Abstract

PAES, Carmen Cecília Tavares et al. Is the hospitalized child a risk factor for psychic illness of the family?: Quality of life of caregivers on a unity of general pediatrics. Psicol. hosp. (São Paulo) [online]. 2009, vol.7, n.2, pp.15-35. ISSN 2175-3547.

This research was conducted in General Pediatrics of the Santa Casa de Misericordia of Maceió, with 28 caregivers of hospitalized children, aiming to investigate the quality of life companions, their  mental suffering in the hospital environment, the determinants of this suffering, mechanisms and manifestations. We performed a descriptive analysis of data, frequency distribution of socio-demographic data about the disease, quantitative and qualitative analysis of items of semi-directed interview, the items of the SF 36 and the HADS. We found that the chronicity of the child´s condition is the most important factor that influences the quality of life of their companions, the degree of relationship between child and caregiver, family income, marital status of caregivers did not affect their quality of life.  Living with the disease for more than one year and age over 30 years old have adversely affected their quality of life.

Keywords : Caregivers; Quality of life; Hospital.

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