Analysis of the concept of comfort: Contributions to the diagnosis of Readiness for enhanced comfort

ABSTRACT

Objectives

To analyze the concept of comfort in light of Rodgers' conceptual evolutionary analysis model and to incorporate elements of conceptual analysis into the framework of the nursing diagnosis “Readiness for enhanced comfort” (00183).

Methods

Concept analysis with the application of the seven steps of Rodgers’ evolutionary model, oriented to the conduction of phase 1 of the validation of the nursing diagnosis. The material for analysis was obtained through the strategy of integrative review of the literature.

Results and discussion

A historical-developmental perspective of the concept with four temporal periods is presented. It reveals attributes, antecedents, consequences, substitute terms and conceptual definitions obtained from conceptual decomposition and we used them to update the components of the diagnosis “Readiness for enhanced comfort” (00183).

Conclusion and implications for practice

The evolutionary approach to concept analysis proved to be appropriate to clarify the concept of comfort, and a well-being perspective and a discomfort perspective emerged from it. An analysis of the concept of comfort in accordance with the evolutionary method contributed to the update of the nursing diagnosis. The results provide elements for future diagnostic validation studies conducted by experts and clinical validation studies, which has a positive impact on the use of diagnostic language.

Keywords:
Concept Formation; Patient Comfort; Nursing Diagnosis