Rehabilitation nursing with social support improves depression in elderly chronic disease patients based on advocacy promotion theory

BACKGROUND Depression in elderly patients with chronic diseases is a prevalent issue exacerbated by insufficient social support and traditional care models. While social support and rehabilitation nursing are recognized as beneficial, their integration under a motivational framework remains underexplored. Advocacy-promotion theory offers a structured approach to empower patients and mobilize multi-level support systems. This study hypothesizes that a rehabilitation nursing intervention, enhanced