Comprehensive health seeking and coping paradigm.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Nursing knowledge advancement often relies on theories borrowed from other disciplines.
• Borrowed theories require redefinition and synthesis from a nursing perspective for adequate understanding and application.
• Existing frameworks lack a comprehensive, client-oriented approach to health seeking and coping.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the Comprehensive Health Seeking and Coping Paradigm (CHSCP), a client-oriented model for nursing.
• To provide a multidimensional framework for understanding and influencing client health behaviors.
• To offer a theoretical basis for developing targeted nursing interventions.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual development of the CHSCP based on Lazarus Schema of Coping and Adaptation and Schlotfeldt Health Seeking and Coping Paradigm.
• Identification of 12 key factors influencing health seeking and coping behaviors.
• Theoretical synthesis of client, nursing, and outcome variables.

Main Results:

• The CHSCP integrates client factors (situational, personal, resources, demographics, appraisal, goals), behaviors (health seeking, coping), nursing factors (goals, strategies), and outcomes (perceived compliance, coping effectiveness, health outcomes).
• The paradigm offers a structured approach to assess variables influencing health seeking and coping.
• It provides a foundation for developing and enhancing nursing strategies.

Conclusions:

• The CHSCP serves as a nursing-specific, multidimensional framework for enhancing client health seeking and coping.
• It facilitates a comprehensive assessment of factors influencing health behaviors.
• The paradigm supports the development of effective nursing interventions to promote positive health outcomes.