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Descriptions of comfort by substance-using and nonusing postpartum women.

OBJECTIVE
To compare definitions of comfort held by a group of postpartum substance users with those of a group of nonusers.


SETTING
The postpartum unit of a large university hospital.


PARTICIPANTS
The convenience sample constituted 36 postpartum women; half were substance users and half denied substance use. The nonusing participants were matched to the users according to age, race, type of delivery, and parity.


DESIGN
Qualitative, descriptive.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Data were collected through semistructured, individual interviews. Patients defined comfort and described the characteristics and patterns of comfort during the postpartum period.


RESULTS
Data were analyzed into three categories of themes. Attributes of comfort were resolution of pain, resolution of fatigue, satiation of hunger, resolution of individual irritants, and relaxation. Interventions for comfort were standard therapy, supportive presence, and caring nursing approach. Modifiers of comfort were individualized comfort patterns, environmental ease, and maternal concern.


CONCLUSIONS
Comfort is more than the absence of pain. A supportive presence and a caring nursing approach were the most helpful interventions.