Operationalizing the Corbin & Strauss Trajectory Model for elderly clients with chronic illness

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Gerontology
• Chronic Illness Management

Background:

• The Corbin and Strauss Nursing Model for Chronic Illness Management (1991) provides a framework for care delivery.
• Operationalizing conceptual models is crucial for developing specific nursing practice guidelines.
• Chronic illness affects a significant elderly population, necessitating tailored care strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To operationalize the Corbin and Strauss Trajectory Model for chronic illness management.
• To develop phase-specific protocols for nursing care of chronically ill elderly persons.
• To describe the initial steps in creating these evidence-based protocols.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative effort by six nursing faculty.
• Selection of the Corbin and Strauss Nursing Model as the guiding framework.
• Development of eight phase-specific protocols, with two detailed in this article.

Main Results:

• Successful operationalization of the Corbin and Strauss Trajectory Model.
• Creation of eight phase-specific protocols designed for chronically ill elderly individuals.
• Presentation of two detailed protocols as examples of the developed framework.

Conclusions:

• The operationalization of the Corbin and Strauss Trajectory Model is a feasible first step in developing targeted nursing interventions.
• Phase-specific protocols can enhance the provision of nursing care for the chronically ill elderly.
• This work provides a foundation for further research and implementation of evidence-based chronic illness management strategies.