Critical analysis of the scientific production on Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Care

Afonso, Shirley da Rocha; Padilha, Maria Itayra; Neves, Vanessa Ribeiro; Elizondo, Noe Ramírez; Vieira, Ricardo Quintão

doi:10.1590/0034-7167-2023-0231

Shirley da Rocha Afonso Corresponding author: Shirley da Rocha Afonso E-mail: shirley.afonso@unifesp.br

conception or design of the study/research

analysis and/or interpretation of data

final review with critical and intellectual participation in the manuscript

Universidade Federal de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1824-0451

Maria Itayra Padilha

conception or design of the study/research

analysis and/or interpretation of data

final review with critical and intellectual participation in the manuscript

Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9695-640X

Vanessa Ribeiro Neves

conception or design of the study/research

analysis and/or interpretation of data

final review with critical and intellectual participation in the manuscript

Universidade Federal de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2226-4723

Noe Ramírez Elizondo

final review with critical and intellectual participation in the manuscript

Universidad de Costa Rica. San José, Costa Rica

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0918-7217

Ricardo Quintão Vieira

final review with critical and intellectual participation in the manuscript

Universidade Federal de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7211-8142

Corresponding author: Shirley da Rocha Afonso E-mail: shirley.afonso@unifesp.br

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Dulce Barbosa

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Márcia Ferreira

Journals		Number of articles	Location
Group 1 – 5 journals		38
Nursing Science Quarterly(²⁸28 Murali K P. End of Life Decision-Making: Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. Nurs Sci Q. 2020;33(1):73-78. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318419881807 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318419881807... , ²⁹29 Perkins JB. Watson’s Ten Caritas Processes with the Lens of Unitary Human Caring Science. Nurs Sci Q. 2021;34(2):157-167. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318420987176 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318420987176... , ⁴¹41 Clarke PN, Watson J, Brewer BB. From theory to practice: caring science according to Watson and Brewer. Nurs Sci Q. 2009;22(4):339-45. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318409344769 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318409344769... , ⁴²42 Özkan IA, Okumuş H, Buldukoǧlu K, Watson J. A case study based on Watson’s Theory of Human Caring: being an infertile woman in Turkey. Nurs Sci Q. 2013;26(4):352–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318413500346 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318413500346... , ⁴⁶46 Gunawan J, Aungsuroch Y, Watson J, Marzilli C. Nursing Administration: Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. Nurs Sci Q. 2022;35(2):235-43. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184211070582 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318421107058... , ⁴⁷47 Lukose A. Developing a practice model for Watson’s theory of caring. Nurs Sci Q. 2011;24(1):27-30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318410389073 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318410389073... , ⁴⁸48 Aktürk Ü, Erci B. The Effect of Watson’s Care Model on Anxiety, Depression, and Stress in Turkish Women. Nurs Sci Q. 2019;32(2):127-34. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318419826257 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318419826257... , ⁴⁹49 Butcher HK. Unitary Caring Science: a hermeneutic-phenomenological research method. Nurs Sci Q. 2022;35(2):148-59. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184211070593 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318421107059... , ⁵⁰50 Erci B, Sayan A, Tortumluoǧlu G. The effectiveness of Watson’s Caring Model on the quality of life and blood pressure of patients with hypertension. J Adv Nurs. 2003;41(2):130-9. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003.02515.x https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003... , ⁵²52 Cossette S, Pepin J, Côté JK. The multidimensionality of caring: a confirmatory factor analysis of the Caring Nurse-Patient Interaction Short Scale. J Adv Nurs. 2008;61(6):699-710. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04566.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007... , ⁵³53 Bollinger E. Applied Concepts of Holistic Nursing. J Holist Nurs. 2001;19(2):212-4. https://doi.org/10.1177/089801010101900208 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010101019002... , ⁵⁴54 Wolf T P. Building a caring client relationship and creating a quilt: a parallel and metaphorical process. J Holist Nurs. 2003;21(1):81-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010102250277 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010102250277... , ⁵⁵55 Lamke D, Catlin A, Mason-Chadd M. “Not Just a Theory”: the relationship between Jin Shin Jyutsu® Self-Care Training for Nurses and Stress, Physical Health, Emotional Health, and Caring Efficacy. J Holist Nurs. 2014;32(4):278-89. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010114531906 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010114531906... , ⁵⁶56 Combs MA, Arnold T. Human Trafficking: empowering healthcare providers and community partners as advocates for victims. J Holist Nurs. 2022;40(3):295-301. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101211045554 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010121104555... , ⁵⁷57 Urra ME, Jana AA, García MV. Some essential aspects of Jean Watson thought and her transpersonal caring theory. Cienc Enferm. 2011;17(3):11-22. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-95532011000300002 https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-9553201100... , ⁵⁸58 Salgado J, Valenzuela S, Sáez K. Nursing students and care receivers’ perceptions of caring behavior. Cienc Enferm. 2015;21(1):69-79. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95532015000100007 https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-9553201500... , ⁵⁹59 Reis CC, Souza KRF, Alves DS. Women’s perception of their first labor experience: implications for nursing. Cienc Enferm. 2017;23(2). https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95532017000200045 https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-9553201700... )		8	United States
Journal of Advanced Nursing(³⁵35 Gürcan M, Turan SA. Examining the expectations of healing care environment of hospitalized children with cancer based on Watson’s theory of human caring. J Adv Nurs. 2021;77(8):3472-82. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14934 https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14934... , ⁴⁰40 Watson J, Smith MC. Caring science and the science of unitary human beings: a trans-theoretical discourse for nursing knowledge development. J Adv Nurs. 2002;37(5):452-61. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02112.x https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002... , ⁵⁰50 Erci B, Sayan A, Tortumluoǧlu G. The effectiveness of Watson’s Caring Model on the quality of life and blood pressure of patients with hypertension. J Adv Nurs. 2003;41(2):130-9. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003.02515.x https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003... , ⁵¹51 Cossette S, Cote JK, Pepin J et al. A dimensional structure of nurse-patient interactions from a caring perspective: refinement of the Caring Nurse-Patient Interaction Scale (CNPI-Short Scale). J Adv Nurs. 2006;55(2):198-214. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03895.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006... , ⁵²52 Cossette S, Pepin J, Côté JK. The multidimensionality of caring: a confirmatory factor analysis of the Caring Nurse-Patient Interaction Short Scale. J Adv Nurs. 2008;61(6):699-710. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04566.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007... )		5	United States
Journal of Holistic Nursing(⁴²42 Özkan IA, Okumuş H, Buldukoǧlu K, Watson J. A case study based on Watson’s Theory of Human Caring: being an infertile woman in Turkey. Nurs Sci Q. 2013;26(4):352–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318413500346 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318413500346... , ⁵³53 Bollinger E. Applied Concepts of Holistic Nursing. J Holist Nurs. 2001;19(2):212-4. https://doi.org/10.1177/089801010101900208 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010101019002... , ⁵⁴54 Wolf T P. Building a caring client relationship and creating a quilt: a parallel and metaphorical process. J Holist Nurs. 2003;21(1):81-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010102250277 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010102250277... , ⁵⁵55 Lamke D, Catlin A, Mason-Chadd M. “Not Just a Theory”: the relationship between Jin Shin Jyutsu® Self-Care Training for Nurses and Stress, Physical Health, Emotional Health, and Caring Efficacy. J Holist Nurs. 2014;32(4):278-89. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010114531906 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010114531906... , ⁵⁶56 Combs MA, Arnold T. Human Trafficking: empowering healthcare providers and community partners as advocates for victims. J Holist Nurs. 2022;40(3):295-301. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101211045554 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010121104555... )		5	United States
Ciencia y Enfermería (⁴⁷47 Lukose A. Developing a practice model for Watson’s theory of caring. Nurs Sci Q. 2011;24(1):27-30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318410389073 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318410389073... , ⁴⁸48 Aktürk Ü, Erci B. The Effect of Watson’s Care Model on Anxiety, Depression, and Stress in Turkish Women. Nurs Sci Q. 2019;32(2):127-34. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318419826257 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318419826257... , ⁴⁹49 Butcher HK. Unitary Caring Science: a hermeneutic-phenomenological research method. Nurs Sci Q. 2022;35(2):148-59. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184211070593 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318421107059... , ⁵⁰50 Erci B, Sayan A, Tortumluoǧlu G. The effectiveness of Watson’s Caring Model on the quality of life and blood pressure of patients with hypertension. J Adv Nurs. 2003;41(2):130-9. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003.02515.x https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003... , ⁵¹51 Cossette S, Cote JK, Pepin J et al. A dimensional structure of nurse-patient interactions from a caring perspective: refinement of the Caring Nurse-Patient Interaction Scale (CNPI-Short Scale). J Adv Nurs. 2006;55(2):198-214. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03895.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006... , ⁵²52 Cossette S, Pepin J, Côté JK. The multidimensionality of caring: a confirmatory factor analysis of the Caring Nurse-Patient Interaction Short Scale. J Adv Nurs. 2008;61(6):699-710. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04566.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007... , ⁵³53 Bollinger E. Applied Concepts of Holistic Nursing. J Holist Nurs. 2001;19(2):212-4. https://doi.org/10.1177/089801010101900208 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010101019002... , ⁵⁴54 Wolf T P. Building a caring client relationship and creating a quilt: a parallel and metaphorical process. J Holist Nurs. 2003;21(1):81-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010102250277 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010102250277... , ⁵⁵55 Lamke D, Catlin A, Mason-Chadd M. “Not Just a Theory”: the relationship between Jin Shin Jyutsu® Self-Care Training for Nurses and Stress, Physical Health, Emotional Health, and Caring Efficacy. J Holist Nurs. 2014;32(4):278-89. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010114531906 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010114531906... , ⁵⁶56 Combs MA, Arnold T. Human Trafficking: empowering healthcare providers and community partners as advocates for victims. J Holist Nurs. 2022;40(3):295-301. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101211045554 https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010121104555... , ⁵⁷57 Urra ME, Jana AA, García MV. Some essential aspects of Jean Watson thought and her transpersonal caring theory. Cienc Enferm. 2011;17(3):11-22. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-95532011000300002 https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-9553201100... , ⁵⁸58 Salgado J, Valenzuela S, Sáez K. Nursing students and care receivers’ perceptions of caring behavior. Cienc Enferm. 2015;21(1):69-79. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95532015000100007 https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-9553201500... , ⁵⁹59 Reis CC, Souza KRF, Alves DS. Women’s perception of their first labor experience: implications for nursing. Cienc Enferm. 2017;23(2). https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95532017000200045 https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-9553201700... )		3	Chile
Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem (³⁷37 Santos LB, Menezes TMO, Freitas RA, Sales MGS, Oliveira ALB, Nunes AMPB. Care for the spiritual dimension provided by caregivers in a nursing home. Rev Bras Enferm. 2021;75(1):e20200402. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0402 https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0... , ³⁸38 Evangelista CB, Lopes MEL, Costa SFG, Batista PSS, Duarte MCS, Morais GSN, et al. Nurses’ performance in palliative care: spiritual care in the light of Theory of Human Caring. Rev Bras Enferm. 2021;75(1):e20210029. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2021-0029 https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2021-0... , ⁶⁰60 Veras SMCB, Menezes TMO, Guerrero-Castañeda RF, Soares MV, Anton FR, Pereira GS. Nurse care for the hospitalized elderly’s spiritual dimension. Rev Bras Enferm. 2019;72(suppl 2):236-42. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2018-0685 https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2018-0... )		3	Brazil
