Comfort, viewed as a fundamental human desire, holds a significant place in nursing principles, alongside safety and independence. Comfort has a broader and more complex meaning compared to safety. K. Kolcaba defines comfort as originating from the fulfillment of needs for relaxation, relief, and transcendence within four experiential contexts: physical, psychospiritual, social, and environmental. The immediate outcome of this fulfillment is referred to as “comfort.” Specifically, “relaxation” pertains to meeting a specific comfort need, “peace of mind” involves a state of calm or contentment, and “transcendence” signifies overcoming problems or pain. Essentially, physical well-being denotes freedom from pain or troublesome symptoms, while mental well-being signifies a calm state and stable interactions with others. Social well-being implies the absence of dissatisfaction or pain for oneself, one’s family, and others related to one’s social roles. Environmental comfort encompasses factors such as room temperature, air cleanliness, adequate lighting, quietness, and a physical environment conducive to relaxation.

Among healthcare professionals, nurses exhibit the highest level of concern for “comfort,” which is a subjectively assessed experience and emotion for those involved. It is crucial to provide nursing support, recognizing that the conditions fostering comfort are highly individualized and that the optimal comfort range may vary depending on the situation, even for the same individual.

• Cutcliffe, J. R., & McKenna, H. P. (2008). 20 important concepts in nursing: An attempt to analyze concepts in the nursing field (Yamada, C., Trans.). Igaku-Shoin Ltd.
• Kawashima, M. (Ed.). (1974). Comfort in nursing techniques. MEDICAL FRIEND Co., Ltd.
• Kolcaba, K. (2008). Kolcaba comfort theory: Theory development process and application to practice (Ota, K., Trans. Ed.). Igaku-Shoin Ltd.