| Keywords |
Solitary death; Research trend; Scoping review |
| Abstract |
This scoping review aimed to identify and analyze research trends on solitary death in South Korea. A total of 147 studies were retrieved from major academic databases, including RISS, DBpia, KISS, ScienceON, and Google Scholar, using search terms such as “solitary death,” “death in isolation,” and “unattended death.” Studies published up to December 31, 2024, were included without time restrictions. The selected literature was categorized by title, year of publication, publication type, research method, and study population. Keyword analysis revealed frequent emphasis on “prevention” and “elderly living alone.” The majority of the publications consisted of academic journals, with reviews being the most prevalent research method. Notable increases in publication volume were observed in 2017 and 2021. While most studies focused on older adults, research involving middle-aged and younger populations was relatively scarce. Future research on solitary death should be expanded to include in-depth exploration across various age groups; development and evaluation of tailored intervention programs; and the establishment and analysis of an integrated database. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current academic landscape surrounding solitary death in South Korea and suggests directions for future research, particularly the need to broaden the scope of target populations. |