Abstract

PERES, Girlane Mayara  and  LOPES, Ana Maria Pereira. Companions of hospitalized patients and the humanization processes in general hospitals. Psicol. hosp. (São Paulo) [online]. 2012, vol.10, n.1, pp. 17-41. ISSN 2175-3547.

In spite of the fact that there has been a National Humanization Policy (NHP) in Brazil since 2004, general hospitals have maintained practices focused on the body, deviating from the holistic concept which is a principle of the SUS (the Brazilian Public Health System). This research aims at characterizing the psychosocial strategies of relatives and companions of the inpatients at the General Hospital in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. A qualitative survey, using a semi-structured interview, was conducted with six follow-up companions who were relatives. The results indicate that there is a list of motivating factors for the companion activity. However, only a few involve family homeostasis, which would need to be accompanied by humanization practices.  Relatives engage in activities that cause suffering. Once they are oriented by appropriate hospital supervision, the humanization processes will be enhanced. Relatives do not develop critical thinking about the hospital ambiance as it relates to the accompaniment activity; and this does not contribute to the relationship between humanization and ambiance. Promoting change in the hospital culture is essential, and there should be focus on a model that takes people into consideration and leads to convergence between the NHP and hospitals.

Keywords : General hospital; Family; Companions; Humanization.

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