Effect of Sunlight Exposure and Outdoor Activities on Depression, Cognition and Quality of Life in the Elderly

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Background: The transition to long-term care facility can be a stressful and emotional event for the elderly. The evidences showed that the prevalence of depression and the cognition impairment were higher in the institutionalized elderly than the community dwelling elderly. It could affect the quality of life of the elderly and increase risk of mortality. Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of outdoor activities and sunlight exposure on depression, cognitive function, and quality of life among institutionalized elderly. Method: The design is a randomized control trial. Participants will be randomly allocated to experimental or control groups by block randomization. In the experimental group, participants will be encouraged to reduce time spent on bed and bedroom. Nurses, nurse aids or family will take participants outdoors and exposure their face, hands or arm to sunlight for 15-30 minutes a day, five days a week for three months (if the UV index is over 8 according to the forecast of Center Weather Bureau, the participants will be asked to stay inside). In the control group, the participants will receive routine care. The control group will neither be encouraged to stay outdoors nor limit the chance to exposure to sunlight. Expected outcome: The expected benefit of the research is to improve the depression, cognitive function, and quality of life of the institutionalized elderly.

Official Title
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Effect of Sunlight Exposure and Outdoor Activities on Improving the Depression, Cognition and Quality of Life of the Institutionalized Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Aging, Nursing Homes, Depression in Old Age, Cognitive Impairment, Quality of Life

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: sunlight exposure


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: resident in the long-term care facility for at least 6 months Barthel Index score is equal or over 20 able to communicate life expectancy over 12 months conscious clear Exclusion Criteria: allergy to sunlight diagnosed with skin cancer

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: experimental group<br>Participants will be encouraged to reduce time spent on bed and bedroom. We will also take participants outdoors and expose to sunlight (if the UV index is over 8 according to the forecast of Center Weather Bureau, the participants will be asked to stay inside) five days a week for three months. | Behavioral: sunlight exposure<br>* Participants will be encouraged to reduce time spent on bed and bedroom. We will also take participants outdoors and receiving sunlight exposure (if the UV index is over 8 according to the forecast of Center Weather Bureau, the participants will be asked to stay inside) five days a week for three months<br>|
| No Intervention: control group<br>Participants will receive routine care. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline depression at 3 months | measured with GDS-15 | baseline, three month after recruitment | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline cognitive function at 3 months | measured with SPMSQ | baseline, three month after recruitment | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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sunlight exposure, institutionalized elderly, depression, quality of life, cognition function