Effect of Sunlight Exposure and Outdoor Activities on Depression, Cognition and Quality of Life in the Elderly
1 other identifier
interventional
74
1 country
1
Brief Summary
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.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable
Started Jun 2016
Typical duration for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
June 30, 2016
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
October 2, 2017
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
October 9, 2017
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
January 12, 2018
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
April 12, 2018
CompletedOctober 10, 2017
October 1, 2017
1.5 years
October 2, 2017
October 8, 2017
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Change from baseline depression at 3 months
measured with GDS-15
baseline, three month after recruitment
Secondary Outcomes (1)
Change from baseline cognitive function at 3 months
baseline, three month after recruitment
Other Outcomes (1)
Change from baseline quality of life at 3 months
baseline, three month after recruitment
Study Arms (2)
experimental group
EXPERIMENTALParticipants 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.
control group
NO INTERVENTIONParticipants will receive routine care.
Interventions
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
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- 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
You may not qualify if:
- allergy to sunlight
- diagnosed with skin cancer
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Chiayi Christian Hospitallead
- National Cheng Kung Universitycollaborator
Study Sites (1)
BaoKang Long-Term Care Center
Chiayi City, Taiwan
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
LIN TZUCHIA, MASTER
Chiayi christian hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
October 2, 2017
First Posted
October 9, 2017
Study Start
June 30, 2016
Primary Completion
January 12, 2018
Study Completion
April 12, 2018
Last Updated
October 10, 2017
Record last verified: 2017-10