Prevalence and risk factors of depressive symptoms in a Canadian palliative home care population: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Depression in palliative care patients is important because of its intrinsic burden and association with elevated physical symptoms, reduced immunity and increased mortality risk. Identifying risk factors associated with depression can enable clinicians to more readily diagnose it, which is important since depression is treatable. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and risk factors associated with them in a large sample of palliative home care patients.

Methods

The data come from interRAI Palliative Care assessments completed between 2006 and 2012. The sample (n = 5144) consists of adults residing in Ontario (Canada), receiving home care services, classified as palliative, and not experiencing significa

SUBMITTER: Fisher KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4003817 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature