Vivência de mães de crianças com câncer em unidade de cuidados paliativos.

Abstract

The diagnosis of cancer in children results in important psychosocial repercussions in their lives and the life of their families. Disorders of the proceeding of disease such as long periods of hospitalization and stigma related to the cancer become part of everyday life of mothers involved in this context. This study aimed to understand experiences of mothers of children with cancer in a palliative care unit. The descriptive and explanatory research with qualitative approach was carried out at university hospital Alcides Carneiro in Campina Grande, Paraiba. The sample of the research was comprised by 20 mothers who accompany their children in this hospital. The following adopted criteria for the choice of the participants of the study: Over eighteen years old; mothers who accompany their children in selected institution and agreed to participate in the research. The participants of the study were informed about the objective of it. Confidentiality, anonymity and withdrawal of the research were ensured by the participation of a term of consent signed during the interview. The adopted criteria are according to The National Health Council resolution 196/96 that provides guidance on human beings researches. It was sought permission to record every interview. The research was authorized by the Ethics and Research Committee and the director of the chosen hospital for the research. The data were obtained from interviews, during February and March, 2013, and were analyzed according to the proper literature and the theory of Discourse of the Collective Subject ( DSC). The analyze of obtained data permitted some central ideas: “ Feelings of anguish, sadness, fear, anger and despair” , “ Negative changes of everyday life of the family”, “ Negative changes in the personal life” , “ Restrictions in social life”, “ Dedication and care are essential” e “Financial and emotional difficulties”. The several changes in research participant mothers’ professional, familiar and personal life provoked by the illness and hospitalization of the child, such as job abandonment; removal of home and domestic functions, away from her husband and other children; the selflessness of their desires and personal needs. These situations contribute to intensify the emotional and physical wear of these mothers. In conclusion, we believe that unveiled significant meanings of

experiences of mothers which have enabled an understanding of their ways of facing the palliative treatment of their children.