From despair to hope: copying of relatives of hospitalized children before bad news report

Abstract

Objective: to understand the experiences of relatives of critically ill children before bad news report. Method: a phenomenological study based on Heidegger’s philosophical framework. Data collection was carried out from October 2018 to March 2019, through phenomenological interviews with 15 relatives of children hospitalized in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Results: relatives, in their existentiality, experience the facticity thrown into unpredictable situations, regardless of their choices and are faced with feelings of shock, despair and fear before bad news. After emotional impact, especially regarding the possibility of death, relatives reveal hope as a mechanism for coping with the situation. Final considerations: solidarity and sensitivity by health professionals, especially nurses, are essential in understanding the existential dimension of relatives who experience such an experience, understanding the several facets of their existence and offering them opportunities to project themselves.

Sources of Stress, Family Functioning, and Needs of Families With a Chronic Critically Ill Child: A Qualitative Study

“…However, for most of them, the uncertainties were balanced by a high feeling of hope that was present in their families. Hope is a positive emotion that has been reported by PICU parents and also identified as a coping mechanism by families ( 57 ). A recent study reports that, during and after discharge from PICU, parents consider functional, cognitive and emotional recovery, as well as their child's quality of life as the most important patient outcomes ( 58 ).…”

Educação em saúde para mães com recém nascidos hospitalizados: relato de experiência

“…Assim, as ações educativas voltadas à promoção da esperança e de suporte emocional adquirem-se fundamental importância para às mães, visto que a esperança é potencial mecanismo de enfrentamento, que proporciona conforto e facilita a capacidade de resiliência e a perseverança das mães à atual situação (Cabeça & Melo, 2020).…”

Comunicação entre profissionais e familiares durante internação de recém-nascidos e lactentes: revisão integrativa [Communication between professionals and family members during hospitalization of newborns and infants: an integrative review] [La comunicación entre los profesionales y los familiares durante la hospitalización de los recién nacidos y los lactantes: revisión integradora]

“…Autora correspondente: Bethania Ferreira Goulart. E-mail: bethaniagoulart@yahoo.com.br Editora Científica: Cristiane Helena Gallasch; Editor Associado: Antonio Marcos Tosoli Gomes Nesse sentido, o processo comunicacional é um elemento que pode aproximar os profissionais envolvidos na assistência à criança com os familiares e representa condição básica para estabelecer relações interpessoais seguras e sensíveis 3,4 . A permanência dos pais ou do responsável em ambiente hospitalar, favorece a construção de vínculo com os profissionais, sendo os familiares também objeto do cuidado.…”