Objective?The purposes of this study are?1?to explore the prevalence of depression among the elderly, and?2?to examine factors related to depression among the elderly.
Method?We used SPSS/PC software to analyze data that was collected from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey, provided by the Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, R.O.C. The independent variables include personal characters, health status ?self-perceived state, activity of daily living and chronic diseases?and medical services utilization?frequencies of doctor-visiting and hospitalization?. Depression symptom was the dependent variable and scored by using Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale?CES-D?. Score of 10 or more was defined as having depression symptom. Delete the non-respondents to answer and missing values, the actual number of samples into the analysis for 2335 people.
Results?The results showed that the prevalence of depression among the elderly was 19.74%. Those who were female gender, widowed, single, less education, lower income , higher numbers of chronic diseases, more physician visits and hospitalization, lower scores of self-perceived health status and activity of daily living?ADLs?were more likely to develop depressive symptoms. Using stepwise multiple regression, education, living arrangement, Economic conditions, self- perceived health status, the number of chronic diseases, activity of daily living, the frequency of physician visits and hospitalization dependency satisfaction among elderly people can explain 21.4? of total variance in depression.
Conclusion?Results generated from this study, self-perceived health status was the strongest predictor for the depression. Researcher suggests that health care policy for the elderly should be strengthened to develop the implementation of the policy must be able to enhance perceived health status. Many chronic
diseases were related to depression symptoms. When we take care of the patients with above chronic diseases, the depression should be always in considerations.
