The Comfort Theory as a Theoretical Framework Applied to a Clinical Case of Hospital at Home

Abstract

The comfort theory was applied in the development of a nursing process for the clinical case of an older adult with pneumonia treated under hospital at home. It was observed that the theory is easy to apply in the domiciliary context and that it allows the implementation of a holistic care plan.

Análise do conceito de conforto: contribuições para o diagnóstico de Disposição para Conforto melhorado

“…3,4,27,29,30,31 Pain. 1,24,26,36 Psychological, physical and spiritual discomfort. 1,3,24,25,31 Stress.…”

“…Satisfied basic human needs (relief, ease and transcendence). 1,3,4,10,27,29,30,31,32,33,36 Specific discomfort relieved. 3,4,24,25,29,30,31,33,35 Not feeling pain.…”

“…33,36 Relief of stress. 36 Increase in the level of comfort. 3,4,26,27,29,36 Absence of discomfort conditions.…”

“…36 Increase in the level of comfort. 3,4,26,27,29,36 Absence of discomfort conditions. 4,10,26,29 Feeling strong, refreshed.…”

Hospital at Home: An Overview of Literature

“…The patient must be absent of active drug habits. 9,17 According to the literature, HAH should not be offered to patients with impaired level of consciousness; acute confusion; pH <7.35; acute changes on chest radiograph; concomitant medical problem requiring inpatient stay; insufficient social support, no telephone, residence geographically far from hospital actuation area; and new hypoxemia. 18 Other exclusion criteria encompasses patients admitted in the preceding 2 months for deterioration of the same disease; presence of severe symptoms and/or poor prognosis factors (hemodynamic instability, severe arrhythmia, baseline creatinine above 2.5 mg/dL); no response to treatment in the emergency department; active cancer, severe dementia, or any other disease at an advanced stage indicating life expectancy of less than 6 months; acute psychiatric diseases; active alcoholism; active pulmonary tuberculosis; those living in a psycho-geriatric institution; if there is no guarantee of all-day supervision; and absence of a telephone line at home.…”