HOW FAMILY CAREGIVERS PERCEIVE THE CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Family caregivers’ perception of chemotherapy treatment supports the development of effective and humanized nursing care plans. This study, which aimed to describe family caregivers’ perception of chemotherapy treatment in children and adolescents, is characterized as qualitative and descriptive; it was undertaken in a Chemotherapy Center with 10 family members. The data, organized using the ATLAS-ti software, were analysed using content analysis, from which the following categories emerged: Ambiguity of the feelings regarding chemotherapy treatment, Chemotherapy as a resource for achieving a cure and Religiosity and faith. It was observed that the family members perceive the chemotherapy treatment as the only means of obtaining a cure, and that this process includes the search for balance between the contrasting feelings, through belief and faith, pervaded by a perspective of hope.

Keywords

• Chemoterapy
• Caregivers
• Child
• Adolescent