Comfort Theory
Katharine Kolcaba
This page was last updated on November 13, 2010
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INTRODUCTION
The comfort theory is a nursing theory that was first developed in the 1990s by Katharine
Kolcaba.
Comfort Theory is middle range theory for health practice, education, and research.
Kolcaba's theory has the potential to place comfort once again in the forefront of
healthcare.(March A & McCormack D, 2009).
BACKGROUND OF THE THEORIST
Born as Katharine Arnold on December 8th 1944, in Cleveland, Ohio
Diploma in nursing from St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in 1965
Graduated from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve
University in 1987
Graduated with PhD in nursing and received certificate of authority clinical nursing
specialist in 1997
Specialized in Gerontology, End of Life and Long Term Care Interventions, Comfort
Studies, Instrument Development, Nursing Theory, Nursing Research
Currently an associate professor of nursing at the University of Akron College of Nursing
Published Comfort Theory and Practice: a Vision for Holistic Health Care and Research
CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS ( Kolcaba, 2010)
Kolcaba described comfort as existing in 3 forms: relief, ease, and transcendence. Also, Kolcaba
described 4 contexts in which patient comfort can occur: physical, psychospiritual,
environmental, and sociocultural.
Kolcaba described comfort as existing in 3 forms: relief, ease, and transcendence.
If specific comfort needs of a patient are met, for example, the relief of postoperative
pain by administering prescribed analgesia, the individual experiences comfort in the
relief sense.
If the patient is in a comfortable state of contentment, the person experiences comfort in
the ease sense, for example, how one might feel after having issues that are causing
anxiety addressed.
Lastly, transcendence is described as the state of comfort in which patients are able to
rise above their challenges.
Health Care Needs are those identified by the patient/family in a particular practice
setting.
Intervening Variables are those factors that are not likely to change and over which
providers have little control (such as prognosis, financial situation, extent of social
support, etc).
Comfort is an immediate desirable outcome of nursing care, according to Comfort
Theory
Health Seeking Behavior (HSBs):
Institutional Integrity - the values, financial stability, and wholeness of health care
organizations at local, regional, state, and national levels.
Best Policies are protocols and procedures developed by an institution for overall use
after collecting evidence.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE THEORY
Kolcaba conducted a concept analysis of comfort that examined literature from several
disciplines including nursing, medicine, psychology, psychiatry, ergonomics, and English
First, three types of comfort (relief, ease, transcendence) and four contexts of holistic
human experience in differing aspects of therapeutic contexts were introduced. (Kolcaba
KY & Kolcaba RJ, 1991)
A taxonomic structure was developed to guide for assessment, measurement, and
evaluation of patient comfort. ( Kolcaba, 1991)
Comfort as a product of holistic nursing art. ( Kolcaba K, 1995)
A broader theory for comfort was introduced ( Kolcaba KY,(1994).
The theory has undergone refinement and tested for its applicability.
DESCRIPTION OF THE THEORY
Nursing
Nursing is described as the process of assessing the patient's comfort needs, developing
and implementing appropriate nursing interventions, and evaluating patient comfort
following nursing interventions.
Intentional assessment of comfort needs, the design of comfort measures to address those
needs, and the reassessment of comfort levels after implementation.
Assessment may be either objective, such as in the observation of wound healing, or
subjective, such as by asking if the patient is comfortable.
Health
Health is considered to be optimal functioning, as defined by the patient, group, family
or community
Person/Patient
Patients can be considered as individuals, families, institutions, or communities in need
of health care.
Environment
Any aspect of the patient, family, or institutional surroundings that can be manipulated by
a nurse(s), or loved one(s) to enhance comfort.
CONCLUSION
Holistic comfort is defined as the immediate experience of being strengthened through
having the needs for relief, ease, and transcendence met in four contexts of experience
(physical, psychospiritual, social, and environmental) (Kolcaba, 2010)
The theoretical structure of Kolcaba's comfort theory has real potential to direct the work
and thinking of all healthcare providers within one institution. (March A &
McCormack D, 2009).
REFERENCES
1. Kolcaba, K. (2010). An introduction to comfort theory. In The comfort line. Retrieved
November 10, 2010, from
