<b>Group of parents of the pediatric intensive care unit: perception of family members</b> - doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v11i1.18859

Abstract

The Parents Group of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) from the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) takes part on the Family Support Program of the Pediatric Nursing Service. The objective of the study is to know the perception of the family members of hospitalized children regarding the Group of Parents. It is an exploratory and descriptive study with qualitative approach. It was developed within the HCPA after the approval of both the Nursing School Research Commission and the Ethics Commission of the institution. Data was collected in the second semester of 2008 through semi-structured interview with nine family members that participated in the Group. Data was analyzed through content analysis comprising pre-analysis, management of the material, treatment of the results and interpretation. Two categories have emerged: “Talking about the Group” regarding the perception of the family member on his participation and dynamics of the activity that provided freedom of expression, appreciation of the family and the multidisciplinary team, and humanization; yet, the “Group as a Space of the Family” which approaches possibilities, facilities, and exchange of experiences, among others. The research provided new sources of knowledge, possibility of better interventions, new ideas, making the inter-relation among the research and caregiving to the child and his/her family.