Older Adults’ Knowledge of Geriatric Depression and Its Related Factors

TL;DR

This study finds that older adults in Taiwan have poor knowledge of geriatric depression, with factors like education and living status influencing their understanding.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the factors associated with older adults' knowledge of geriatric depression in a specific cultural context.

Findings

Older adults scored an average of 7.73 out of 18 on a geriatric depression knowledge scale, indicating poor knowledge.

Females, those with higher education, and Buddhists had significantly higher knowledge scores.

Knowledge scores varied by living status and perceived health condition but not by social distance toward depression.

Abstract

Even though depression is a severe health issue among older adults, few studies have explored their knowledge of geriatric depression.

This study aimed to explore older adults’ knowledge of geriatric depression and its related factors.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Older adults were recruited by convenience from outpatient clinics of three hospitals in Taiwan.

A total of 327 older adults participated in this study. Their mean score of knowledge was 7.73 (SD=2.12, Range=2-12) on an 18-item knowledge scale, indicating poor knowledge of geriatric depression. Females had significantly higher geriatric depression knowledge scores than males (t=2.50, p=0.01). Junior and senior high school graduates had significantly higher geriatric depression knowledge scores than illiterate and primary school graduates (F=10.23, p<0.01). In addition, their geriatric depression knowledge scores also differed by religious belief (F=4.91, p<0.01), living status (F=8.64, p<0.01), and perceived health condition (F=8.81, p<0.01). Buddhists had significantly higher geriatric depression knowledge scores than Taoists. Living with partners and perceiving their health status as fair and good tended to have higher geriatric knowledge scores than their counterparts. However, their geriatric depression knowledge scores did not significantly correlate with their mean scores of social distance toward older adults with depression.

Older adults tended to have poor geriatric depression knowledge. Improving their knowledge shall be an urgent task. Our results may serve as references for developing further depression prevention.

None Declared