Health: a concept analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the concept of health in an effort to promote theoretical clarity for nursing science. Included in the analysis are the following (a) a historical review of conceptual definitions and interpretations of health, (b) an evaluation of current theoretical orientations of health, (c) a delineation of critical attributes of health, (d) the development of case examples useful in examining health, (e) a consideration of potential operationalizations of health, and (f) a discussion of the relevance of health to nursing research and practice.