References
Web Links

Comfort References

Kolcaba, K., Tilton, C., & Drouin, C. (2006). Comfort Theory: A unifying framework to enhance the practice environment. Journal of Nursing Administration. (Nov.) Click on navigation bar, national recognitions. PDF Format

Kolcaba, K., Dowd., & Steiner, R. (2006). Development of an instrument to measure holistic client comfort as an outcome of healing touch. Holistic Nursing Practice, 20, (3), 122-129. Click on navigation bar, Instruments on the web.

Kolcaba, K., Schirm, V. & Steiner, R. (2006). Effects of Hand Massage on Comfort of Nursing Home Residents. Geriatric Nursing, 27 (2), 85-91. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Nursing Research.

Kolcaba, K. & DiMarco, M. (2005). Comfort Theory and Its Application to Pediatric Nursing. Pediatric Nursing, 31(3), 187-194. Click on navigation bar, Instruments on the web.

Kolcaba, K., Dowd, T., Steiner, R. & Mitzel, A. (2004). Efficacy of hand massage for enhancing comfort of Hospice Patients. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care,  6(2), 91-101. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Nursing Research.

Kolcaba, K. & Kolcaba, R. (2003). Fiduciary decision-making using comfort care. Philosophy in the Contemporary World, 10(1), 81-86.

Kolcaba, K. & Wilson, L. (2002). The framework of comfort care for Perianesthesia Nursing. Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing, 17(2), 102-114. With post-test for 1.2 contact hours.         

Kolcaba, K. (2001). Evolution of the mid range Theory of Comfort for outcomes research. Nursing Outlook, 49(2), 86-92. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Theoretical Development.

Kolcaba, K., Panno, J., & Holder, C. (2000) Acute care for elders (ACE): A holistic model for geriatric orthopaedic nursing care. Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing, 19(6), 53-60. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Nursing Practice & Education.

Kolcaba, K. & Steiner, R. (2000). Empirical evidence for the nature of holistic comfort. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 18(1), 46-62. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Theoretical Development.

Kolcaba, K. & Fox, C.  (1999).  The effects of guided imagery on comfort of women with early-stage breast cancer going through radiation therapy.Oncology Nursing Forum, 26(1), 67-71. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Nursing Research.

Kolcaba, K. & Wykle, M.  (1996).  Comfort research: Spreading comfort around the world.  Reflections: Sigma Theta Tau International, 23(2), 12-13.

Kolcaba, K. & Fisher, E.  (1996). A holistic perspective on comfort care as an advance directive.  Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, 18(4), 66-76. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Nursing Practice & Education.

Kolcaba, K.  (1995).  The art of comfort care.  Image: The Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 27, 293-295.

Kolcaba, K.  (1995). Process and product of comfort care, merged in holistic nursing art.  Journal of Holistic Nursing, 13(2), 117-131. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Theoretical Development.

Kolcaba, K.  (1994).  A theory of comfort for nursing.  Journal of Advanced Nursing, 19, 1178‑1184. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Theoretical Development.

Kolcaba, R. & Kolcaba, K.  (1994).  Health maintenance as a responsibility for self.  Philosophy in the Contemporary World, 1(2), 19-24.

Kolcaba, K. & Wykle, M.  (1994).  Assessment of health promotion in long‑term care.  Geriatric Nursing, 15, 266-269.

Kolcaba, K.  (1992).  Holistic comfort:  Operationalizing the construct as a nurse‑sensitive outcome.  Advances in Nursing Science, 15(1), 1‑10. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Nursing Research.

Kolcaba, K.  (1992).  The concept of comfort in an environmental framework.  Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 18(6), 33‑38.  Click on navigation bar, FAQs, Theoretical Development, How did you get started?

Kolcaba, K.  (1991).  A taxonomic structure for the concept comfort:  Synthesis and application.  Image:  Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 23, 237‑240. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Nursing Research.

Kolcaba, K. & Kolcaba, R.  (1991).  An analysis of the concept comfort.  Journal of Advanced Nursing, 16, 1301‑1310. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Nursing Research.

Kolcaba, K. & Miller, C.  (1989).  Geropharmacology:  A nursing intervention.  Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 15(5), 29‑35.

Dowd, T., Kolcaba, K., Fashinpaur, D., Steiner, R., Deck, M., & Daugherty, H. (2007). Comparison of healing touch and coaching on stress and comfort in young college students. PDF Format

Dowd, T., Kolcaba, K., & Steiner, R. (2003). The addition of coaching to cognitive strategies. Journal of Ostomy and Wound Management, 30(2), 90-99.

