A Study on Health Concepts in Korean Elderly - Q methodological approach -

Shim, Hyung-Wha

The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education 2005;11(2):142-150.
Published online December 31, 2005.

Shim, Hyung-Wha;

College of Nursing, Catholic University of Busan

한국노인의 건강개념에 관한 연구 - Q 방법론적 접근 -

심형화

부산 가톨릭대학교 간호대학

Abstract

Purpose
This paper is a basic study aiming the establishment of Health theory according to korean culture. Especially planned to reveal the types of recognition on concepts of health in korean elderly. Methods: This study is using the Q-method, to collect rightly the concepts of objects in health. Results: This analysis shows us the 4 independent types of recognition about concepts of health in korean elderly as follows. Type Ⅰ: traditional & accommodational type, They positively agree to the concepts of health immanent in Shamanism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and folk customs. Type Ⅱ: modern & depedent type, They not only interpret concepts of health scientifically and modernly, but also positively accept the concepts of health in oriental medicine. Type Ⅲ: western medical & self-leading type, They interpret concepts of health scientifically and western-medically. Type Ⅳ: naturalistic & self-reliance type. They consider positively searching for well-being as health rather than simply situation devoid of diseases. Conclusions: All 4 types we can see that the fundamental concepts of health in korean elderly are complicated not only with mere western-medical concept of health, but also with concepts of health in oriental medicine, Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shamanism which represent the oriental view of world.

Key Words: Health, Elderly