Strategies for Coping with Infectious Diseases in Long-Term Care Facilities in South Korea: Applying the Neuman Systems Model

초록

-Purpose:Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) for older adults are highly vulnerable to infectious disease transmission. This study aimed to develop a system-based framework for infectious disease preparedness and response in LTCFs using the Neuman Systems Model (NSM). -Methods:A theory-driven narrative review based on Neuman’s nursing framework was conducted. Core concepts of the NSM were mapped onto infectious disease response strategies, with LTCFs conceptualized as the unit of analysis. National guidelines and international policy reports on infection prevention and control in long-term care settings were systematically reviewed. -Results:The NSM conceptualizes residents, caregivers, staff, and families as an integrated client system interacting with multiple environmental stressors. Infectious disease response strategies were categorized into three levels of prevention: primary prevention to strengthen system defenses, secondary prevention for early detection and timely intervention, and tertiary prevention to promote recovery, system reconstitution, and prevention of recurrence. -Conclusion:The NSM offers a coherent and system-oriented framework for infectious disease preparedness and response in LTCFs and provides a theoretical foundation for integrating nursing, organizational, and policy-level strategies to address future infectious disease threats.

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