Simultaneous analysis of the concepts of anxiety and fear: contributions to nursing diagnoses

Abstract

Objectives

To make a simultaneous analysis on the concepts of anxiety and fear.

Method

Simultaneous concept analysis with nine steps proposed by Haase, Leidy, Coward, Britt, and Penn.

Results

A total of 43 articles were included from a search in five literature databases. 51 attributes, 26 antecedents, and 10 consequents were identified from the analysis of these concepts. This analysis revealed that anxiety and fear are subjective, multidimensional concepts with high abstraction degrees.

Conclusion

The simultaneous analysis of anxiety and fear is useful to refine these diagnoses and propose changes in their components.

Implications for practice

The analysis of these concepts enables the precise identification of these effects in the clinical practice, applying greater diagnostic accuracy.

Keywords:
Anxiety; Fear; Nursing diagnosis; Concept formation; Nursing