Related Experiment Videos
Comfort and the hospitalized chronically ill
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
|April 1, 1989
Summary
Understanding patient comfort is crucial in nursing care. This study reveals that elderly patients define comfort beyond physical needs, encompassing self-esteem, staff interactions, and hospital environment, emphasizing personalized care approaches.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Gerontology
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Comfort is a key concept in nursing practice but lacks comprehensive understanding from the patient's viewpoint.
- Limited research exists on the multifaceted meaning of comfort as perceived by patients, particularly the institutionalized elderly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and define the meaning of comfort from the perspective of institutionalized elderly patients.
- To identify the key themes that constitute comfort for this population.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative research approach utilized to gather in-depth patient perspectives.
- Data collected from institutionalized elderly participants describing their experiences of comfort.
Main Results:
- Elderly patients described comfort through five emergent themes: disease process, self-esteem, positioning, staff approach and attitudes, and hospital life.
- Comfort was perceived by participants as encompassing not only physical aspects but also interpersonal relationships, environmental factors, and emotional well-being.
Conclusions:
- Nurses must recognize that patient comfort is a holistic concept extending beyond physical relief.
- Individualized patient care requires nurses to actively elicit and understand each patient's unique definition of comfort.
- Clarifying the meaning of comfort with patients is essential for effective nursing interventions and improved patient outcomes.