This integrative review offers important insight into the needs of informal caregivers, specifically for the elderly. The inclusive nature of integrative review method enabled us to provide a good understanding of underlying issues on the needs of informal caregivers. Challenges for the future are to broaden and enhance the scope of research in this area to provide effective support to intervention projects, services and care to informal caregivers.

Portugal is impacted by the rapid growth of the aging population, which has significant implications for its health care system. However, nurses have received little education focusing on the unique and complex care needs of older adults. This gap in the nurses' education has an enormous impact in their knowledge and attitudes and affects the quality of nursing care provided to older adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1068 Portuguese nurses in five hospitals (northern and central region) with the following purposes: (i) explore the knowledge and attitudes of nurses about four common geriatric syndromes (pressure ulcer, incontinence, restraint use and sleep disturbance) in Portuguese hospitals; and (ii) evaluate the influence of demographic, professional and nurses' perception about hospital educational support, geriatric knowledge, and burden of caring for older adults upon geriatric nursing knowledge and attitudes. The mean knowledge and attitudes scores were 0.41 ± 0.15 and 0.40 ± 0.21, respectively (the maximum score was 1). Knowledge of nurses in Portuguese hospitals about the four geriatric syndromes (pressure ulcers, sleep disturbance, urinary incontinence and restraint use) was found inadequate. The nurses' attitudes towards caring for hospitalized older adults were generally negative. Nurses who work in academic hospitals demonstrated significantly more knowledge than nurses in hospital centers. The attitudes of nurses were significantly associated with the hospital and unit type, region, hospital educational support, staff knowledge, and perceived burden of caring for older adults. The study findings support the need for improving nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards hospitalized older adults and implementing evidence-based guidelines in their practice.

Com base em um estudo qualitativo, do tipo histórico, utilizando a análise documental, procuramos identificar as dispersões na construção do conhecimento, a partir dos Anais do Congresso Brasileiro de Enfermagem, no período de 1977 a 1987. As dispersões emergiram enquanto categorias que se repetiram como temas de destaque ou como pequenas pontuações. Nossa análise convergiu para duas categorias centrais: imagem profissional e identidade profissional. Essas categorias configuraram-se em uma rede complexa, dinâmica, na qual se destacaram as subcategorias: status profissional e o papel profissional.

RESUMO: Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, do tipo exploratório, descritivo, cujo objetivo foi compreender os significados de ser familiar cuidador do paciente portador de transtorno mental. O estudo foi desenvolvido com familiares de portadores de transtornos mentais, atendidos na Clínica Integrada de Atenção Básica à Saúde, no município de Biguaçu-SC, vinculada à Universidade do Vale do Itajaí. Dados qualitativos foram obtidos por entrevista dialógica e analisados com base na teoria do Tornar-se Humano. Da análise dos dados emergiram as seguintes categorias: e a experiência do transtorno mental em família; o enfrentamento das dificuldades e limitações; a interrelação em família e com "outros"; a co-criação das possibilidades de transcendência. Concluiu-se que viver a teoria do Tornar-se Humano com o familiar cuidador do portador de transtorno mental, implica na co-participação do(a) enfermeiro(a) na iluminação dos significados das situações vivenciadas, co-transcendendo as suas próprias condições de ser e agir no mundo, na busca de melhor qualidade de vida. DESCRITORES:Enfermagem. Transtornos mentais. Família. THE MEANING OF GIVING MENTAL HEALTH CARE TO FAMILYABSTRACT: The objective of this qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study was to understand the meanings of being a caregiver to family members with mental disorders. The study was conducted among relatives of patients with mental disorders, attended at the Integrated Clinic of Primary Health Care in the municipality of Biguaçu-SC, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí. Qualitative data was generated through dialogic interviews and analyzed using the theory of Becoming Human. Four categories emerged from analysis: the experience of mental disorder in families; coping with its difficulties and limitations; relationships with family and "others"; co-creation of the possibilities for transcendence. We conclude that living the theory of Becoming Human including a family member mental patient caregiver involves the co-participation of the nurse as a caregiver, in illuminating with meaning the experienced situations, thus co-transcending their own conditions of being and acting in the world in search of a better quality of life. DESCRIPTORS:Nursing. Mental disorders. Family. EL SIGNIFICADO DE SER EL CUIDADOR FAMILIAR DE PACIENTES MENTALES RESUMEN:Este es un estudio cualitativo de enfoque exploratorio, descriptivo, cuyo objetivo fue comprender el significado de ser un cuidador familiar de pacientes con trastornos mentales. El estudio se desarrolló con los familiares de los pacientes con trastornos mentales, seguido en la clinica integrada de Atención Primaria de Salud en el municipio de Biguaçu-SC, vinculada a Universidade do Vale do Itajaí. Los datos cualitativos fueron obtenidos por entrevista dialógica y analizados sobre la base de la teoría del Devenir Humano. Del análisis de los dados surgieron las siguientes categorías: la experiencia de trastorno mental en las familias; hacer frente a las dificultades y limitaciones, la interrelación con la familia y "otro...

Este estudo teve por objetivo compreender os significados do trabalho no processo de viver de trabalhador(as) do Programa de Saúde da Família, de um município do Rio Grande do Sul. Com base em uma abordagem exploratório-descritivo, dados qualitativos foram obtidos através de entrevista e grupo focal, com dez trabalhador(as) do Programa de Saúde da Família. Os dados foram analisados usando o programa de análise qualitativa - QSR Nvivo e interpretados através do referencial teórico proposto. De acordo com os resultados deste estudo, o trabalho emergiu a partir de uma rede de significados que o caracterizam como processo (des)potencializador do viver humano do(as) trabalhador(as) do Programa de Saúde da Família.

The aim of this study was to give an account of the impact of international migration on the health of Brazilian women living in Melbourne, Australia. Based on a descriptive exploratory design, qualitative data was generated through participant observation, in-depth interviews and focus groups with 33 Brazilian women. Data analysis was done using QSR Nvivo. The main emerging themes were related to women's health problems, the lack of social support; and sociopolitical, sociocultural and socioeconomic barriers to access the healthcare services. The results of this study made evident that Brazilian women faced a diversified range of problems in the migration process to Australia. Such results proved to be consistent with those found in the literature.

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This study concerns the comprehension of the converging points in Brazilian Nursing Congresses as well as of their contribution to the production of nursing knowledge. The investigation method used was that of historical research with a documental analysis of the Proceedings of Brazilian Nursing Congresses from 1977 to 1987. The main converging points appearing in the lecturers' speeches refer to: higher and secondary education; nursing care; healthcare policies; the image of nurses and its transformation over the years.