[Types of nurse's attitudes toward the aging process: a Q-methodological approach].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyze types of nurse's attitudes toward the aging process.


METHODS
A Q-methodology which provides a method of analyzing the subjectivity of each item was used. Thirty-four selected Q-statements from each of 38 subjects were classified into a shape of normal distribution using a 9 point scale. The collected data was analyzed using a QUANL PC program.


RESULTS
Five types of attitudes towards the aging process from research subjects in Korean nurses were identified. Type I is a positive acceptance type, Type II is a negative acceptance type, Type III is a passive coping type, Type IV is an active coping type, and Type V is an ambiguous acceptance type.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study indicate that different approaches of educational programs for elderly care are recommended based on the five types of nurse's attitude toward the aging process.
Jo
Kae-Hwa
KH
Department of Nursing, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Namgu, Daegu, Korea. jokw@cu.ac.kr
An
Gyeong Ju
GJ
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D011779:Q-Sort; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires