Knowledge of risk factors for depression among hospitalized elderly patients with depressive cases in teaching hospitals in southeast Nigeria

The present study was a surface survey that determined the level of knowledge of risk factors for depression possessed by hospitalized elderly patients with depressive cases in teaching hospitals in Southeast Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total of 200 eligible participants were studied. Data was collected through interview method and questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis. The study revealed that the level of knowledge of risk factors for depression possessed by hospitalized elderly patients with depressive cases in teaching hospitals in Southeast Nigeria was adequate. The study further showed the socio-demographic differences on the level of knowledge of risk factors for depression among the participants. Statistically, significant difference existed on some socio-demographic variables while no significant difference was indicated on others at 0.05 level of significance. The hospitalized elderly patients with depressive cases in teaching hospitals in Southeast Nigeria possessed adequate knowledge of risk factors for depression. However, their level of knowledge regarding the risk factors for depression differed within variables, thus suggesting the crucial need for optimization and effective education intervention such as public health education regarding risk factors for depression and other chronic diseases particularly in elderly.