Solved: Conceptual-Theoretical-Empirical Structure (CTE)
Comfort Theory: C-T-E Structure
The middle range theory of comfort for education, healthcare
practice, and research was developed by Katherine Kolcaba in the 90s. The
theory explains that patients are the individuals, communities, families,
and/or institutions that require healthcare services. The theory further
highlights that the environment is the patients surrounding or aspects that
health professionals can influence to boost the patients comfort. Besides,
nursing practice is assessing a patient s comfort requirements through the
development of necessary care plans and evaluation of the patient s comfort
upon utilizing the care plans developed. Rizk (2018) highlights that this
theory is highly significant as it emphasizes the importance of comfort in
achieving quality healthcare. This paper will examine the
Conceptual-Theory-Empirical (C-T-E) Structure of the middle-range theory of
comfort through a 5-level hierarchical structure to unite the views of
Katherine Kolcaba into an integrated outlook of the nursing industry and
professional practice.
Evaluation of the CTE Linkages
Kolcaba identifies three key aspects that make up the concept of
comfort; the aspect of ease, relief, and transcendence (Boudiab & Kolcaba,
2015). The aspect of relief in achieving a patient s comfort is highly
significant as it occurs when specific patient needs are attained. For
instance, after surgical procedures, patients experience postoperative pain; they
will only achieve relief after administering the prescribed analgesia. This
means that they will be in a relaxed state of contentment, where the aspect of
ease applies. According to Lima et al. (2016), the aspect of ease explains the
feelings of the patient after successfully countering issues that cause
anxiety. It will be effortless for the patients to rise above their challenges
after attaining the aspect of ease, a state that Kolcaba explains as
transcendence. In nursing practice, the patients will indicate pain, which
either pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment options will ease
before the patients can be able to tolerate it (Wright, 2017).
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