The experience of families in face of the finiteness of their children in the process of adopting palliative care

The experience of families in face of the finiteness of their children in the process of adopting palliative care

Neis M; Issi HB; da Motta Mda G.; Rocha CMF; Carvalho PRA

Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem

2023

Family; Palliative Care; Adaptation Psychological; Child; Communication; Existentialism; Humans; Only Child; Palliative Care; Qualitative Research

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the experience of family members after learning their child would adopt palliative care., METHOD: Phenomenological research on Heidegger's perspective. The participants were eleven family members of children who were recommended palliative care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit from a university hospital in southern Brazil. The statements were obtained in a semi-structured interview, from January to November/2017, and submitted to Heidegger's theoretical-philosophical analysis. Research approved by the institution's Ethical Committee., RESULTS: The communication of palliative care triggers the perception of the child's existencial facticity in the Family, revealing reactions explained in the thematic dimensions: "Coping with the finiteness of the child when confronted with the proposal of adopting palliative care" and "The need for compassionate and attentive care"., FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Phenomenology allows us to understand the parent's existential purpose. An understanding perspective can help interdisciplinary teams to communicate the adoption of palliative care in a sensitive and ethical way, focusing on the best interest of the child.

Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

May List 2023