PURPOSE
A study was designed to compare heart rate variability (HVR) of older adults with postprandial hypotension (PPH) with older adults with no PPH.
METHODS
The samples were community-dwelling older adults (> or = 60 years old) with PPH (n=35) and without PPH (n=35). HRV was measured by 10 minutes of electrocardiography using Physiolab 400 and analyzed in time domain (SDNN) and with power spectral analysis in frequency domain (TP, LF, HF, LF/HF). Blood pressure was measured every 15 minutes before and until 120 minutes after the meal.
RESULTS
All HRV parameters were lower in the PPH group compared to those with no PPH. Specifically the measures of SDNN, TP, LF, and LF/HF of the PPH group were significantly lower (U=385.0, p=.008; U=361.0, p=.003; U=375.0, p=.005; U=368.0, p=.004, respectively). Further, the LF and LF/HF of SBP (> or =140 mmHg) group and the LF/HF of DBP (> or = 90 mmHg) group were significantly lower (chi2=6.33, p=.042; chi2=33.10, p<.001; chi2=11.03, p=.004, respectively).
CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that the autonomic nervous functions in persons with PPH are less activated than those persons with no PPH. The findings contribute to an understanding of HRV and the association of autonomic nervous function with the mechanism of PPH.

PURPOSE
The aims of this study were to examine the trend of quantitative study in Korean Journal of Adult Nursing published between 1989-2011 and to provide future directions for nursing research in adult health nursing.
METHODS
A total of 883 published articles were reviewed, and main subject and the methodology were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
RESULTS
The most frequently cited keywords were elderly, quality of life, depression, knowledge, stress and anxiety. The survey study was the most popular research design (67.6%) followed by experimental (26.5%), and methodological study (5.5%) design. Over 80% of studies with translated or developed instruments reported reliability for psychometric analysis, while only 18% of the studies reported validity of the instruments they used. In the periods of 2006~2011, significantly more studies utilized experimental design, obtained IRB approval and written consent, and included power analysis for sample size calculation. In recent experimental study, educational program and complimentary therapy were the two most frequently used interventions.
CONCLUSION
Through the analysis of nursing studies published in Korean Journal of Adult Nursing, we found the number of experimental studies has increased and methodological rigor has improved in recent years.