Dowd, T., Kolcaba, K., & Steiner, R. (2002). Correlations among six measures of bladder function. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 10 (1), 27-38.

Dowd, T., Kolcaba, K. & Steiner, R. (2000).  Cognitive strategies to enhance comfort and decrease episodes of urinary incontinence.  Holistic Nursing Practice, 14(2), 91-102.

Fox, C. & Kolcaba, K.  (1996).  Decision making in unsafe practice situations.  Revolution:  The Journal of Nurse Empowerment, Spring, 68-69.

Kinion, E. & Kolcaba, K.  (1992).  Plato's model of the psyche.  Journal of Holistic Nursing, 10, 218‑230.

Novak, B., Kolcaba, K., Steiner, R., & Dowd, T. (2001). Measuring comfort in families and patients during end of life care. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, 13(3), 170-180. Click on navigation bar, Comfort Theory, Nursing Research. Also, Instruments on the Web.

Schirm, V., Baumgardner, J., Dowd, T., Gregor, S., & Kolcaba, K. (2004). Development of a healthy bladder education program for older adults. Geriatric Nursing, 25(5), 301-306.

Vendlinski, S & Kolcaba, K.  (1997). Comfort care: A framework for hospice nursing.  American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, November/December, 271-276.

Wagner, D., Byrne, M., & Kolcaba, K. (in press). Effect of Comfort Warming in Preoperative Patients.  AORN Journal.

Wilson, L. & Kolcaba, K. (2004). Practical application of Comfort Theory in the perianesthesia setting. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. 19(3), 164-173.  (Invited article and won a journalism prize.)

Books and Chapters in Books:

Kolcaba, K. (2003). Comfort Theory and practice: A vision for holistic health care and research.  Springer Publishing Co. ISBN; 0-8261-1663-7. To be translated into Japanese and published by Igaku-Shoin Ltd of Tokyo by December, 07.

Kolcaba, K. (2004). The Theory of Comfort. Chapter in Middle Range Theories: Application to Nursing Research. Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins. Pgs. 255-273.  (Solicited by editors.)  ISBN: 0-7817-4192-0. Book recommended by AACN for DNP students. 2^nd edition in press.

Dowd, T. (2001 & 2005). Katharine  Kolcaba: Comfort Theory. Chapter 24 In Nursing Theorists and Their Work (5^th Ed.) Mosby Publishing. Chapter 24, pp. 430-442.Updated for 6^th edition.

Kolcaba, K. (2001). Sub-Chapter entitled “Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort” in Core Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice. St. Louis: Mosby Inc. 418-422.

Kolcaba, K. (2001). Holistic care: Is it feasible in today’s health care environment? In Nursing Leaders Speak Out, Feldman, H. (Ed.). Chapter 5, p. 49-54.

Miller, C.  (1998).  Nursing care of older adults.  J.B. Lippincott.  Contributor, Chapters 1, 2, 22.  Chosen AJN Book of the Year, 1990. In fourth printing.

 Significant Citations:

Rothrock, J., Murpy, E., & Seifert, P. (2006). Tea and toast for the perioperative nurse’s spirit. Denver: AORN Publications. (Preface by editors about Comfort Theory, and invited forward by K. Kolcaba). ISBN 1-888460-54-7 alenth@aorn.org (order from this email address)

Sitzman, K. & Eichelberger, L. (2004). Understanding the work of nurse theorists. Jones & Bartlett. Chapter 18, pg 117-122. Comfort Theory a Holistic Expression of Nursing Art.

D. Robinson & C. Kish (2001). Core Concepts in Advanced Practice Nursing. Section VI, Theorectical Foundations. Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort. Pp. 418-422. ISBN: 0-323-00897-6.

B. Kozier; G. Erb; A Berman; & K. Burke (2000). Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process, and Practice (6^th Ed.). Chapter 25: Caring, Comforting, and Communicating. Pp. 430-431. Prentice Hall.

Phillips, L. & Ayres, M. (1999). Supportive and nonsupportive care environments for the elderly. In. Handbook of Clinical Nursing Research. (A. Hinshaw; S. Feetham, & J. Shaver , Eds). Pp. 600-603. Sage.

Kolcaba, K.  (2002 and 2005). Comfort.  (Includes definition, theory of comfort, relevance to nursing, review of comfort studies, and future directions.)  The Encyclopedia of Nursing Research. 1^st and 2^nd Edition, Springer Publishing.

Below are references about comfort, listed in reverse chronological order.

The list below does not include references by myself or Janice Morse, which are extensive. Morse talks about the process of comforting. Her research is mostly observational (watching what nurses do to comfort patients) and qualitative. I talk about the product (outcome or measurement) of comfort and my research is theoretical and quantitative. I believe our research is complementary. (See notation about process and product of comfort under Theoretical Development section.)

