• Login
    • Submit
    View Item 
    •   Repository Home
    • UT Faculty/Researcher Works
    • UT Faculty/Researcher Works
    • View Item
    • Repository Home
    • UT Faculty/Researcher Works
    • UT Faculty/Researcher Works
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Relationship between depressive symptom severity and emergency department use among low-income, depressed homebound older adults aged 50 years and older

    Icon
    View/Open
    1471-244X-12-233.pdf (220.7Kb)
    Date
    2012-12-26
    Author
    Choi, Namkee, G.
    Marti, Nathan C.
    Bruce, Martha L.
    Kunik, Mark E.
    Share
     Facebook
     Twitter
     LinkedIn
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Background: Previous research found a high prevalence of depression, along with chronic illnesses and disabilities, among older ED patients. This study examined the relationship between depressive symptom severity and the number of ED visits among low-income homebound older adults who participated in a randomized controlled trial of telehealth problem-solving therapy (PST). Methods: The number of and reasons for ED visits were collected from the study participants (n=121 at baseline) at all assessment points—baseline and 12- and 24-week follow-ups. Depressive symptoms were measured with the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD). All multivariable analyses examining the relationships between ED visits and depressive symptoms were conducted using zero-inflated Poisson regression models. Results: Of the participants, 67.7% used the ED at least once and 61% of the visitors made at least one return visit during the approximately 12-month period. Body pain (not from fall injury and not including chest pain) was the most common reason. The ED visit frequency at baseline and at follow-up was significantly positively associated with the HAMD scores at the assessment points. The ED visit frequency at follow-up, controlling for the ED visits at baseline, was also significantly associated with the HAMD score change since baseline. Conclusions: The ED visit rate was much higher than those reported in other studies. Better education on self-management of chronic conditions, depression screening by primary care physicians and ED, and depression treatment that includes symptom management and problem-solving skills may be important to reduce ED visits among medically ill, low-income homebound adults. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00903019
    Department
    Psychology
    Description
    Namkee G. Choi, and C. Nathan Marti are with The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. -- Martha L. Bruce is with the Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, NY, USA. -- Mark E. Kunik is with the VA HSRD Houston Center of Excellence, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA, and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA, and VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Houston, TX, USA.
    Subject
    homebound older adults
    depression
    emergency deparment
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/2152/27970
    Citation
    Choi, Namkee G, C Nathan Marti, Martha L Bruce, and Mark E Kunik. “Relationship between Depressive Symptom Severity and Emergency Department Use among Low-Income, Depressed Homebound Older Adults Aged 50 Years and Older.” BMC Psychiatry 12, no. 1 (2012): 233. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-12-233.
    Collections
    • UT Faculty/Researcher Works
    University of Texas at Austin Libraries
    • facebook
    • twitter
    • instagram
    • youtube
    • CONTACT US
    • MAPS & DIRECTIONS
    • JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    • UT Austin Home
    • Emergency Information
    • Site Policies
    • Web Accessibility Policy
    • Web Privacy Policy
    • Adobe Reader
    Subscribe to our NewsletterGive to the Libraries

    © The University of Texas at Austin

    Browse

    Entire RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsDate IssuedAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDepartmentThis CollectionDate IssuedAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDepartment

    My Account

    Login

    Information

    AboutContactPoliciesGetting StartedGlossaryHelpFAQs

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics
    University of Texas at Austin Libraries
    • facebook
    • twitter
    • instagram
    • youtube
    • CONTACT US
    • MAPS & DIRECTIONS
    • JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    • UT Austin Home
    • Emergency Information
    • Site Policies
    • Web Accessibility Policy
    • Web Privacy Policy
    • Adobe Reader
    Subscribe to our NewsletterGive to the Libraries

    © The University of Texas at Austin