Comparison of Domestic and International Research (1992-2011): Intensive Care Nursing Studies

국내·외 중환자간호 연구의 동향 분석: 양적 연구를 중심으로

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the approaches, methods and questions asked in intensive care unit studies published in Korean journals and the American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC) from 1992 to 2011. Only quantitative studies were reviewed. Methods: A total of 144 studies published in four Korean Journals and 521 studies published in American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC) were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The most frequently used research design reported in Korean journals were surveys (83.5%), protocol development (10.1%), and randomized controlled trials (6.2%). In AJCC, the most frequently reported design was survey research (90.4%) and randomized controlled trials (16.1%). The most frequent nursing intervention reported in the AJCC was tube care (10.8%), and in Korean journals the intervention of suctioning (10.8%). In Korea, nurses were more likely to study instrument measurements (31.0%) and positioning (13.5%). In reported studies in the AJCC there were more reports on emotional support, exercise, and measurement research. Conclusion: There is overlap in the type of studies between the two countries in term of study design, whereas the types of nursing problems studied differed in United States and Korea. The result suggests that there were gaps and those more diverse studies and physiological measurements are needed.