Newman's theory of health as expanding consciousness: an evolutionary concept analysis.
BMC nursing – September 03, 2024
Source: PubMed
Summary
Health as expanding consciousness (HEC) links health and disease as part of a journey toward greater awareness. An analysis of 70 studies from 1986 to 2023 reveals that HEC includes key elements like movement, energy, and rhythm, with antecedents such as chaos and choice points. Consequences range from self-transcendence to absolute consciousness. This framework enriches nursing by offering insights applicable to practice, education, research, and management, enhancing understanding of health's role in evolving consciousness, as articulated by Margaret A. Newman and Rodgers' concept analysis.
Abstract
The health as expanding consciousness (HEC) theory posits that health and disease are interconnected components of a comprehensive process aimed at expanding consciousness. The objective of this study is to introduce the concept, research status and applications of HEC and offer a comprehensive understanding of its various key components. Databases including EMBASE, PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Wiley, Web of Science, Sinomed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and CQVIP, covering the period from 1986 to 2023. Employing Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis approach, this study included and analysed 70 studies. The characteristics of HEC comprise aspects such as movement, time, space, energy, rhythm, and paradigm of health. The antecedents of HEC encompass disease, chaos, binding, centring, and choice point. Consequences associated with HEC include self-transcendence, unbinding, decentring, expanded consciousness, real freedom, pattern recognition, absolute consciousness, and death. This study has identified substitute terms, related concepts, attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical references associated with HEC. The findings provide valuable information applicable across various domains of nursing, encompassing practice, education, research, and management.