Understanding the experience of families about the relationships with nurses during the dying process of hospitalized child

Abstract

This qualitative research aims to: understand the experience of families about the relationships with nurses during the dying process of hospitalized child and to know the meaning that these bereaved families attribute to the relationships. The research will be guided by philosophical hermeneutics interpretation. The participants of this study will be bereaved families by the death of a son and who experienced hospitalization in the final stages of the child's life. It is estimated that 10 to 15 families is the number necessary to inform about this topic by a semi structured interview. The participants will be recruited with the help of nurses from the pediatric ICU, pediatric oncology and palliative care, within two to four months after the child's death. The data will be interpreted by the process of transcription, reading and re-reading, reviewing field notes, interviews and reflection on the generation of interpretations. The project will be submitted to the Ethics Committee from School of Nursing of University of São Paulo. The knowledge about the effect for families about the relationships with nurses in a child's end of life can help health professionals to hone programs and services for children and families, improving the quality of care and preparing for families' bereavement.