Affiliation:
1. National Health Insurance Service
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives: This study examined the effects of integrated care on the subjective quality of life and social relationships of older adults in South Korea.
Methods: We combined data from the National Health Insurance Service and a survey of older adults across local governments participating in a pilot project for integrated care. To compare before and after participation in the pilot project, regression analysis was performed using the generalized estimation equations. The dependent variables were subjective quality of life and social relationships comprising the number of people who can help and the number of people met.
Results:
Older adults’ subjective quality of life significantly improved by 0.35 points, and the number of people who could help them significantly increased by 0.09 people after participation in the pilot project for integrated care. The results were similar when anayzed by sex and age. When analyzed by sex, subjective quality of life increased by 0.36 for men and by 0.34 for women. The number of people who can help increased by 0.13 for men and by 0.07 for women. As a results of analysis according to age, subjective quality of life significantly increased by 0.45 for older adults aged 65-74, by 0.31 for older adults aged 75 and over. The number of poeplle who can help significantly increased by 0.15 for older adults aged 65-74 and by 0.07 for aged 75 and over. The number of people met decreased slightly overall.
Discussion: Integrated care in Korea helped older adults feel more satisfied with their lives and alleviated their feelings of isolation by enabling them to live in their own homes and communities rather than in nursing hospitals or facilities. This study is the first to evaluate the achievements of an integrated care conducted in Korea in terms of older adults' quality of life and social relationships, and this can serve as the basis for developing integrated care in the future.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC