Effects of reminiscence therapy and recreational activities on the depression status and social support of community-dwelling elders

ISRCTN ISRCTN68130625
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN68130625
Submission date
16/01/2022
Registration date
22/01/2022
Last edited
21/01/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
In Taiwan the prevalence of depression is growing in elderly people. Some elderly people with depression change their behavior and prefer to stay at home rather than go out to socialize or do new things in their communities. This study examines the prevalence of depression and its association with social support and compares the effects of recreational activity and reminiscence therapy on the signs and symptoms of depression.

Who can participate?
Elderly people over the age of 65 years who live in a rural community in southern Taiwan

What does the study involve?
Participants were asked to join this study while attending their annual Adult Health Exam Program, sponsored by Taiwan National Health Insurance. Participants who passed the screening were randomly assigned to the recreational, reminiscence, or home-visit groups. However, some of the elders preferred to join the study with their familiar neighbors or friends, not the randomized assignment. The researchers led the participants in a 15-minute physical activity before the interventions. There were eight themes in the reminiscence group every week: summer foods, childhood memories, watching an old movie, hobbies, marriage ceremonies, hand-made children’s toys, paintings, summer activities, etc; and eight themes in the recreational group: watercolor paintings, singing, watching an old movie, hand-made children’s toys, traditional Chinese painting, poker (card game), cross-stitch weaving, and paper-cutting. The interventions provided organized approaches for the participants to use for their life-review. After the interventions, all participants gathered in the same room and were given a 10-minute footbath and a 10-minute foot massage. In the home-visit group, the nursing teacher or nursing students (or both) visited each member once every 2 weeks for health education, vital sign checks, and so on. The interventions took place once a week for 10 weeks.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The immediate direct benefits to those taking part were exercise, well–organized activities, and a footbath and foot massage in the reminiscence and recreation groups. The researchers and nursing students visited the participants of the home-visit group every 1-2 weeks and chatted with them and their families. The researchers observed the participants’ mental patterns carefully to prevent the interventions from triggering their upset mood.

Where is the study run from?
The study was run by Nanchou Health Center, Dapu Community Development Association, and the authors, and takes place in Nanchou Township, Pingtung County (Taiwan, ROC)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2017 to December 2018

Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded

Who is the main contact?
1. Assistant Prof. Chang Chis Hsiu
Chchang01@mail.cgust.edu.tw
2. Prof. Chen Chung Hey
chunghey@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Contact information

Dr Chia Hsiu Chang
Public

No.2, Sec. W., Jiapu Rd.
Puzi City
61363
Taiwan

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-1381-8077
Phone +886 (0)5 3628800
Email chchang01@mail.cgust.edu.tw

Study information

Study designQuasi-experimental research, participant-blinded controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designNon randomised study
Study setting(s)Community
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titleEffects of reminiscence therapy and recreational activities on the depression status and social support of community-dwelling elders: a quasi-experimental research
Study hypothesisThe reminiscence therapy could improve the depression status of community-dwelling elderly more effective than recreational therapy.
Ethics approval(s)Approved 01/02/2017, National Cheng Kung University Human Research Ethics Committee (No.1, University Road, Tainan City 701, Taiwan, R.O.C., +886 (0)6 2757575 ext. 51020; em51020@email.ncku.edu.tw), ref: NCKU HREC-E-102-305-2
ConditionMild depression
InterventionParticipants were asked to join this study while they had attended their annual Adult Health Exam Program, sponsored by Taiwan National Health insurance. Participants must pass the screening the Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5) to understand their mental health status. Participants with BSRS-5 scores of 6-9 were randomly assigned to the Recreational, Reminiscence, or Home-Visit group by drawing lots. Each group had 10-15 members with mild depression. However, some of the elders preferred to join the study with their familiar neighbors or friends, not the randomized assignment. The author led the participants in a 15-minute physical activity before the interventions. There were eight themes in the Reminiscence group every week: summer foods, childhood memories, watching an old movie, hobbies, marriage ceremonies, hand-made children’s toys, paintings, summer activities, etc.; and eight themes in the Recreational group: watercolor paintings, singing, watching an old movie, hand-made children’s toys, traditional Chinese painting, poker (card game), cross-stitch weaving, and paper-cutting. The interventions provided organized approaches for the participants to use for their life-review. After the interventions, all participants gathered in the same room and were given a 10-minute footbath and a 10-minute foot massage. In the Home-Visit group, the nursing teacher or nursing students (or both) visited each member once every 2 weeks for health education, vital sign checks, and so on. The interventions took place once a week for 10 weeks.
Intervention typeMixed
Primary outcome measureMental health status assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF) pretest, posttest 1 (10 weeks later), and posttest 2 (18 months later)
Secondary outcome measures1. Social support measured using the Social Support Inventory (SSI) at the pretest, posttest 1 (10 weeks later), and posttest 2 (18 months later)
2. The prevalence rate of geriatric depression measured using BSRS-5 before the pretest
3. The most worrying events for aged people of rural areas in Taiwan measured using a semi-structured questionnaire at posttest 2
Overall study start date01/02/2017
Overall study end date31/12/2018

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Other
Age groupSenior
SexBoth
Target number of participants1500
Total final enrolment384
Participant inclusion criteria1. Participants with Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5) scores of 6-9 (inclusive)
2. ≥ 65 years old
3. Live in the community, not an institution
4. Able to speak either Mandarin or Taiwanese
5. Able to orally communicate
6. Intact mental functioning based on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ)
7. Agree to participate in this study
Participant exclusion criteria1. Do not agree to participate in the study
2. Unable to speak Mandarin or Taiwanese
Recruitment start date10/06/2017
Recruitment end date25/12/2018

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Taiwan

Study participating centre

Nanzhou Health Center
No. 239
Zenhe Village
92641
Taiwan

Sponsor information

National Cheng Kung University
University/education

Institute of Allied Health Science
No.1, University Rd
College of Medicine 2F in Cheng-Hsing Campus
Tainan City
70101
Taiwan

Phone +886 (0)6 2353535 ext 5720
Email em75037@email.ncku.edu.tw
Website https://english.cgust.edu.tw/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01b8kcc49

Funders

Funder type

Other

Investigator initiated and funded

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/04/2022
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Chia-Hsiu Chang (chchang01@mail.cgust.edu.tw). The data was stored as an Excel file. The data will become available after the article has been published and for 1 year.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol file 21/01/2022 No No

Additional files

40947_PROTOCOL.pdf

Editorial Notes

21/01/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by the National Cheng Kung University Human Research Ethics Committee.