Comparison of the prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms among elderly nursing home residents in Taiwan and Hong Kong

Background Depression in the elderly has become a serious health care issue worldwide. However, no studies have compared the prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms among institutionalized Chinese elders living in different regions. Objectives To explore and compare the prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms among elderly residents of nursing homes in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Methods Random sampling was used to recruit participants from eight nursing homes in each region. A total of 150 elders from Taiwan and 214 elders from Hong Kong participated. Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms was significantly higher in participants from Hong Kong (65.4%) than in Taiwan (43.3%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that gender, satisfaction with living situation, perceived health condition, and perceived income adequacy significantly predicted depressive symptoms in elderly nursing home residents in Taiwan. Significant predictors of depressive symptoms in the Hong Kong sample were satisfaction with living situation, cognitive status, and functional status. Conclusions It is important to consider risk factors specific to a target population when developing depression intervention programs. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.