Application of hope theory on patients＇ nursing intervention with early Alzheimer＇s disease

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of hope theory on anxiety , depression, and hope index in the patients with early Alzheimer＇s disease.Methods Thirty-five patients with early Alzheimer＇s disease were randomly divided into the observation group （n=18） and the control group （n=17）, both groups received conventional admission introduction, treatment, nursing and health education, and the observation group additionally received interventions based on hope theory .The anxiety, depression and changes in hope index were evaluated by Self-Rating Anxiety Scale （SAS）, Self-rating depression scale （SDS） and Herth Hope Index （HHI）.Results The scores of HHI were respectively （26.37 ±4.29）, （31.78 ±5.39）, （38.64 ±6.33） in the observation group before intervention , one and three months after intervention , and were （26.65 ±5.12）, （30.12 ±6.37）, （32.71 ±7.29） in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant between two group before and after intervention （F=6.95, 4.32, respectively;P〈0.05）;no significant difference was found between two groups before intervention （P〉0.05）; the significant differences were found between two groups one and three months after intervention （ t =1.96, 4.62 respectively; P 〈0.05）.No significant difference was found in the scores of SAS and SDS between two groups before intervention （ P〉0.05）; the significant difference was found between two groups one month after intervention （P〈0.05）.The scores of SAS and SDS were respectively （41.3 ±13.8）, （46.3 ±10.8） in the observation group three month after intervention , and were lower than those of the control group , and the differences were statistically significant （t=7.26, 3.97,respectively;P〈0.05）.Conclusions Hope theory used in nursing measures can improve the hope index in patients with early Alzheimer ＇s disease, release the anxiety and depression , and improve their quality of life. Key words: Alzheimer＇ s disease; Hope theory; Anxiety; Depression; Hope index