Aims and background: continuous and effective care is needed to improve the quality of life of patients with depression. The present study aimed to determine the effect of nursing home care on the quality of life of patients with Major Depressive Disorder.
Design: This is a clinical trial study in which a total of 50 patients with Major Depressive Disorder were recruited using convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to two groups of control and intervention.
Methods: Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire at three time-points of before, three months, and six months after the intervention. Patients in the intervention group received nursing home care in accordance with nursing process (5-6 training sessions of 1.5 to 2 h, one session every two weeks over three months). They also received telephone follow-up. Data were analyzed with SPSS software version 16.0 using independent-samples t-test, chi square and repeated measures Analysis of Variance.
Results: The results of the present study indicated there was a significant difference in the mean score of the overall quality of life and its domains between the intervention and the control group at three and six months after the intervention.
Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it was concluded that the nursing home care program can improve the quality of life and its domains in patients with Major Depressive Disorder.
Relevance to clinical practice: According to this study, by follow up of patients with major depression disorder after discharge and performing care and counseling interventions at home besides routine treatment plan, it is possible to prevent re-hospitalization and decrease hospitalization costs.
Keywords: Depressive disorder; Home care service; Major; Quality of life.
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