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 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | Nil known |
| Sponsor | National Cheng Kung University |
| Funder | Investigator initiated and funded |
- 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
Plain English summary of protocol
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
Public
No.2, Sec. W., Jiapu Rd.
Puzi City
61363
Taiwan
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-1381-8077 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +886 (0)5 3628800 |
| chchang01@mail.cgust.edu.tw |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Quasi-experimental research, participant-blinded controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Effects of reminiscence therapy and recreational activities on the depression status and social support of community-dwelling elders: a quasi-experimental research |
| Study objectives | The 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 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Mild depression |
| Intervention | Participants 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 type | Mixed |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Mental health status assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF) pretest, posttest 1 (10 weeks later), and posttest 2 (18 months later) |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Social support measured using the Social Support Inventory (SSI) at the pretest, posttest 1 (10 weeks later), and posttest 2 (18 months later) |
| Completion date | 31/12/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Other |
|---|---|
| Age group | Senior |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 1500 |
| Total final enrolment | 384 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. 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 |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Do not agree to participate in the study 2. Unable to speak Mandarin or Taiwanese |
| Date of first enrolment | 10/06/2017 |
| Date of final enrolment | 25/12/2018 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Taiwan
Study participating centre
Zenhe Village
92641
Taiwan
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The 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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Protocol file | 21/01/2022 | No | No |
Additional files
- 40947_PROTOCOL.pdf
- Protocol file
Editorial Notes
21/01/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by the National Cheng Kung University Human Research Ethics Committee.
