Context as a Source of Meaning and Understanding

The intent of health professions is to understand humans, their health, and other related phenomena and to use this understanding to promote meaningful life experiences. The ability to do this depends on knowledge of the multiple contexts in which these phenomena exist. The purposeful use of context is a central feature of thorough research and clinical assessments, and it allows for meaning to be shared and phenomena to be understood. This article offers a conceptual perspective on context, including a delineation of four nested contextual layers. Individual layers and combined layers of context have direct implications for research and practice.