The nursing metaparadigm concepts of human beings, environment, health, and nursing and the 4 relational propositions between human beings and health; health and environment; nursing and human beings; and human beings, health, and environment9 are all addressed in the TOUS. Metaparadigm concepts of human beings and health were addressed through Lenz et al’s 2(p15) definition of symptoms as “perceived indicators of change in normal functioning as experienced by patients ... they are the red flags of threats to health.” In addition, Lenz et al2 addressed the nursing metaparadigm concepts of human beings, health, and environment by stating that an individual’s symptom experiences can be affected by social and physical
environmental factors such as marital status, social support, heat, noise, and light. On the basis of the various assertions of Lenz et al,2 the TOUS addresses the nursing metaparadigm propositions of “patterning of humanhealthexperienceswithinthecontext of the environment,” “human processes of living,” and recognition “that human beings are in a continuous mutual process with their environments.”9(p312) Moreover, Lenz et al1 maintained that the TOUS can be used to develop preventive interventions to alter influencing factors for multiple symptoms. Although the theorists did not explain the interventions and did not use the word “nursing” for the interventions, they described the TOUS as a middle-range nursing theory that was developed for nursing practice. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the interventions refer to nursing actions intended to help patients suffering from multiple symptoms, and thus addressing the nursing metaparadigm proposition that deals with nursing actions that are beneficial to human beings.
“human processes of living,” and recognition “that human beings are in a continuous mutual process with their environments.”9(p312) Moreover, Lenz et al1 maintained that the TOUS can be used to develop preventive interventions to alter influencing factors for multiple symptoms. Although the theorists did not explain the interventions and did not use the word “nursing” for the interventions, they described the TOUS as a middle-range nursing theory that was developed for nursing practice. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the interventions refer to nursing actions intended to help patients suffering from multiple symptoms, and thus addressing the nursing metaparadigm proposition that deals with nursing actions that are beneficial to human beings.