Children chronic condition and hospitalization: the suffering of family caregivers - doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v11i1.18858

Abstract

This is a qualitative study that aimed to apprehend the perceptions of family caregivers of hospitalized children regarding the suffering related to chronic condition in childhood. The field research was carried out in the pediatric clinic of a public hospital in João Pessoa- PE. The participants were seven family caregivers (a father, a grandmother and five mothers). We used the semi-structured interview from January to March 2010. The analysis followed the criteria of thematic interpretation. The results showed that family caregivers have mental, physical and structural suffering when dealing with the chronic condition in children during hospitalization. Understand the perception of family caregivers about the chronic condition in childhood favors the subjective appropriation of their conflicts, which can cause several forms of suffering. The process of work in pediatrics must be organized to meet the real needs of the binomial and watch it in full in order to alleviate their suffering in the hospitalization process.