[The concept analysis of ego-integrity in the elderly].
OBJECTIVE
Ego-integrity in Erikson's stage theory is used frequently among health team members related to the care of the elderly and has specific meanings within the context of quality of life in later life. However, the concept of ego-integrity in the elderly has not been well articulated in the literature. This study was conducted clarify and conceptualize the phenomena of ego-integrity in the elderly.


METHODS
A Hybrid Model of concept development was applied to develop a concept of ego-integrity, which included a field study carried out in Seoul, South Korea using in-depth interviews with old adults who were admitted as a right person for research subject according to attributes of ego-integrity analysed in the theoretical phase.


RESULTS
The concept of ego-integrity emerged as a complex phenomenon having meanings in several different dimensions which encompassed several attributes.


CONCLUSIONS
Ego-integrity is a concept having needs that should be treated in a specific way and it is possible to enrich the meaning and methods to manage ego-integrity in nursing interventions for promoting quality of life so that its application may have effects that have positive impacts on the elderly's well being.
Chang
Sung Ok
SO
Korea University, College of Nursing, Seoul, Korea. sungok@korea.ac.kr
Kong
Eun Sook
ES
Kim
Kwuy Bun
KB
Kim
Nam Cho
NC
Kim
Ju Hee
JH
Kim
Chun Gill
CG
Kim
Hee Kyung
HK
Song
Mi Soon
MS
Ahn
Soo Yeon
SY
Lee
Kyung Ja
KJ
Lee
Young Whee
YW
Chon
Si Ja
SJ
Cho
Nam Ok
NO
Cho
Myung Ok
MO
Choi
Kyung Sook
KS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D013475:Superego