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Depression and diabetes in the remote Torres Strait Islands
Author(s) -
Taylor Sean,
McDermott Robyn,
Thompson Fintan,
Usher Kim
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he15118
Subject(s) - medicine , depression (economics) , patient health questionnaire , community health , health promotion , diabetes mellitus , socioeconomic status , demography , gerontology , public health , environmental health , population , depressive symptoms , nursing , sociology , economics , macroeconomics , endocrinology
Issue addressed Diabetes is associated with significant depression, which can result in poorer clinical outcomes, including increased mortality. Little is known about the prevalence of depression among Torres Strait Islander adults with diabetes. Methods Self‐reported depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)‐9 translated into Torres Strait Creole, and associations with socioeconomic, behavioural and clinical indicators in Torres Strait Islander adults with diabetes in five remote Torres Strait Islands were examined. Results Seventy‐three men and 115 women completed interviews. The median PHQ‐9 score was 5.5 (IQR 0–7); 42% of respondents scored 0–4 (none‐minimal), 46% scored 5–9 (mild) and 12% scored 10+ (moderate‐severe). Mean HbA1c was 8.3% (67.4 mmol). HbA1c was not related to PHQ‐9 scores (b = 0.20, P = 0.323), however exercise in hours (b = −0.34, P < 0.001) and screen time in hours (b = 0.11, P < 0.001) were significant predictors of depression after adjusting for other study variables. Conclusions This sample of remote living Torres Strait Islanders reported relatively low rates of depression compared with national samples, and depression was not related to glycaemic control. Exercise and screen time were the strongest predictors of depression based on PHQ‐9 scores. This represents an opportunity for health promotion. So what? These findings provide an indication of the health impact of physical activity in rural and remote communities. Local health and education services, councils and sporting bodies should work collaboratively to promote sustainable physical activity programs.