Difficulties and conflicts faced by the family during routine care for a child with a chronic illness

Abstract

The following is a case study, using a qualitative approach, with the objective of understanding the strategies employed by the family in organizing and caring for a child with a chronic illness. The analysis unit consisted of a family assisted by the "Home Assistance and Support Service to Families of Chronic Patients of the University Hospital of Maringá" home care extension project of the State University of Maringá, developed by Nursing students. For data collection, home visits were made, the family’s records in the extension project were consulted, and a semi-structured interview was conducted. Results showed that assisting the family transcends the biomedical dimension, revealing the importance of regarding “family” as an entity, where the illness brings about changes not only in the biological sense for the ill individual, but also in the psychosocial, affective and emotional senses. In this context, relationships, routines and priorities gain a new dimension, emphasizing the need for support in order to face adversity. In spite of the difficulties faced due to the chronic illnesses that afflicts this family, it can be regarded as healthy and functional, as it is able to mutually care for itself and deal with the adversities imposed by the illness.