A descriptive study to assess the knowledge regarding depression among elderly people in selected rural areas

Depression is not only highly co-morbid with anxiety disorder but it also closely associates with dementia. The affective and behavioral symptoms of depression are influence by the negativistic cognitive pattern that generates a tendency to react negatively in the face of difficulties and losses. In depression, the thought flow is more related to the danger and suicidal thought to deal with situations that are appraised as threatening or without control, causing sensation of personal vulnerability.

1) To assess the existing knowledge regarding depression among the elderly people. 2) To associate the knowledge score with selected demographic variables.

The study was conducted in selected rural area. This study has a quantitative approach. Descriptive survey approach is used in this study. 100 elderly people (age 60 years and above) from rural area selected for the study. Structured knowledge questionnaire were used to collect the data.

4% of the elderly people had poor level of knowledge score, 56% had average, 39% had good and only 1% of elderly people had very good level of knowledge score.

The above table shows that 4% of the elderly people had poor level of knowledge score, 56% had average, 39% had good and only 1% of elderly people had very good level of knowledge score. Minimum knowledge score was 4 and maximum knowledge score in pretest was 17.