Group 2 – 7 journals		14
AORN Journal(³⁹39 Norred C. Minimizing preoperative anxiety with alternative caring-healing therapies. AORN J. 2000;72(5):838-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0001-2092(06)62015-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/s0001-2092(06)62... , ⁶¹61 Norman V, Rossillo K, Skelton K. Creating healing environments through the theory of caring. AORN J. 2016;104(5):401-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2016.09.006 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2016.09.0... )		2	United States
Aquichan(⁶²62 Poblete-Troncoso MDC, Valenzuela-Suazo SV, Merino JM. Validation of two scales used to measure Transpersonal Human Caring, based on Jean Watson’s Theory. Aquichan. 2012;12(1). https://doi.org/10.5294/aqui.2012.12.1.1 https://doi.org/10.5294/aqui.2012.12.1.1... , ⁶³63 Lagunes-Córdoba R, Hernández-Manzanares MA. A scale to assess the ethical conduct of nurses in patient care. Aquichan. 2012;12(3). https://doi.org/10.5294/aqui.2012.12.3.4 https://doi.org/10.5294/aqui.2012.12.3.4... )		2	Chile
BMC Nursing(³³33 Antonini M, Bellier-Teichmann T, O’Reilly L. Effects of an educational intervention to strengthen humanistic practice on haemodialysis nurses’ caring attitudes and behaviours and quality of working life: a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMC Nurs. 2021;20(1):255. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00729-6 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00729... , ⁶⁴64 Delmas P, O’Reilly L, Cara C. Effects on nurses’ quality of working life and on patients’ quality of life of an educational intervention to strengthen humanistic practice among hemodialysis nurses in Switzerland: a protocol for a mixed-methods cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Nurs. 2018;17:47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-018-0320-0 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-018-0320-... )		2	Switzerland
Journal of Nursing Research(⁶⁵65 Suliman WA, Welmann E, Omer T, Thomas L. Applying Watson’s nursing theory to assess patient perceptions of bing cared for in a multicultural environment. J Nurs Res. 2009;17(4):293-7. https://doi.org/10.1097/JNR.0b013e3181c122a3 https://doi.org/10.1097/JNR.0b013e3181c1... , ⁶⁶66 Boz I, Okumus H. The “Everything about the existence” experiences of Turkish women with infertility: solicited diaries in qualitative research. J Nurs Res. 2017;25(4):268-75. https://doi.org/10.1097/JNR.0000000000000166 https://doi.org/10.1097/JNR.000000000000... )		2	Saudi Arabia
Nursing Fórum (⁶⁷67 Carson EM. Do performance appraisals of registered nurses reflect a relationship between hospital size and caring? Nurs Forum. 2004;39(1):5-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0029-6473.2004.00005.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0029-6473.2004... , ⁶⁸68 Ranheim A, Kärner A, Berterö C. Caring theory and practice-entering a simultaneous concept analysis. Nurs Forum. 2012;47(2):78-90. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6198.2012.00263.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6198.2012... )		2	United States
Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP (⁶⁹69 Favero L, Pagliuca LMF, Lacerda MR. Transpersonal caring in nursing: an analysis grounded in a conceptual model. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2013;47(2):500-5. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0080-62342013000200032 https://doi.org/10.1590/s0080-6234201300... , ⁷⁰70 Santos MR, Bousso RS, Vendramim P, Baliza MF, Misko MD, Silva L. The practice of nurses caring for families of pediatric inpatients in light of Jean Watson. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2014;48(especial):80-6. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0080-623420140000600012 https://doi.org/10.1590/S0080-6234201400... )		2	Brazil
Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences(²³23 Othman F, Liu Y, Zhang X. Perinatal women’s satisfaction with nurses caring behaviours in teaching hospitals in China. Scand J Caring Sci. 2020;34(2):390-400. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12740 https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12740... , ⁷¹71 Wiklund GL, Wagner L. The butterfly effect of caring - clinical nursing teachers’ understanding of self-compassion as a source to compassionate care. Scand J Caring Sci. 2013;27(1):175-83. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2012.01033.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2012... )		2	United States
Group 3 – 35 journals		35
Total	47 journals	73 articles

