The Association Between the Severity and Level of Understanding of Depression Among Patients Treated With Antidepressants: A Survey of 424 Outpatients in Japan

Glaucoma Knowledge and Disease Severity in a Veteran Population: The Medication Adherence in Glaucoma to Improve Care (MAGIC) Study

PURPOSE

To assess the relationship between glaucoma knowledge and disease severity.

DESIGN

Substudy of a randomized controlled trial at a single Veterans Affairs (VA) eye clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

Veterans with medically treated open-angle glaucoma who self-reported poor medication adherence.

METHODS

Participants completed a glaucoma knowledge assessment using the 10-question National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) Eye-Q Test on glaucoma knowledge. Disease severity was determined using visual field criteria. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association of NEHEP Eye-Q score and disease severity, adjusting for age, number of glaucoma medications, race, sex, and VA Care Assessment Needs (CAN) score.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

In this cross-sectional, preintervention analysis, the main outcome was glaucoma knowledge as measured by the NEHEP Eye-Q Test.

RESULTS

Among the 200 study participants, glaucoma severity was mild in 53 (27%), moderate in 56 (28%), severe in 74 (37%), and indeterminant in 17 (9%). The NEHEP Eye-Q scores were low across all severity levels. Scored out of 10, the mean (standard deviation) NEHEP Eye-Q scores were 6.06 (1.57) for mild, 6.21 (1.47) for moderate, 6.28 (1.82) for severe, and 5.88 (1.93) for indeterminate stage. There was no evidence of a significant association between NEHEP scores and disease severity categories (P = 0.78). A regression model did not identify a significant estimated association between NEHEP Eye-Q scores and disease severity after adjusting for age, CAN risk score, number of glaucoma medications, race, and sex.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no difference in level of glaucoma knowledge based on disease severity. Education-based interventions may benefit patients across all glaucoma stages.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Effect of a mobile digital intervention to enhance physical activity in individuals with metabolic disorders on voiding patterns measured by 24-h voided volume monitoring system: Kumejima Digital Health Project (KDHP)

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of a mobile digital intervention on voiding patterns, we performed 24-h voided volume monitoring in individuals with metabolic disorders.

Methods

Participants with metabolic disorders were grouped into either the intervention group (n = 17), who had access to a smartphone app (CARADA), or the non-intervention group (n = 11), who did not. Urine monitoring was conducted for 24 h using a novel digital self-health monitoring system for urine excretion (s-HMSU). Body weight, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, and biomarkers were measured.

Results

Physical findings and blood test results at baseline and 6 months indicated no significant between-group differences. Night-time frequency did not change between baseline and 6 months in the intervention group but significantly worsened at 6 months in the non-intervention group, as compared to baseline (1.0 ± 0.7 vs. 1.5 ± 0.5, p < 0.05). The change in night-time frequency over 6 months did not differ between the intervention and non-intervention groups. Furthermore, the change in hours of undisturbed sleep over 6 months did not differ between the two groups. However, compared with baseline, nocturnal polyuria index tended to worsen at 6 months in the non-intervention group.

Conclusion

Our study results suggest that mobile digital intervention might be useful for behavioral therapy to improve night-time frequency and urine production and that s-HMSU might be beneficial for confirming the prevention of progress in individuals with metabolic disorders, which can aid in modifying lifestyle.

Sex Differences In Psychoeducation For Patients With Depression: A Comparison Of Frequency And Efficacy Of Psychoeducation

BACKGROUND

We aimed to reveal sex differences in depression comprehension by reanalyzing data from a previous study of patients who were administered antidepressants.

METHODS

A total of 424 outpatients were enrolled in the study. Participants were provided an original self-administered questionnaire that comprised eight items: depressive symptoms, course of depression, cause of depression, treatment plan, duration of antidepressant use, how to discontinue antidepressants, side effects of antidepressants, and psychotherapy. Each item consisted of the following two questions: "Have you received an explanation from the doctor in charge?" and "How much do you understand about your treatment?" The level of patients' comprehension of these questions was rated on a scale of 0-10 (11 anchor points). Symptoms were evaluated using the Quick Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology, Japanese version, and other scales. Patients were divided on the basis of sex, regardless of whether they were in remission.

RESULTS

Compared with male patients, female patients with depression exhibited lower levels of depression and did not receive adequate psychoeducation from their physicians. While depression comprehension of female patients might not necessarily be associated with remission, male patients in remission received more explanations about depression and understood more compared with female patients.

CONCLUSION

Depression comprehension of male patients might be associated with remission, and psychoeducation should be sex-oriented to improve treatment responses.

The characteristics of understanding of depression among older patients treated with antidepressants: a comparison between older and younger patients

BACKGROUND

To reveal characteristics of understanding of depression among older patients, we reanalyzed the data from a previous study of patients who were administered antidepressants.

METHODS

A total of 424 outpatients were enrolled in this study. We used an original self-administered questionnaire consisting of eight items: depressive symptoms, the course of depression, the cause of depression, the treatment plan, the duration of antidepressant use, how to discontinue antidepressants, the side effects of antidepressants, and psychotherapy. Each item consisted of the following two questions: "Have you received an explanation from the doctor in charge?" and "How much do you understand about your treatment?". The level of understanding was rated on a scale of 0-10 (11 anchor points). Subjects were divided into two groups: younger patients who were <65 years of age and older patients who were ≥65 years of age.

RESULTS

Older patients with depression showed lower levels of understanding of depression and did not receive sufficient psychoeducation from their physicians, but their understanding of depression might not be associated with their remission. In the younger group, the scores of understanding of the course of depression, the treatment plan, how to discontinue antidepressants, and psychotherapy items, and the total understanding score of remitters, were significantly higher than those of non-remitters. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the items score or total score between remitters and non-remitters in the older group.

CONCLUSION

Older patients showed lower levels of understanding of depression and did not appear to receive sufficient psychoeducation, but their understanding of depression might not be associated with their remission.