[A comparative study on the self-care needs as perceived by women treated for depression]

Nurses' knowledge of the help they can offer women being treated for depression are primarily based on models borrowed from other disciplines rather than on those from nursing itself. Using Orem's nursing model (1991), this comparative, descriptive study (a) described the requisites for self-care, according the value ascribed to them by women being treated for depression; (b) compared these to those of women not being treated for an emotional problem; and (c) identified the types of assistance that would fulfil the self-care requisites perceived by women being treated for depression. The results indicated that, compared to women not being treated (n = 30), those being treated (n = 30) ascribed significantly higher values to self-help requisites related to assertiveness, mood, and self-esteem. In contrast, women in the comparison group attributed more importance to various means of improving their interpersonal relations. Women being treated for a depressive episode felt they needed assistance in areas mainly related to self-esteem, mood, and knowledge of depression to fulfil their self-care requisites. Only rarely did they consider the nurse or social network to be valuable sources of help. The implications of these results for nursing interventions is discussed. Recommendations are made on directions for further research.