Application of Concept Analysis to Clinical Practice

Application of Concept Analysis to Clinical Practice

Concept Analysis refers to the rigorous process of bringing clarity to the definition of the concepts used in science (McEwen & Wills, 2011, p. 51). To better understand patients and processes, nurses use concept analysis to explore concepts. According to McEwen (2011), the purpose of concept analysis is to clarify, recognize, and define concepts that describe phenomena.

In her publication "Letting go before death: a concept analysis", S.E. Lowey (2008) explores the concept of family caregivers and end-of-life care; focusing on the lack of acceptance on the part of family of their loved one's terminal diagnosis and impending death. To research this problem, Lowey searched multiple internet databases during a 12 year time frame, from 1995-2007. She only used literature published in English, from a variety of disciplines, in peer-reviewed journals using specific keywords, resulting in a total of 7 papers to review.

Method of Analysis

The method of analysis for this peer-reviewed article was the Walker and Avant method, using their eight-step process: selection of concept; determination of the analysis purpose; the identification of all possible uses of the concept; the creation of the defining attributes; the identification of a model case of the concept; the identification of borderline, related, contrary, invented and illegitimate cases; the identification of antecedents and consequences; and the definition of empirical referents (McEwen & Wills, 2011).

According to McEwen (2011) Walker and Avant use concept analysis to clarify meanings of terms and to define concepts with an expected outcome of readers and writers communicating in a common language. The felt it should be conducted when concepts require further development or clarification.

Process and Results

The first step of the eight-step process is selecting a concept. Lowey recognized that with the tremendous growth of hospice organizations taking care of patients in their homes, family members must act as the primary caregiver. Families are faced with watching their loved ones decline, until death is imminent. She decided to explore the concept of letting go. To help guide in this analysis, she used Zerwekh's family care giving model of core competencies for hospice nurses.

The second step is determining the aim, or purpose of analysis. Lowey describes the aim as "a report of a concept analysis of letting go within the context of family caregivers and end-of-life care" (Lowey, 2008, p. 208).

Lowey identified many uses of the concept of letting go, including withholding and withdrawing life support and other treatments; and being ready for and accepting impending death. There are also dysfunctional uses of the concept, involving complicated grief,