EXPERIÊNCIA DO ACOMPANHANTE FAMILIAR NO CUIDADO À CRIANÇA HOSPITALIZADA APÓS TRANSPLANTE DE MEDULA ÓSSEA

Abstract

Introduction: Children undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) may feel out of control of their routine, as their social and affective bonds were interrupted by prolonged hospitalization. Objective: Understanding the feelings experienced by the accompanying family member in relation to the care for the child/adolescent after BMT in the hospital. Methods: Descriptive-exploratory, qualitative study, carried out in a private institution in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, with six family members of children undergoing BMT. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews after approval of the study by the Research Ethics Committee of the institution (no: 3,955,196). Qualitative data analysis was used, according to Minayo's model of thematic categories. After the literal transcription of the interviews, a comprehensive reading was carried out to obtain an initial perception of the reports. Successive readings made it possible to highlight significant excerpts, initially grouped based on thematic differences in the categorization process and, later, aggregated by content similarity. The synthesis of the speeches was elaborated by the approximation of the theoretical assumptions to the empirical data. Results: From the reports, five categories emerged that show the change in the family's daily life due to the BMT and its impact on the companion's future expectations regarding the child's health, the importance of the support of the multidisciplinary team in the hospital, the fundamental role of the network of social support and the turmoil of feelings experienced by the companion in this difficult moment in his life. Final considerations: Knowing the experiences of family members accompanying the hospitalized child undergoing BMT reveals the need for all those involved to adapt to the new routine and to strengthen the bond with the multidisciplinary team, raising awareness of the family's concerns. The results emphasize the merit of the qualitative approach for investigations in which delicate situations involving experiences and feelings of children and family members are considered in the context of health.