J Korean Acad Nurs JKAN Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2005-3673 Korean Society of Nursing Science 10.4040/jkan.2011.41.1.18 Original Article Effect of an Integral Care System: a Combination of Oriental and Western Care for Older Adults with Degenerative Arthritis Lee Jia 1 Ji Eun Sun 2 Assistant Professor, College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. Post Doctoral Fellow, School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA. Address reprint requests to: Ji, Eun Sun. College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA. Tel: +1-443-468-5128, Fax: +1-443-468-5430, jes2345@gmail.com 02 2011 28 02 2011 41 1 18 25 14 04 2010 25 02 2011 © 2011 Korean Society of Nursing Science 2011 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.

 Integrated health care systems Arthritis Older adults

This study was funded by a Medical New Faculty Research Grant by Kyung Hee University (No. 20071498).

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Composition of the Integrated Care Service

Contents and frequencies varied by patients' conditions.

Homogeneity Test for Demographic Characteristics, Physical Function and Pain Intensity (N=85)

Mean Differences of Physical Function and Pain Intensity (N=85)

Comparison of Two Groups for Service Satisfaction and Medical Cost Spending (N=85)