O conforto do doente idoso crónico em contexto hospitalar: contributos para uma revisão sistemática da literatura

This article constitutes the report of a study which contributes to a systematic analysis review of the literature (RS) centred on the theme of comfort in the nursing care of the hospitalized older long-term patient. No work was found at the national level which directly connected with the comfort process of the hospitalized older long-term patient, while at the international level there exist a few investigations with samples of sick persons or care providers/nursing professionals which seek to access the perspectives/ experiences of the different players. The goal is to identify the best available evidence on the comfort process – structure, construction and response to comfort – of the hospitalized older long-term patient – including as participants aged persons and nursing professionals/care providers, revealing also fundamental aspects of the literature. The PI[C]OD methodology and the technique of analysis and data integration of meta-summary was used to guide the SR. Only four studies were identified and their findings were analyzed and synthesized. Although the studies reveal some ways forward, these are not sufficiently conclusive and specific to answer the study’s central question. We recommend the development of an investigation which allows understanding of the nature of the comfort process in relation to the older patient living with a chronic condition in a hospital context..