Knowledge production in nursing: the (in)visibility of elderly health care

Bibliographical, exploratory and descriptive research, with a quantitative approach, aiming at identifying the occurrence of nursing studies about healthcare for the elderly and analyzing the production of this knowledge in five nursing journals published in 2005. The results show that the number of journals in this area is very limited, 3.7%. These journals are concentrated in the states of São Paulo, 40%, and Rio de Janeiro, 28%. Qualitative approaches were predominant, 50%, with several theoretical methodological references being identified. The objects most often studied were the healthcare necessities and the caretaker, with 33.3% each; the professor was present in every article published. It is concluded that there is a necessity for knowledge production in Nursing about healthcare for elderly patients. In order to make this theme more visible, it is necessary to recognize and consolidate this specialty as a professional area, have competent researchers and a national policy of research incentives.