Application of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring Within the Health Belief Model in Nursing Practice

The nexus of nursing theory and healthcare practice presents a window of opportunity for innovative care delivery. This study aims to improve nursing in clinical, educational, and administrative environments by investigating the potential integration of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring into the Health Belief Model’s (HBM) theoretical framework. A cornerstone of healthcare frameworks, the HBM helps medical professionals anticipate and assess the wide range of health-related behaviors that patients may exhibit. Suppose the HBM and Watson’s emphasis on holistic, compassionate care comes together with the analytical approach to health decision-making. In that case, healthcare practitioners will gain a more nuanced grasp of patients’ needs and preferences.

Together, we can enhance patient-centered treatment by learning more about health-related behaviors. Under this synergistic paradigm, perceived vulnerability and self-efficacy concepts emerge as crucial elements within the larger context of human care. This introduction sets the stage for a detailed analysis of the fundamental ideas, historical background, and contemporary applications of the combined HBM and Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, providing insight into the direction of a more customized and humane approach to healthcare.

Theory Description

A key component of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is the emphasis on comprehensive and interpersonal nursing care. This conceptual framework’s central claim is that improving health and preventing disease depends heavily on providing care (Chang et al., 2022). According to Watson’s idea, making judgments in healthcare requires considering more than simply rational considerations. Instead, it emphasizes how important it is to take the patient’s emotional and relational conditions into account when providing care.

By incorporating the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Jean Watson’s theory of human caring, healthcare practitioners can expand their scope of practice. When making judgments about the patient’s health, caregivers can take into account not just the patient’s cognitive abilities but also their emotional and interpersonal aspects when accepting this integration (Kim & Sohn, 2019). This cooperative approach supports the overarching goal of delivering care that is patient-centered and holistically focused on the whole person.

Origins and Scope of the Integrated Theory

The Health Belief Model (HBM) has changed dramatically from its 1950s introduction as a way to analyze health decisions. It covers several topics, including medical therapy and preventative care. An improved understanding of patients’ desires, morals, and experiences can result from the HBM’s extension into Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring (Chang et al., 2022). This integrated theoretical framework is helpful in various healthcare scenarios because it acknowledges the complexity and nuance of providing human care. Watson’s emphasis on comprehensive care is included in the integrated theory, strengthening its theoretical underpinnings and expanding its applicability.

Major Concepts and Propositions

Perceived susceptibility and self-efficacy under the unified theory are pivotal in determining health-related actions. In human caring, perceived susceptibility applies to knowing the patient’s particular appraisal of their sensitivity to illness. Considerations such as one’s environment, personality, and life history are all part of this process. The patient’s belief in their ability to take actions related to their health and achieve their goals is at the center of self-efficacy, which is situated within the context of human caring (Khademian et al., 2020). As a result of emphasizing these interrelated concepts, the integrated theory offers a nuanced lens through which healthcare providers can understand patient behaviors. It highlights the central role of belief systems in influencing health-related decision-making within the compassionate context of human caring. 

Theoretical Definitions of Concepts

The integrated framework’s theoretical explanations of these significant concepts provide insight into their intricate roles in providing care for people. First and foremost, in human care, “perceived susceptibility” refers to a patient’s subjective appraisal of their vulnerability to particular health conditions (Khademian et al., 2020). This entails considering how their distinct upbringings, backgrounds, and personality qualities have influenced them. The integrated theory provides a