Abstract

MUNCHEN, Mikaela Aline Bade et al. Death of children and adolescents with cancer: meanings attributed by families to practices of the healthcare team. Rev. SBPH [online]. 2021, vol.24, n.1, pp. 3-15. ISSN 1516-0858.

The death, in the context of childhood and adolescence cancer, acquires a complex character, being described by parents as a nameless pain. This article aimed to comprehend the meanings attributed to the acting of healthcare team by relatives of children and adolescents who died with cancer. It is a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study. There were utilized, as instruments, a focal group and four semi-structured interviews with eight family members of patients who have passed away. Data were analyzed through Thematic Content Analysis and organized in categories. From the analysis of the participants' narratives, it was identified that death was often related to the delay in establishing a diagnosis and consequently the start of treatment. Such scenario mobilizes high anguish, which seemed to reinforce feelings of distrust on the part of family members, leading these to blame the care team and the procedures performed by it. There was also in the relatives a feeling of appreciation for the support and comfort received from the care team. Therefore, in order to provide adequate care for the pain of the loss of a child, the necessity of more dialogical and sensitive relationships is emphasized, promoting a balance between technical practices and care.

Keywords : neoplasms; death; family members; healthcare team.

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