untitled

outcome of nursing care, as addressed in published
applications, tends to support the goal of improved
health directly and/or indirectly, as the result of the
application of King’s work. Health status is explic-
itly the outcome of concern in practice applica-
tions by Smith (1988). Several applications used
health-related terms. For example, Kohler (1988)
focused on increased morale and satisfaction, and
DeHowitt (1992) studied well-being.
Health promotion has also been an emphasis for
the application of King’s ideas. Sexual counseling
was the focus of work by Villeneuve and Ozolins
(1991). The experience of parenting was studied by
Norris and Hoyer (1993), and health behaviors
were Hanna’s (1995) focus of study.
King (1981) stated that individuals act to main-
tain their own health. Although not explicitly
stated, the converse is probably true as well:
Individuals often do things that are not good for
their health. Accordingly, it is not surprising that
the Interacting Systems Framework and related
midrange theory are often directed toward patient
and group behaviors that influence health. Frey
(1997), Frey and Denyes (1989), and Frey and Fox
(1990) looked at both health behaviors and illness
management behaviors in several groups of chil-

dren with chronic conditions. In addition, Frey

(1996) expanded her research to include risky

behaviors.

As stated previously, diseases or diagnoses are

often identified as the focus for the application of

nursing knowledge. Pearson and Vaughan (1986)

conducted research with patients with broncho-

pneumonia, while patients with end-stage renal

disease were the focus of Jonas’ (1987) work. In

addition, clients with chronic inflammatory bowel

disease were involved in research by Daniel (2002).

Clients experiencing a variety of psychiatric

concerns have also been the focus of work, using

King’s conceptualizations (Murray & Baier, 1996;

Schreiber, 1991). Clients’ concerns ranged from

psychotic symptoms (Kemppainen, 1990) to fami-

lies experiencing chronic mental illness (Doornbos,

2002) to clients in short-term group psychotherapy

(Laben, Sneed, & Seidel, 1995). Table 16–9 delin-

eates applications related to clients’ phenomena

of concern.

Multicultural Applications

Multicultural applications of King’s Interact-

ing Systems Framework and related theories are

many. Such applications are particularly critical as a

256 SECTION III Nursing Theory in Nursing Practice, Education, Research, and Administration

Murray and Baier

Doornbos

Laben, Sneed, and Seidel

DeHowitt

Schreiber

Kemppainen

Gonot

Killeen* (client satisfaction)

O’Connor* (client satisfaction)

Davis and Dearman

Pearson and Vaughan

Hanna

Gill, Hopwood-Jones, Tyndall, Gregoroff,

LeBlanc, Lovett, Rasco, and Ross

Rooke

Porteous and Tyndall

King and Tarsitano

Daubenmire, Searles, and Ashton

1996

1995

1995

1992

1991

1990

1986

1996

1990

1991

1986

1993

1995

1995

1994

1982

1978

Table 16–9 Application within Nursing Specialties(Continued)

TOPIC AUTHOR(S) YEAR

Psychiatric/Mental health

Quality improvement

Respiratory

Reproductive health

Surgery

*Indicates thesis or dissertation