The Origin of Comfort Theory

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Student Name: Nour Al-jarrar Student ID: 202311414
Comfort theory by Katharine Kolcaba
Katharine Kolcaba was Born in Des 28th 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio. received her diploma in
nursing from St.Luke’s hospital school of nursing in 1965,graduated with master of sciense in
Nursing with a specialty in gerontology from the frances payne Bolton school of nursing
case western reserve university in 1987, graduared with PhD in nursing and received
certificate of Authority clinical nursing specialist in 1997 ,developed comfort theory in 1990.
Practicing comfort care means providing holistic , efficient ,and individualised care ,when
patient’s and their families are more comfortable they engage more fully in healthseeking
behaviors that includes internal behaviors , external behaviors . or peaceful death.
Comfort is a holistic outcome of nursing care, providing comfort is a competence
representing the art of nursing care.
there have been many models of nursing about 150 years ago when nightingales beliefs about
nursing influenced in the shape of proffession, in 1980 comfort activities were abserved ,
meanings af comfort began to be explored, this is whene Kolcaba started to devlop the
theory of comfort in 1990 the theory was based on the work of earlier nurse theorists.
The Origin of Comfort Theory

Between 1900 and 1929, comfort was a goal for both medicine and nursing ,because it was
thought that a patient's comfort led to their recovery.
From 1929 through the 1990's, the focus on comfort seemed to decrease and was only
reserved for patients at the end of life, with no other treatment options available .
Kolcaba developed her comfort theory after conducting a concept analysis of comfort that
examined literature from medicine, psychology, nursing, psychiatry, English and ergonomics.
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This analysis "confirmed that comfort is a positive concept and is associated with activities
that nurture and strengthen patients"
Kolcaba's theory is unique to nursing but has the potential to place comfort in the forefront of
healthcare once again.
Kolcaba related her theory to the four global concepts of human beings, environment, health,
and nursing.
Human Beings
Comfort is achieved when the patient's pain needs are met. For example, in regard to pain
medication administration, when the patient receives pain medication, they feel a relief from
the medication's effect on their pain. Relief is achieved. Ease comfort is focused on the
psychological state of the patient (Kolcaba, 2007). They become at ease because their pain is
subsiding. Transcendence happens when the patient is able to rise above their challenge of
health problems and pain
Environment
A calm and comforting environment will allow the patient's anxiety level to decrease. The
patient's anxiety level will be reduced and thus resulting in the patient becoming relaxed and
comfortable. A quiet and relaxed surrounding can be enhanced by the caring nurse and the
patient's loved ones being near.
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Health
After anxiety and pain are addressed, the patient is able to deal with the care they need and
the recovery process. According to Kolcaba, health is considered to be optimal functioning,
as defined by the patient, group, family, or community.
Nursing
The nurse addresses the patient's comfort needs and creates a care plan. As the patient's
comfort needs change, the nurse interventions are updated. If the patient feels that they are
being cared for properly, they will be emotionally and mentally better, which will aid in their
recovery.
Kolcaba's theory is consistent with the values of the nursing profession such as care, holism,
homeostasis, symptom management, interactions, healing environment, and identification of
needs
Types of Comfort
 Relief-The state of having a specific comfort needs met
 Ease - The state of calm or contentment
 Transcendence- The state in which ond can rise above problems or pain
 Physical - All physiological and homeostatic dimensions of an individual
 Psychospiritual - Internal awareness of self, including esteem, identity, meaning in one's
life.
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 Sociocultural - interpersonal, family, and societal relationships (finances, teaching,

healthcare personnel, family traditions, rituals, and religious practicesEnvironmental -
External background of human experience (temperature, sound colour
Comfort Theory's 4 contexts of experience:
1. physical
2. psychospiritual
3. environmental
4. sociocultural
Kolcaba believes that nurses truly want to provide comfort to people and also believes that
Comfort Theory supports and engages patients, families, nurses, and administration
Comfort Theory encompasses not only the comfort interventions that are provided to patients
and families but also the nurses ability to do so in an environment supportive of comfort
Support is inclusive of recognition, mentorship, workable assignments, compensation,
equitable benefits, predictable hours
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The comfort theory model supports patients in their healing and creates ease, relief and
transcendence of their healing from their complex health challenges, but also was identified
to increase the morale and satisfaction of the healthcare team
Angela DuShane
Examples of Using the Comfort Theory in Practice
 Giving a patient a warm blanket to help them increase their body temperature after
surgery is an example of helping the patient to achieve comfort in the relief sense.
 Addressing a patient's anxiety by taking time to explain their plan of care is an example
of helping the patient to achieve comfort in the ease sense.
 Coaching a patient throughout their labor and delivery in the OB setting is an example of
helping the patient to achieve comfort in the transcendence sense, which enables the
patient to rise above their challenges.
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 Providing a private, quiet room for a dying patient is an example of addressing the
comfort needs of a patient in the environmental context.
 Following a patient's religious rituals and consulting a chaplain is an example of
addressing the comfort needs of a patient in both the sociocultural and psychospiritual
context.
References
Comfort Theory (2011). Nursing theories: A companion to nursing theories and models.
Retrieved from
http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/comfort/theory_Kathy_Kolcaba.html
Elliot, Craig (2008). Introduction to nursing theory. Retrieved from
http://www.articlesbase.com/online-education-articles/introduction-to-nursing-theory-
360867.html
Erickson (Jan., 2012). Nursing theories. Retrieved from
http://nursingplanet.com/theory/modeling_and_olemodeling_theory.html
Kolcaba, K. (2003). Comfort theory and practice: A vision for holistic health care and
research. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Kolcaba, K. (2011) Nursing theory. Retrieved from nursing-theory.org/nursing-
theorists/Katherine-Kolcaba.php

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Student Name: Nour Al-jarrar Student ID: 202311414

Comfort theory by Katharine Kolcaba

The Origin of Comfort Theory

 Sociocultural - interpersonal, family, and societal relationships (finances, teaching,

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