The Pediatric Procedural Holistic Comfort Assessment: A Feasibility Study.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Holistic comfort is an essential component of pediatric procedural care. However, a main gap in the literature is the ability to measure this. In this study, researchers report the feasibility of implementing a newly developed psychosocial measurement instrument in clinical practice. METHOD: This mixed methods study was guided by Kolcaba's holistic comfort theory. Descriptive and inferential statistics and a qualitative descriptive approach to cognitive interviewing were used. Children aged 4 to 8 years (n = 16) experiencing a nonurgent needle procedure and registered nurses (n = 14) who administered the instrument were recruited. RESULTS: Eight qualitative themes of feasibility and comprehensibility were identified. Perspectives of children and nurses were not significantly associated with any demographic variable. The Pediatric Procedural Holistic Comfort Assessment is a feasible instrument to implement but will benefit from minor revisions. DISCUSSION: This study has implications for nursing practice, research methodology, and future research. The Pediatric Procedural Holistic Comfort Assessment can be successfully implemented by nurses in health care settings.