The concepts and sub-concepts are defined as follows. Person incorporates the concepts of learner, self, individual, families, groups, and communities. Persons are holistic, complex biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual beings. Each individual is unique and possesses inherent dignity, worth, and the right to self-determination. While human responses are individualized, many can be generalized and predicted.
Patients seeking health care have unique characteristics, needs, and abilities.
Patients have a right to knowledge about health care concerns and issues that may affect their lives and to take an active role in health care decision making. The environment is the sum total of all those conditions and circumstances that have an effect on the existence of the individual. Environment includes physical, psychological, social, spiritual and cultural elements as well as the historical, political, and economic conditions. A person dynamically interacts with the environment, and each is affected by the other. The environment constantly changes and influences a person's health.