Self-care agency: conceptualizations and operationalizations.
This article traces the interactive process between theory and research as it has been used to clarify the concept of self-care agency, a key concept in Orem's model of nursing. Theoretical constructions of self-care agency that have emerged in the work of Orem and the Nursing Development Conference Group are reviewed. Operational measures of self-care agency are described, particularly with regard to their underlying theoretical formulations. Factorial structures for some self-care agency instruments are related to the components of self-care agency in Orem's most recent conceptualization. Dimensions of self-care agency that are consistently supported by research studies of this phenomenon are identified.
Gast
H L
HL
College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
Denyes
M J
MJ
Campbell
J C
JC
Hartweg
D L
DL
Schott-Baer
D
D
Isenberg
M
M
D001294:Attitude to Health; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D015399:Nursing Research; D009742:Nursing Theory; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept