• Xuehuan Feng, Aiwen Deng, Jianhao Chen, and Ribo Xiong.
• Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
• Fam Pract. 2024 Jun 12; 41 (3): 299304299-304.

BackgroundIntegrated care has been proven to be effective among stroke survivors. However, in China, these services mainly focus on connecting the healthcare system (acute, primary medical, and skilled) at the individual level. Closer health and social care integration is a new concept.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare health-related outcomes 6 months after the implementation of the 2 integrated care models.MethodsIt was a 6-month follow-up of an open, prospectively study comparing the outcomes of a model of integrated health and social care (IHSC) versus a usual integrated healthcare (IHC) model. Outcomes were measured by Short-Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) at 3 and 6 months, respectively.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in MBI scores between patients in the 2 models either after 3 months or at the end of intervention. The same trend was not seen in Physical Components Summary, an integral component of SF-36. Patients in IHSC model scored statistically significant higher points in Mental Components Summary, another integral part of SF-36 than patients in IHC model after 6 months. Average scores of CSI were statistically significant lower for IHSC model than for IHC model after 6 months.ConclusionThe findings suggest the need to improve the scales of integration and recognize the vital role played by social care services when designing or improving an integrated care for older people with stroke.© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.

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