This study is an attempt to analyze and develop the concept of comfort by applying the Hybrid Model suggested by Schwarz Barcott and Kim.
The data were collected from December 15, 1996 to January 30, 1997. The subjects of the study were seven persons including inpatients and outpatients of general hospital who were experiencing recovering process after acute and chronic disease diagnosis. Qualitative research methods of indepth interview and participant observation were used for data collection. Dataanalysis progressed according to the 3 phases suggested by the Hybrid Model. For each case, indepth inter-view data and participant observation data were included and the attributes of comfort revealed in these data were analyzed. Finally, by summarizing the results from each case, the attributes of comfort, its dimensions, definition, and processes observed in the field were suggested.
According to the results of the study, the following, new definition of comfort is suggested : Comfort is a subjective experience of all human beings and active process pursuing integrity in congnitive threat and psycho social and physical stable state which each individual can act on free will through experience that strengthen his /her adaptation process. Comfort accompany such subconcepts : ease, relaxation, satisfaction, newness, hope, confidence, stability and hardness.
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