本研究目的為探討養護機構老人的基本資料、健康狀態與憂鬱程度之間的相關性及憂鬱程度之重要預測因子。本研究為橫斷敘述性之研究設計。採立意取樣，選取彰化縣11家長期照護機構，符合收案條件之166位老人為研究對象。
研究結果顯示，機構老人健康狀態以身體疼痛構面(66.12 ± 33.90)與滿分的分數差距最小，生理功能構面(17.16 ± 22.11) 與滿分的分數差距最大。健康改變部分，大部分老人（41%）和一年前的健康狀態差不多。養護機構老人健康情形，自費老人在執行生理活動，如洗澡、穿衣時，優於公費老人；男性、未婚老人及受過教育的老人健康狀態比女性、喪偶者及不適字者良好。研究樣本中有81%的老人有憂鬱傾向。重度憂鬱的老人有較多身體疼痛、自覺健康差、有因生理或情緒問題妨礙正常社交及日常活動且自覺得神經質和憂鬱；比較付費方式、性別、教育程度及婚姻狀態在憂鬱狀態方面沒有顯著統計學上的差異。運用多元迴歸分析，發現健康狀態中社會功能、因情緒角色受限、活力狀態及面、因生理功能受限構面可以解釋養護機構老人憂鬱總變異量的38.8％（R2=.388）。其中以社會功能可以解釋老人憂鬱之變異量為24.1%，所以養護機構老人的社會功能為養護機構老人憂鬱之主要影響因子。由本研究結果顯示，機構老人社會功能是影響老人憂鬱之主要因素，由此希望機構能維持老人正常社交活動並強化老人支持系統，不要因為情緒或生理問題妨礙老人正常社交活動，進而降低老人憂鬱症之發生。
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of demographic characteristics, health status and depression of older persons and to identify the predictors of depression in older persons residing in long-term care facilities. A cross-sectional descriptive and correlational research design was employed. A convenience sample of 166 older persons who met the eligible criteria was recruited from 11 long-term care facilities in Changhua.
The results of this study indicated that average score for the health status was 66.12 (SD = 33.90) of body pain and 17.16 (SD = 22.11) of physical function. About 41% of the participants reported that their health status this year was not different from last year. The participants who paid out-of-packet had better physical activies than those whose fees were paid by government. Male, unmarried, and educated participants had better health status than those who were female, widowed, and uneducated. The percentage of participants with depression was 81%. The participants with severe depression had more body pain, role limitation due to emotional problems, general health, vitality and social function than those without depression. There was no significant different in depression among different groups of payment method, gender, educational level and marriage status. The results of multiple regression indicated that social function, role limitation due to emotional problems, vitality, and role limitation due to physical problems accounted for 38.8% of the variance in depression.
This study showed that health status of elderly persons was correlated to depression. Health professionals need to keep elder’s social function and to strengthen elders’ support system. Consequently, it will decrease depression of elders.
