Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aims to analyze the trends of the gerontological nursing researches in Korea and suggest the direction for research in this nation.
METHOD
A total of 241 dissertations and other published articles in Korea from 1997 to 2003 were analyzed in this study focusing on the design of the research, key words, measurement tools for basic concepts, and the intervention outcomes in the case of the experimental research.
RESULT
Of those analyzed researches, it was found that 80.9% accounted for the published articles and 19.1% dissertations. There were no clear criteria for the classification of the old men. The most popular research design was an exploratory/ descriptive study (54.4%). The major concepts were about 'physical and mental health'. Most of the measurement tools used were developed by foreigners, which were translated into Korean. Among 56 experimental studies, nursing intervention programs in 22 studies were based on physical exercise programs.
CONCLUSION
It is necessary to analyze the trend of gerontological health research in comparison with multidisciplinary researches for elderly people. In addition, the experimental researches for both development and verification of nursing intervention programs are needed. Also, accumulation of research outcomes and development of a standardized instrument for the measurement of Korean elderly people are required.