This literature review will be comparing two quantitative research studies conducted by Devi et al. (2007) and Schoevers et al. (2006) on depression in elderly people. The studies highlighted the variable risk factors that make elderly people more susceptible to depression, and they present different models that serve to efficiently and effectively. This literature review paper is designed to give an example of how a nursing researcher would find, read and summarize quantitative research reports within a substantive area. It will begin by introducing the topic, which is the correlation between depression and the elderly within society. As people get older, there are different variables that can account for the onset of depression; they include relationships, socio-economic status, and the prevalence of loss.
[...] Critical Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Articles The first article is Prevention of Late-Life Depression in Primary Care: Do We Know Where to Begin? It looks at the different approaches to prevention of depression in elderly people. It refers to three different approaches that are currently being employed. The first is universal prevention which in theory, seeks to provide a prevention strategy that hopes to change the behaviour of everyone in society. These can be like advertising or educational campaigns that reach out to people and tell them how actions like alcohol abuse can lead to depression, or even how physical exercise can ward off depression. [...]
[...] As the baby-boom generation ages, the number of elderly people in our population is going to increase dramatically, and this is why it is important that, as health-care workers, we endeavour to understand issues that relate to this aspect of the population, as it is a growing segment. (Mondimore pg. 106-110). Search Strategies Employed Once the topic had been identified, a search for appropriate and relevant peer-reviewed articles needed to take place. For this we used various online academic search tools, specifically Scholars Portal and ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. [...]
[...] The objective of this study was to contrast the selective and indicated prevention models to identify the best strategy for the prevention of elderly depression. Its purpose is to identify which method works the best in creating a surplus of health benefits and makes best use of resources. It seeks to develop a better understanding of what the risk-factors are so that they can be used as a first-line of defence in primary care, as a way of effectively and efficiently preventing the onset of depression. [...]
[...] These researchers also highlight what was already said, that the elderly population of the world is expanding quickly, and we must come up with a better means of identifying those who would be the best candidates for preventative treatment. They sought to identify what the most common depressive feelings were among the group of respondents. They believe they will discover that those who suffer from low socio-economic status and a loss in family ties are those who are most at risk for elderly depression. [...]
[...] It deals with the same topic as the first article, the high instances of depression in elderly people, and the need for better prevention mechanisms. The objective is to determine if there is a significant association between apparent depressive feelings and variable demographics. It highlights how it has it has been a common thought that people are just supposed to begin experiencing problems with depression as they get on in age and reach the point of being elderly. They have also pointed out that the majority of their respondents who suffer from depression are women who belong to the category of low socio- economic status, and low levels of employment and education. [...]
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