Effect of Laugher Therapy on Pain, Depression and Sleep with Elderly Patients in Long Term Care Facility

Abstract

Purpose: This paper was aimed to investigate the effect of laugher therapy on the pain, depression and sleep disturbance in elderly patients who admitted in long term care facility. Method: This study used a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. A sample of 40 elderly patients (20: experimental group, 20: control group, 65 or older) were recruited. Visual analogue scale was used to measure level of pain level, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version (GDSSF-K) for depression. Sleep Scale for sleep. The laugher therapy was given twice a week for four weeks (8 times). Each therapy consists of preparatory, action and finishing stage. Data were analyzed by PASW 18.0. Results: The pain score in experimental group was significantly different from that in control group (t=4.17, p<.001). The level of depression in experimental group was significantly different from that in control group (Z=4.12, p<.000). The level of sleep in experimental group was not significantly different from that in control group (Z=-1.43, p<.152). Conclusion: A laugher therapy is expected to be practical used an efficient method of a nursing intervention to elderly patients in long term care facility.