A concept analysis of confidence related to older people living with frailty

Abstract

Aim: To describe and define a concept of confidence in the context of older people living with frailty, which is important to the worldwide healthy-ageing agenda preventing decline in independence and well-being. Design: Concept analysis informed by Walker and Avant's eight-stage approach. Methods: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsychINFO) from 1994–2018 were searched. Published studies exploring confidence and excerpts of papers referencing older people, frailty and confidence informed the concept analysis. Extracted attributes informed model case and additional case development. Appraisal of antecedents, consequences and empirical referents informed the final concept's construction. Results: Three overall defining attributes of confidence were identified in this concept analysis: physical, psychological and social. A central feature is personal control, influencing internal and external factors. These control factors can be enabling factors (positive factors) or dis-enabling factors (negative factors), affecting the frail older persons overall physical health and mental well-being.