J Korean Acad Nurs.  2011 Feb;41(1):18-25. 10.4040/jkan.2011.41.1.18.

Effect of an Integral Care System: a Combination of Oriental and Western Care for Older Adults with Degenerative Arthritis

• Lee J
• Ji ES

• KMID: 1007005
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.1.18

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to examine the effect of an integrated care service which included a combination of oriental and western care on health outcomes in elderly patients with degenerative arthritis.
METHODS
A prospective comparative design was used. Data were collected from May 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 from 85 elderly patients with degenerative arthritis in the lower extremities who were followed in a hospital out-patient department for 8 weeks. The integrated care service group (n=36) received a combination of physical therapy, acupuncture, western medicines or herbal medicines, and the western care group (n=49) received physical therapy or western medicines. Functional independence, walking speed, rotation balance, pain intensity, service satisfaction and total medical costs for the two groups were compared at 8 weeks.
RESULTS
Functional independence (t=2.14, p=.036) and walking speed (t=2.51, p=.014) improved significantly in the integrated care group while pain intensity improved significantly in the western care group (t=3.35, p=.002). The integrated care group reported higher scores for service satisfaction (t=2.09, p=.041) and higher medical costs than the western care group (t=2.15, p=.035).
CONCLUSION
The results suggest that integrated care services are effective modalities to improve mobility and quality of life for elders with degenerative arthritis.

Keyword

Integrated health care systems; Arthritis; Older adults

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture Therapy
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Herbal Medicine
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Musculoskeletal Manipulations
Osteoarthritis/economics/*therapy
Pain Measurement
*Patient Care
Prospective Studies
Walking