title: Comfort Theory: Unraveling the Complexities of Veterans' Health Care Needs.
abstract: The health care needs of veterans, especially those who have served in combat zones and their families are complicated, challenging, and interrelated. Physical limitations impact mental health, and mental health problems affect every aspect of adjustment to civilian life. Comfort theory offers a simple and holistic pattern for identifying needs, creating interventions to meet those needs, and evaluating the effects of those interventions. The aim of this article is to demonstrate how comfort theory has been applied throughout 1 Veterans Administration System to fulfill the goal of providing quality veteran-centric care. The application of comfort theory to daily patient and family care, discharge planning, and follow-up in various settings, as well as ways to enhance institutional integrity and branding are discussed.
authors.affiliation: VA Nursing Academy Faculty, Aleda E. Lutz Veterans Administration Medical Center, Saginaw, Michigan (Ms Boudiab); and The University of Akron College of Nursing, Akron, Ohio (Dr Kolcaba).
authors.forename: Lina Daou
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Boudiab
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kolcaba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058014:Veterans Health