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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Doctors' and nurses' observations on the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale | | Author(s) | Margaret F Hammond |
| Journal title | Age and Ageing, vol 33, no 2, March 2004 |
| Pages | pp 189-192 |
| Source | http://www.ageing.oupjournals.org |
| Keywords | Depression ; Screening ; Attitude ; Nurses ; Doctors ; Social surveys ; Liverpool. |
| Annotation | Although screening older patients routinely for depression is recommended, there is little evidence that this practice is widespread. Of 20 junior doctors and 25 nurses on the Acute Care of the Elderly wards at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, only 10% of these respondents would consider using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for routine screening. Objections were to process as well as content. The GDS was felt to be "too depressing" for routine use and a barrier to rapport with the patient. As well as screening for possible depression, doctors and nurses expressed different requirements from a depression scale. Whereas doctors wanted a formal method of rating and documenting symptoms, nurses required a therapeutic structure within which they could help patients to explore feelings. Nurses also wanted the option of offering counselling for their patients, but felt they needed training. Lack of enthusiasm for the GDS reduces its usefulness as a screening tool. A screening process that is more acceptable to nurses and doctors might improve depression screening practice. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-040602221 A |
| Classmark | ENR: 3V: DP: QTE: QT2: 3F: 84B |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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