Author(s) and year	Title	Journal	Number of citations	Location
Mason, Virginia M. et al. (2014)(⁸²82 Mason VM, Leslie G, Clark K. Compassion fatigue, moral distress and work engagement in surgical intensive care unit trauma nurses: a pilot study. Dimens Crit Care Nurs. 2014;33(4):215-25. https://doi.org/10.1097/DCC.0000000000000056 https://doi.org/10.1097/DCC.000000000000... )	Compassion fatigue, moral distress, and work engagement in surgical intensive care unit trauma nurses: A pilot study	Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing	113	United States
Watson, Jean; Smith, Marlaine C. (2002)(⁴⁰40 Watson J, Smith MC. Caring science and the science of unitary human beings: a trans-theoretical discourse for nursing knowledge development. J Adv Nurs. 2002;37(5):452-61. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02112.x https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002... )	Caring science and the science of unitary human beings: a trans-theoretical discourse for nursing knowledge development	Journal of Advanced Nursing	112	United States
Smith, Marlaine C. et al. (2002)(⁸³83 Smith MC, Kemp J, Hemphill L, Vojir C P. Outcomes of therapeutic massage for hospitalized cancer patients. J Nurs Sch. 2002;34(3):257-62. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.2002.00257.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.2002... )	Outcomes of therapeutic massage for hospitalized cancer patients	Journal of Nursing Scholarship	89	United States
Wiklund Gustin, Lena; Wagner, Lynne (2013)(⁷¹71 Wiklund GL, Wagner L. The butterfly effect of caring - clinical nursing teachers’ understanding of self-compassion as a source to compassionate care. Scand J Caring Sci. 2013;27(1):175-83. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2012.01033.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2012... )	The butterfly effect of caring - clinical nursing teachers’ understanding of self-compassion as a source to compassionate care	Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences	89	United States
Perry, Beth (2009)(⁸⁴84 Perry B. Role modeling excellence in clinical nursing practice. Nurse Educ Pract. 2009;9(1):36-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2008.05.001 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2008.05.0... )	Role modeling excellence in clinical nursing practice	Nurse Education in Practice	62	Canada
Baldursdottir, Gyda; Jonsdottir, Helga (2002)(⁸⁵85 Baldursdottir G, Jonsdottir H. The importance of nurse caring behaviors as perceived by patients receiving care at an emergency department. Heart Lung. 2002;31(1):67-75. https://doi.org/10.1067/mhl.2002.119835 https://doi.org/10.1067/mhl.2002.119835... )	The importance of nurse caring behaviors as perceived by patients receiving care at an emergency department	Heart and Lung: Journal of Acute and Critical Care	59	Iceland
Wei, Holly; Watson, Jean (2019)(⁴³43 Wei H, Watson J. Healthcare interprofessional team members’ perspectives on human caring: A directed content analysis study. Int J Nurs Sci. 2019;6(1):17-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2018.12.001 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2018.12.... )	Healthcare interprofessional team members’ perspectives on human caring: A directed content analysis study	International Journal of Nursing Sciences	36	United States
Cossette, Sylvie et al. (2006)(⁵¹51 Cossette S, Cote JK, Pepin J et al. A dimensional structure of nurse-patient interactions from a caring perspective: refinement of the Caring Nurse-Patient Interaction Scale (CNPI-Short Scale). J Adv Nurs. 2006;55(2):198-214. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03895.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006... )	A dimensional structure of nurse-patient interactions from a caring perspective: Refinement of the Caring Nurse-Patient Interaction Scale (CNPI-Short Scale)	Journal of Advanced Nursing	35	Canada

[1] Corresponding author: Shirley da Rocha Afonso E-mail: shirley.afonso@unifesp.br

Brasil

Brasil

Critical analysis of the scientific production on Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Care

Análisis crítico de la producción científica sobre la Teoría del Cuidado Humano de Jean Watson

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

Methods:

Results:

Conclusions: