Background
- Dorothy E. Johnson is a practitioner in the field of nursing.
- She advocated for the development and implementation of research based healthcare systems.
- Johnson believed that this was a necessity in order guarantee quality health care in any given society.
- This will in turn improve the health status of the societies that we live in.
- Johnson therefore developed the Behavior System Model to ensure that patients receive behavioral health practices that aim at improving their health (Treece, 1982). These practices however were more effective and efficient in the prevention of illnesses.
Description of the Model
- Johnson first proposed the model in 1968 (Treece, 1982).
- The model aimed at ensuring effective and efficient behavioral practices in patients hence preventing them from illnesses.
- According to the model, man is viewed as an integrated system.
- This meant that man is made up of a series of systems that need to be functioning well.
- This model thus helps nurses to maintain the systems of the human body.
- This in turn increases the overall health status of an individual and that of the society at large.
Dorothy E. Johnson
- Johnson was born on 21st August 1919 in Savanna, Georgia (Burns, 2001).
- She attained her B.S.N in 1942 from Vanderbilt University in Nashville (George, 2002).
- In 1948, she got her M.P.H from Harvard University in Boston (George, 2002).
- She worked from 1949 to 1978.
- She was a professor of pediatric nursing. She also had the chance to teach at the University of California. Here, she worked as an associate and full professor of nursing (George, 2002).
- It is in the course of her career that she realized the need of offering health clients a research based care system.
- This model was thus developed as a result.
Concepts of the Theory
- This model has four major concepts.
- The first concept of the model is that human beings comprise of two systems: the biological system and the physical system.
- It is the role of medicine to ensure that the biological systems of an individual are well functioning.
- On the other hand, it is the role of nurses to ensure the physical well being of an individual.
- The second concept of the model is the society.
- According to Johnson, society is the environment in which an individual lives in.
- Due to this fact, the society plays a critical role in the determination of the well being of an individual.
- It is the environment in which an individual lives in (society in this case) that determines his/her overall behavior.
- The third concept of the model is health.
- According to Johnson, Health is the adaptive response of an individual to internal or external stimuli in order to maintain stability and comfort.
- An individual is said to be ill if his/her response, mental status, emotions or social interaction are not stable.
- However, if the factors mentioned above are stable, then an individual is viewed to be perfectly well.
- The fourth concept of the model is nursing.
- Johnson defined nursing as an external regulatory force which acts to preserve the organization and integration of the patient`s behavior at an optimum level under those conditions in which the behavior constitutes a threat to the physical or social health, or in which illness is found (Polit, 1998).
- In this model, the goal of nursing to assist an individual whose behavior commensurate with social needs and to modify the behavior of an individual to meet his biological needs.
The relationship between the theory and the concepts in nursing metaparadigm
Goal —– Set — Choice of Behavior — Behavior.
Strengths of the Model
- This model is theory oriented and thus it offers a different perspective of viewing a phenomenon.
- The theory is logical in nature. This is because it can easily be put into practice.
- The theory can be used to increase the knowledge of the human body due to its applicability in research.
- The theory is also consistent with the laws and principles formulated from earlier theories.
Weaknesses of the Model
- The focus of the model on physical behavior makes it difficult to be applied to individuals with physical disabilities.
- The model focuses on working with one individual. It will therefore be difficult for a nurse who is working with more than one person to use the model.
- The model is also not flexible thus it cannot meet the changing needs and demands of healthcare.
Values and Beliefs set by Theorists
- Many theorist believe that this theory is efficient in ensuring the physical well being of individuals.
- Through its applicability in research, many researchers believe that this model is a critical tool in biological research.
- The model also aims at improving the overall health status of the community.
Application of the Theory
- In the course of my career, I normally advocate physical exercise to patients.
- This keeps all their systems running and in good shape.
- This in some cases has increased the rate of recovery.
References
Burns, N. (2001). The practice of Nursing Research. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Publications.
George, B. (2002). Nursing Theories- The base for professional Nursing Practice. Norwalk: Appleton and Lange.
Polit, D.F. (1998). Nursing Research: Principles and Methods. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott Company.
Treece, J.W. (1982). Elements of Research in Nursing. St. Louis: Mosby.