Effect of reminiscence on cognitive impairment and depression in haemodialysis patients

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment and depression are common problems in haemodialysis patients.

Aim: The present study was carried out to determine the impact of reminiscence on cognitive impairment and depression in haemodialysis patients.

Design: This clinical trial (2016) was conducted with a pretest-posttest design on the haemodialysis patients of hospitals in Shahrud, Iran.

Participants and measurements: Block random sampling was used to investigate the patients' cognitive status and Beck's Depression Scale were administered among 75 patients divided into intervention (given 12 sessions of Stinson's group reminiscence), control (group discussions), and sham (without any intervention) groups before, immediately and 30 days after the intervention.

Results: Immediately and 30 days after the intervention, the cognitive score was significantly higher in the reminiscence group than the control (p < 0.001) and sham (p < 0.001) groups. Immediately after the intervention, the depression score was significantly lower in the reminiscence group than the control (p = 0.011) and sham (p < 0.001) groups. Also, immediately and 30 days after the intervention, the depression score was significantly lower in the reminiscence group than the control (p = 0.031) and sham (p < 0.001) groups.

Conclusions: The findings showed that reminiscence increased the cognitive health score and improved depression in haemodialysis patients. Therefore, reminiscence protocols can be utilized as an independent routine nursing care measure for improving cognitive status and depression in haemodialysis patients.

Keywords: cognitive impairment; depression; haemodialysis; reminiscence.