Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine exercise program and outcome variables of exercise intervention studies from 1985 to 2004 in 9 major nursing journals in Korea. Method: From 81 articles, publishing year, research design, subjects, exercise program and outcome variables were analyzed. Results: The 57 papers(70.4%) were experimental research among 81 papers. Subjects of exercise intervention studies were demonstrated that patients were 55.6% while healthy person was 44.4%. Exercise type by the subjects which demonstrated the highest proportion was dance movement for the elderly, walking for the middle aged women and aqua exercise for the arthritis. The 40 papers(49.4%) included exercise duration, frequency and time for the exercise program which demonstrated the highest proportion. Outcome variables to determine the effect of exercise intervention were demonstrated to be physical function, physiological index, psychological and emotional variables, cardiopulmonary function, body composition, physical symptoms, variables related to exercise and behavior in order. Conclusion: Half of the exercise intervention papers included exercise duration, frequency, time and intensity for the exercise program. Frequently used outcome variables to determine the effect of exercise intervention were demonstrated to be physical function, physiological index and psychological emotional variables.