Abstract
Objectives : The aim of this study was to identify the trend of school health research by analyzing articles related to school health for the last 10 years. this information can be used to guide research direction for the future. Methods : This study is a descriptive study that analyzed annual data. using an objective frame of evaluation about the methodology and research domain in each paper, all the papers included in the journals concerning school health from January 1993 to December 2000 were analyzed. The data was processed statistically by frequency and percentage. Results : 455 papers in 9 journals related to school health were published. The Journal of the Korean Society of School Health had 204 articles, the highest number of any journal. most of the articles were descriptive, but the number of experimental studies increased over time. the most common research subjects were students were the greatest ones, but the trend to study both parents and teachers increased near the end of the sampling period. the most common selection of subjects appeared to be based on convenience, but probability sampling gradually increasing annually. the most common research instrument was the questionnaire and the reliability and the validity of instruments were described in approximately half of the studies. The survey was the most commonly used method of data collection. The papers that met ethical issue in data collection were less than those that did not. In addition, the papers that provided the rationale for the calculation of sample size were less than those that did not. parametric statistics were the main methods of data analysis, but some advanced statistics were used more often than simple descriptive statistics in the latter part of the sampling period. In general, limit of the studies were not frequently mentioned but more recommendations were made. regarding the characteristics of the research area, the assesment domain was remarkable. The rate of school health problem assesment was the highest among research subjects. Sex- related subjects were the highest in detail research subjects. Conclusions : The research of school health has increased quantitatively, but it is difficult to ascertain its qualitative development. Therefore, on the basis of the research completed up until now, more school-based intervention studies and longitudinal studies need to be another target for the evaluation of the effects of the school health service. as well, policy suggestion through international and cross-sectional comparison studies are needed to assist in the establishment of the long term direction of school health.
