[Retrospective analysis of nursing research in critical care nursing: 1975 to 1984]

Nursing research in Intensive Care Units as compered to nursing research in other medical-surgical units, both in Brasil and in the United States, is the subject of this study. Data were collected from articles published in 1975, 1979 and 1984 in "Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem" (for Brasil) and "Nursing Research" and "Heart and Lungs" (for USA). The analysis of data included type of study, its depth, metodology employed and selected subject. Increase in number of studies in nursing in Intensive Care Units, both descriptive and experimental, was observed. The authors also noted the absence of replication of research and of continuity studies.