活活动和感知社会支持。
研究结果显示，在老年参与者中，45%的人患有轻度抑郁，20%的人患有中度抑郁，5%的人患有重度抑郁。抑郁水平与婚姻状况有关（P=0.03），丧偶者的抑郁发生率最高（80%），单身者的抑郁发生率最低（4%）。居住安排与抑郁显著相关（P=0.012），与子女同住的参与者和与伴侣同住的参与者的抑郁发生率较低（6%），而独居与子女同住的参与者的抑郁发生率较高（40%）。此外，抑郁与收入显著相关（P=0.01），收入不足以支付生活费用的人表现出更高水平的抑郁（58%）。此外，抑郁与糖尿病和呼吸疾病等慢性健康状况显著相关（P=0.023），患有呼吸问题的人报告的抑郁评分最高。
识别和解决婚姻状况、居住情况、收入水平以及慢性疾病等因素，为医疗保健专业人员提供了机会，可以根据这一脆弱人群的特定需求，有效地调整干预措施。这种针对性的方法有可能显著改善老年癌症患者的整体幸福感和心理健康状况。
