| Katharine Kolcaba |
| PhD., RN, C. |
Katharine has focused her doctoral and post-doctoral career on gerontology and mid-range theory development (The Comfort Theory). For her dissertation, she measured the effects of guided imagery on comfort of women with early-stage breast cancer going through radiation therapy (Kolcaba, 1998). Since that time, she has tested the theory further with studies to enhance comfort for persons with urinary incontinence and, separately, for those nearing end of life. In her most recent research, Kolcaba measured the effectiveness of hand massage to enhance comfort in hospice patients and, separately, in long term care patients. Her General Comfort Questionnaire has recently been accepted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) as a national quality measure. Katharine Kolcaba's book entitled Comfort Theory and Practice; A Vision for Holistic Health Care and Research, was published in January, 2003. If you decide to use Comfort Theory for a clinical ladder project or in a nursing class, or if you just want to learn more, this book will be a big help. It has all of Kolcaba's work, and others, about comfort in one place. In addition, there are helpful sections about doing a concept analysis, doing outcomes research, and a history of comfort in health care. You can order it at Springer Publishing, 212-431-4370, for a cost of $37.95 ($41.80 outside the US) or through her web site at www.uakron.edu/comfort.
The ISBN # is 0-8261-1663-7.
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