Evidence of Empirical Testing: Comfort Theory
According to sociologist Merton (1968) middle range theory can be described as a reference for empirical research and produces specific and testable hypotheses (as cited in Lasiuk & Ferguson, 2005, p. 129). Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort is a middle range theory developed by Katherine Kolcaba focusing on comfort as the main concept. Several tools have been created to measure comfort such as the General
Comfort questionnaire, the visual analog scale, and the Comfort Behaviors Checklist (McEwen & Wills, 2011, p.235). Utilizing these instruments, numerous research studies have been performed to evaluate Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort as it applies to nursing practice and nursing education and to provide direction for future research studies.
Research studies based on Theory of Comfort have been conducted on many different areas of nursing including “labor and delivery, peri-and-intra-operative care, critical care, burn units, gynecological practice, nursing care of persons with mental or hearing disabilities, emergency air transport, and newborn nurseries” (Kolcaba & DiMarco, 2005).
Comfort theory has been tested and supported in several patient populations, including
psychometric and experimental studies in small samples of women with early stages of breast cancer going through radiation therapy (Kolcaba & Fox, 1999), persons with urinary frequency and incontinence (Dowd, Kolcaba, & Steiner, 2000), and persons near end of life (Novak, Kolcaba, Steiner, & Dowd, 2001) (as cited in Kolcaba & DiMarco, 2005).
Comfort questionnaire, the visual analog scale, and the Comfort Behaviors Checklist (McEwen & Wills, 2011, p.235). Utilizing these instruments, numerous research studies have been performed to evaluate Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort as it applies to nursing practice and nursing education and to provide direction for future research studies.
Research studies based on Theory of Comfort have been conducted on many different areas of nursing including “labor and delivery, peri-and-intra-operative care, critical care, burn units, gynecological practice, nursing care of persons with mental or hearing disabilities, emergency air transport, and newborn nurseries” (Kolcaba & DiMarco, 2005).
Comfort theory has been tested and supported in several patient populations, including
psychometric and experimental studies in small samples of women with early stages of breast cancer going through radiation therapy (Kolcaba & Fox, 1999), persons with urinary frequency and incontinence (Dowd, Kolcaba, & Steiner, 2000), and persons near end of life (Novak, Kolcaba, Steiner, & Dowd, 2001) (as cited in Kolcaba & DiMarco, 2005).