Social network and support for families of children with chronic disease: integrative review

Abstract

Chronic illness in childhood alters the whole dynamic of the family and in each of the different time course of the disease it need a different kind of social support to better copping with it. This study sought to identify the scientific knowledge about social support and social network as strategies used by families facing chronic illness in childhood. We performed an integrative review of literature in the national and international databases, using the Health Science Descriptors e and Medical Subject Headings (MESH) social support, family, child and chronic illness. After the selection of studies included in the review, we proceeded to the categorization, evaluation, interpretation of results and synthesis of knowledge. Studies show that the family remains a major source of social support in coping with chronic illness in childhood. It is noteworthy that different types of support are required for each family member in the course of the disease, and this support needs to meet the demands of his father, mother, healthy siblings and the sick child.