LIMA, Maria Juliana Vieira    CAVALCANTE, Cinthia Mendonça. Coping/self-care strategies used by cleaning workers in a pediatric oncology center. []. , 18, 1, pp.152-172. ISSN 1516-0858.

The objective of this study was to understand if there were and what were the coping/self-care strategies used by cleaning staff in a cancer treatment center, in Fortaleza, Ceará, in contact with the users of the center. A qualitative research was conducted, attended by six workers from the cleaning service. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and for analyzing speech, the phenomenological hermeneutics were used. A link between users and workers was noticed. The bond caused feelings of satisfaction, but also pain and suffering. From the experiences of suffering, workers have developed coping strategies and self-care to deal with their feelings and experiences. These strategies are used in order to reduce, eliminate or manage the situations of psychological distress. The escape from situations of pain and anguish was the most used strategy; followed by search of religious support/spiritual and sharing of feelings with people deemed trustworthy. However, there is no validated space for the listening and welcoming of psychic demands from these professionals. We emphasize, therefore, the need to realize the nuances of the relationship of cleaning workers with the users of the center and creating care spaces for these professionals.

: cleaning worker; suffering; coping; self care.

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