This concept is particularly useful when
REVIEW OF THEORETICAL analyzing interrelationships of the elements
APPROACHES: within the client, as well as those of the
client and the environment. For example, a
The general systems theory is the first of home visit provides the nurse with data that
the theories taken up in this section, being the will allow analysis of the family as a
basis, in part, of several nursing theories that system.
the community health nurse may find useful. lhe family has the basic structures that all
It is the framework of the Community open systems have (Smith and Rankin, 1972).
Assessment Tool developed by Maurer and It has boundaries that separate it from its
Smith (2009). Short explanations of Albert environment as well as regulate its exchange
Bandura's Social Learning Theory and of matter energy, and information with its
models that community health nurses may environment. Culture and the Family Code
use when planning for health promotion and dictate the boundaries of the Filipino family.
disease prevention are presented here. These The family environment constitutes
are the Health Belief Model, Milio's everything outside its boundaries that may
Framework for Prevention, Nola Pender's affect it. The family home and the community
Health Promotion and its institutions make up its immediate
Model, the Transtheoretical Model, and environment and are therefore important
Lawrence Green's PRECEDE-PROCEED aspects to be considered in the assessment of
Model. family health status. The nurse observes
interpersonal relationships among family
General Systems Theory members and appraises the physical
The general systems theory is applicable to environmental conditions in the home. An
the different levels of the community health interview with responsible family members
nurse's clientele: individuals, families, may reveal how the family relates to the larger
groups or aggregates, and communities. system—the community and the structures in
Viewed as an open system, the client is the community, such as health agencies.
considered as a set of interacting elements
The family gets inputs of matter (e.g., food,
that exchange energy, matter, or information
water), energy (e.g., sunlight, electricity), and
with the external environment to exist (Katz
information (e.g., news on community events,
and Kahn, 1966; von Bertalanffy, 1968).
health teachings), which are resources taken
The individual is a set of several
from its environment. Outputs refer to
dimensions— physical, psychological,
material products, energy, and information
social, and spiritual— that are
that result from the family's processing
interdependent and interrelated. The family
(throughput) of inputs. The health practices
and the group or aggregate are sets of
and the health status of family members are
interrelated individuals. A geographic
examples of outputs. Feedback is information
community is composed of a set of families.
from the environment directed back to the
36
, system, which allows the system to make the
necessary adjustments for better functioning.
For example, the nurse's feedback to a mother
that her young child is underweight makes the
mother more conscious of her child's
nutritional needs, allowing her to take
remedial action.
Subsystems, the components of a system,
interact to accomplish their own purpose and
the purpose for which the system exists.
Family members make up its subsystems. On
the other hand, a suprasystem, such as the
community, is a bigger system composed of
families who interrelate with and affect one
another, whether purposely or unknowingly,
37
REVIEW OF THEORETICAL analyzing interrelationships of the elements
APPROACHES: within the client, as well as those of the
client and the environment. For example, a
The general systems theory is the first of home visit provides the nurse with data that
the theories taken up in this section, being the will allow analysis of the family as a
basis, in part, of several nursing theories that system.
the community health nurse may find useful. lhe family has the basic structures that all
It is the framework of the Community open systems have (Smith and Rankin, 1972).
Assessment Tool developed by Maurer and It has boundaries that separate it from its
Smith (2009). Short explanations of Albert environment as well as regulate its exchange
Bandura's Social Learning Theory and of matter energy, and information with its
models that community health nurses may environment. Culture and the Family Code
use when planning for health promotion and dictate the boundaries of the Filipino family.
disease prevention are presented here. These The family environment constitutes
are the Health Belief Model, Milio's everything outside its boundaries that may
Framework for Prevention, Nola Pender's affect it. The family home and the community
Health Promotion and its institutions make up its immediate
Model, the Transtheoretical Model, and environment and are therefore important
Lawrence Green's PRECEDE-PROCEED aspects to be considered in the assessment of
Model. family health status. The nurse observes
interpersonal relationships among family
General Systems Theory members and appraises the physical
The general systems theory is applicable to environmental conditions in the home. An
the different levels of the community health interview with responsible family members
nurse's clientele: individuals, families, may reveal how the family relates to the larger
groups or aggregates, and communities. system—the community and the structures in
Viewed as an open system, the client is the community, such as health agencies.
considered as a set of interacting elements
The family gets inputs of matter (e.g., food,
that exchange energy, matter, or information
water), energy (e.g., sunlight, electricity), and
with the external environment to exist (Katz
information (e.g., news on community events,
and Kahn, 1966; von Bertalanffy, 1968).
health teachings), which are resources taken
The individual is a set of several
from its environment. Outputs refer to
dimensions— physical, psychological,
material products, energy, and information
social, and spiritual— that are
that result from the family's processing
interdependent and interrelated. The family
(throughput) of inputs. The health practices
and the group or aggregate are sets of
and the health status of family members are
interrelated individuals. A geographic
examples of outputs. Feedback is information
community is composed of a set of families.
from the environment directed back to the
36
, system, which allows the system to make the
necessary adjustments for better functioning.
For example, the nurse's feedback to a mother
that her young child is underweight makes the
mother more conscious of her child's
nutritional needs, allowing her to take
remedial action.
Subsystems, the components of a system,
interact to accomplish their own purpose and
the purpose for which the system exists.
Family members make up its subsystems. On
the other hand, a suprasystem, such as the
community, is a bigger system composed of
families who interrelate with and affect one
another, whether purposely or unknowingly,
37
