Investigation of the comfort level of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within the scope of Kolcaba's comfort theory

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to determine the effects of physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural, and environmental factors on the comfort level among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on Kolcaba's comfort theory. Background: Comfort is the fulfillment of holistic needs, physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural, and environmental, that contribute to well-being. In patients with COPD, comfort is compromised due to persistent symptoms and disease-related limitations. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 140 COPD patients between June 2022 and April 2023. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the General Comfort Questionnaire Short Form, COPD Assessment Test, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale Short Form. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and structural equation modeling. Results: The model explained 65.1 % of the variance in comfort level among patients. Physical factors such as age (beta = -0.137, p = 0.007), symptom burden (beta = -0.614, p < 0.001), receiving oxygen therapy at home (beta = -0.134, p = 0.008), and duration of COPD diagnosis (beta = 0.102, p = 0.048) were associated with comfort levels. Among psychospiritual factors, depression (beta = -0.145, p = 0.004), anxiety (beta = -0.184, p < 0.001), and stress (beta = -0.378, p < 0.001) had the strongest negative impact on comfort. Marital status (being married) positively affected comfort within the sociocultural domain (beta = 0.112, p = 0.026). Environmental factors, such as rural or urban living location, were not significantly associated with comfort. Conclusions: Physical and psychospiritual factors had the strongest impact on the comfort level of patients with COPD.