Nursing research in Finland from 1958 to 1995.
OBJECTIVE
To review the methods and content of nursing research carried out in Finland between 1958 and 1996. University-level nursing education and research started in Finland in 1979. In 1997, there were seven universities with nursing programs and, in all of them, active international collaboration.


METHODS
First emperical and nonemperical studies were identified, then the research topics and research methods were analyzed. Some historically interesting evaluations were also documented.


METHODS
Articles published in the Yearbook of Nursing (1958-1988, n = 228), in the Finnish Journal of Nursing Science (1989-1995, n = 116), and all Finnish licentiate and doctoral theses (n = 104).


METHODS
Content analysis.


RESULTS
The number of research articles and theses is increasing. Nursing practice has been the most common research topic, and especially primary health care and surgical and medical care. Questionnaires and interviews are the methods used most often, observational methods are rare. Most research is discriptive.


CONCLUSIONS
In the future, research is recommended in nursing care of children and adolescents as well as evaluative research.
Leino-Kilpi
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University of Turku, Department of Nursing, Finland. Helena.Leino-Kilpi@utu.fi
Suominen
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D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*