This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health preservation for depression on depressive symptoms reduction and other health-related outcomes among Hong Kong Chinese adults with depression. Participants in intervention group will receive TCM health preservation course for six weeks (6 sessions, 2 hours each) and practice TCM health preservation during the 6-week follow-up period. Participants in the control group (waitlist control) will receive usual care. After the follow-up assessment, TCM health preservation courses for depression will be provided to them for compensation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
31
The traditional Chinese medicine health preservation intervention for depression was developed based on a previous systematic review and meta-analysis of Traditional Chinese medicine based integrated health interventions for depression, traditional Chinese medicine health preservation textbooks, clinical practice guidelines related to traditional Chinese medicine health preservation and traditional Chinese medicine treatment for depression. The content and structure of traditional Chinese medicine health preservation for depression was achieved among Hong Kong traditional Chinese medicine experts via a Delphi study.
Usual care
School of Nursing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Change in the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
The PHQ-9, a self-rated questionnaire to assess the presence and severity of depressive symptoms of an individual during the last 2 weeks on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day), with a total score ranging from 0 to 27. A higher score indicates a higher severity of depression symptoms.
Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline, week 2, week 4, week 6, week 8, week 12
Change in the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
The GAD-7 is a four-point Likert scale for identifying probable cases of GAD and assess the severity of symptoms of GAD for the past 2 weeks. The total score of GAD-7 varies from 0 to 21, and responses include "nearly every day," "more than half the days," "several days", and "not at all". The cutoff point of 5, 10, and 15 of GAD-7 might be interpreted as showing mild, moderate, and severe levels of anxiety. Higher scores indicate more severe GAD symptoms.
Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline, week 2, week 4, week 6, week 8, week 12
Change in the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)
The PSS-10 is a 10-item scale that is often used for measuring perceived psychological stress. Each item is rated on a 5-point Liket scale during the past month, referring to "4" as "very often" and "0" as never. The total score changes from 0 to 40, with a higher score meaning a higher perceived psychological stress level.
Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline, week 2, week 4, week 6, week 8, week 12
Change in the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
The ISI is a seven-item self-rating scale to assess the severity of insomnia, distress, and functional impairment associated with insomnia on a 5-point Likert scale. The score of each item of ISI ranges from 0 (no problem) to 4 (very severe problem), and the total score is interpreted as below: absence of insomnia as 0 to 7, sub-threshold insomnia as 8 to14, moderate insomnia as 15 to 21, and severe insomnia as 22 to 28.
Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline, week 2, week 4, week 6, week 8, week 12
Change in the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS)
The FAS is a 10-item scale that evaluates symptoms of chronic fatigue with a five-point Likert-type scale, which ranges from 1 ("never") to 5 ("always"). A higher score means greater fatigue severity. The total score ranges from 10 to 50. A total FAS score \< 22 means no fatigue, a score≥ 22 refers to fatigue.
Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline, week 2, week 4, week 6, week 8, week 12
Change in the Short-Form (six-dimension) Health Survey (SF-6D)
The SF-6D covers six domains using a scale of 1 to 6 to evaluate participants' general health and quality of life. Higher scores indicate better health status.
Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline, week 6, week 8, week 12
Change in the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE)
The GSE scale is a four-point Likert scale with ten items appropriate for evaluating an individual's self-efficacy. It is scored ranging from 1 point to 4 points, referring to "not at all true" to "exactly true" and the total score varied from 10 to 40. A higher score shows a more satisfactory self-efficacy.
Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline, week 2, week 4, week 6, week 8, week 12
Change in the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II)
The HPLP II is a scale with 52 items and 6 domains for measuring health-promoting behavior, defined as a multidimensional pattern of self-initiated perceptions and actions that serve to maintain or increase the level of self-actualization, wellness, and fulfillment of a person. The total scores of HPLP-II varies from 52 to 208. Higher HPLP II score denotes better level of health-promoting lifestyle.
Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline, week 4, week 6, week 8, week 12
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.