CONCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES OF NURSES WORKING WITH FAMILIES

Cláudia Maria De Mattos Penna,Evandro De Souza Queiróz

doi:10.1590/0104-0707201500001500014

Cláudia Maria De Mattos Penna, Evandro De Souza Queiróz

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-0707201500001500014

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to build theory about the conceptions of family developed by nurses linked to the Family Health Strategy. This is a qualitative study with a theoretical framework in symbolic interactionism and methodological framework in Grounded Theory. Twenty-one nurses were interviewed who were affiliated with the Family Health Strategy. The theoretical script constructed has three central categories, described as Conceptions of Family, Family Environment and Family Approach. Nurses build their conceptions based on three specific experiences within the social, economic and cultural environment they operate in. Their concepts of family address origin, space, structure and relationships. The family approach derives from these concepts and depends on specific skills and resources. The study provides a theoretical base for making decisions for family care as well as for teaching the family approach to nurses.

Highlights

The social and institutional movements after the Second World War in Europe indicated the need to transform the thinking about society, with a focus on people’s quality of life and wellbeing, which entailed repercussions in practically all public service sectors
The first is when care has the meaning of zeal, of kindness and delicate skills, and is better executed by women; the second is when the relationship the services produce in Primary Health Care feminizes the relation with the users because it discourages the participation of men, whether due to the functioning hours of the primary health care services, overlapping with their work hours or due to women’s excessive burden of responsibility
The Family Health Strategy has greatly evolved since its implementation in Brazil, including the increased coverage across the national territory and the improvement of the administrative processes in the elaboration of epidemiological, monitoring and quality individuals.[10]

Summary

Introduction

The social and institutional movements after the Second World War in Europe indicated the need to transform the thinking about society, with a focus on people’s quality of life and wellbeing, which entailed repercussions in practically all public service sectors. New health concepts and the proposal of new practices led the public policies to the approach of the territory, valuing popular participation, and indicated that the problems should be interpreted at the local level, close to people’s daily life.[1] This approach of the territory gave rise to the focus on family care, as the family is naturally the mediator between individual and collective issues, between the public and the private.[2] the family started to be considered potentially important in the care for its members’ health, as its balance can permit a healthy life and, at the same time, its disruption can influence illnesses or problems. The family health proposal is based on the creation of bonding, the strengthening of health promotion and the change of lifestyles, including the assignment of clients and the attempt to offer Primary Health Care with high problem-solving ability.[3,4,5]

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