Many of the early references in the list below contributed insight into the measurement of comfort today.

Please let me know about other references that should be added to this list.

Koehn, M. (2000). Alternative and complementary therapies for labor and birth: An application of Kolcaba's theory of holistic comfort. Holistic Nursing Practice, 15(1), 66-77.

Schuilling, K. & Sampselle, C. (1999). Comfort in labor and midwifery art. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 31(1), 77-81.[See review of this article in MCN, Vol. 24, No. 4, p. 214).

Vullo-Navick, K., Smith, S., Andrrews, M., Levine, A., Tischler, J., & Veglia, J. (1998). Comfort and incidence of abnormal serum sodium, BUN, creatinine and osmolality in dehydration of terminal illness. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, March/April, 77-84.

Jenny, J. & Logan, J. (1996). Caring and comfort metaphors used by patients in critical care. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 28 (4), 349-352.

Schoener, C. & Krysa, L. (1996). The comfort and discomfort of infertility. JOGNN, 25 (2), 167-171. (Thanks to Patricia Mitchell, NY, for this reference.)

Hogan-Miller, E., Rustad, D., Sendelbach, S., & Goldenberg, I. (1995). Effects of three methods of femoral site immobilization on bleeding and comfort after coronary angiogram. American Journal of Critical Care, 4 (2), 143-148.

Keeling, A., Knight, E., Taylor, V., & Nordt, l. (1994). Postcardiac catheterization teim-in-bed study: Enhancing patient comfort through nursing research. (1994). Applied Nursing Research, 7 (1), 14-17.

Bucholtz, J. (1994). Comforting children during radiotherapy. Oncology Nursing Forum, 21 (6), 987-994. (Thanks to Pat Bishop, Cleveland, OH for this reference).

Pederson, C. (1994). Ways to feel comfortable: Teaching aids to promote children's comfort. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing,17, 37-46.

Cameron, B. (1993). The nature of comfort to hospitalized medical surgical patients. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 18, 424-430.

Ambuel, B., Hamlett, K., Marx, C., Blumer, J. (1992). Assessing distress in pediatric intensive care environments: The COMFORT scale. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 17, 95-109. [Not a Kolcaba scale.]

Gropper, E. (1992). Promoting health by promoting comfort. Nursing Forum, 27 (2), 5-8.

Hurley, A., Volicer, B., Hanarahan, P., Houde, S., & Volicer, L. (1992). Assessment of discomfort in advanced

Alzheimer patients. Research in Nursing and Health, 15, 369-377. [Not a Kolcaba scale and, because of the population, observational. An important contribution sent to be by Deborah Marks Carlson, Fort Collins, CO.]

Taylor, B. (1992). Relieving pain through ordinariness in nursing: A phenomenologic account of a comforting nurse-patient encounter. Advances in Nursing Science, 15 (1), 33-43.

Arruda, E., Larson, P., & Meleis, A. (1992). Comfort: Immigrant hispanic cancer patients' views. Cancer Nursing,15 (6), 387-394.

Bottorff, J. L. (1991). The lived experience of being comforted by a nurse. (1991). Phenomenology and Pedagogy, 9, 237-252.

Andrews, C., & Chrzanowski, M. (1990). Maternal position, labor, and comfort. Applied Nursing Research, 3 (1), 7-13.

Hamilton, J. (1989). Comfort and the hospitalized chronically ill. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 15 (4), 28-33.

Arringtn, D. & Walborn, K. (1989). The comfort caregiver concept. Caring, 8 (12), 24-27.

Rankin,-Box, D. (1986). Comfort. Balliere Tindall, 340-342.

Pineau, C. (1982). The psychological meaning of comfort. Internaltional Review of Applied Psychology, 31, 271-283.

Flaherty, G. & Fitzpatrick, J. (1978). Relaxation technique to increase comfort level of postoperative patients. Nursing Research, 27 (6), 352-355. {Note, at this time, the authors really meant to decrease pain of postoperative patients. In their next study, they changed their concept of interest to just that.]

Kaufman, M. (1964). Autonomic responses as related to nursing comfort measures. Nursing Research, 13 (1), 45-55. [An early study that related comfort to an important health seeking behavior.]

Please send any articles you you wish to be included on this page via e-mail or by snail mail (The University of Akron, College of Nursing, Akron, OH 44325-3701). These will help to build nursing knowledge about the measurement of comfort.

WWW Links

The Center for Outcomes Research

Comfort & Healing Measures