Miyong T Kim1, Kim B Kim2, Hae-Ra Han3, Boyun Huh4, Tam Nguyen5, Hochang B Lee6. 1. School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX. 2. Korean Resource Center, Ellicott City, MD. Electronic address: kbkim@ikorean.org. 3. School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. 4. School of Nursing, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. 5. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA. 6. School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence and identify the predictors of depression among community-dwelling Korean American elderly (KAE). DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological survey using a two-step sampling strategy to obtain a representative community sample. SETTING: The authors recruited study participants at religious, service, and business establishments in the KA community (26 churches, 6 senior centers, 2 medical daycare centers, 1 supermarket). PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling first-generation KAE (N = 1,118; mean age ± SD: 70.5 ± 7.0 years; female: 67.2%). MEASUREMENTS: Trained bilingual nurses and community health workers interviewed participants face-to-face for demographic information, chronic conditions, and depression using the Korean versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9K). RESULTS: 30.3% of KAEs were classified as having either mild (PHQ-9K score 5-9; N = 218, 19.5%) or clinical depression (PHQ-9K score ≥10; N = 120, 10.8%), respectively. One of seven KAE (N = 164, 14.7%) endorsed thoughts of death or self-injury, but only 63 (5.7%) reported utilizing mental health services. The authors also identified several predictors of depression, including living arrangement (living alone versus living with family/spouse); having chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, digestive disorders, or chronic bronchitis; years of education; and cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' findings reveal a high prevalence of depression among KAE and a low level of mental health service utilization. Because there are urgent needs for culturally and contextually relevant interventions, the authors also discuss the feasibility of community-based interventions to reduce the burden of depression, which should be incorporated into a management system for multiple chronic conditions.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence and identify the predictors of depression among community-dwelling Korean American elderly (KAE). DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological survey using a two-step sampling strategy to obtain a representative community sample. SETTING: The authors recruited study participants at religious, service, and business establishments in the KA community (26 churches, 6 senior centers, 2 medical daycare centers, 1 supermarket). PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling first-generation KAE (N = 1,118; mean age ± SD: 70.5 ± 7.0 years; female: 67.2%). MEASUREMENTS: Trained bilingual nurses and community health workers interviewed participants face-to-face for demographic information, chronic conditions, and depression using the Korean versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9K). RESULTS: 30.3% of KAEs were classified as having either mild (PHQ-9K score 5-9; N = 218, 19.5%) or clinical depression (PHQ-9K score ≥10; N = 120, 10.8%), respectively. One of seven KAE (N = 164, 14.7%) endorsed thoughts of death or self-injury, but only 63 (5.7%) reported utilizing mental health services. The authors also identified several predictors of depression, including living arrangement (living alone versus living with family/spouse); having chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, digestive disorders, or chronic bronchitis; years of education; and cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' findings reveal a high prevalence of depression among KAE and a low level of mental health service utilization. Because there are urgent needs for culturally and contextually relevant interventions, the authors also discuss the feasibility of community-based interventions to reduce the burden of depression, which should be incorporated into a management system for multiple chronic conditions.
Authors: Lisa C McGuire; Tara W Strine; Rebecca S Allen; Lynda A Anderson; Ali H Mokdad Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2009-04 Impact factor: 4.105
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