Abstract
ABSTRACT Purpose: to understand the social representations of health professionals about terminally ill children and adolescents in different work settings. Methods: a qualitative, descriptive, exploratory study was conducted with ten health professionals, selected through the technique of network sampling. The instruments for data collection were semi-structured interviews, and free association of words. The analysis of the data followed the steps of content analysis, subsidized by the theory of social representations, with the support of Atlas.ti software. Results: the analysis of the interviews presented 115 excerpts of statements, condensed into 11 codes, which were grouped into three categories: experiences, strategies, and consequences of conviviality with terminality; mission and amorousness in a terminal condition; terminality as the end of life. The free association of words resulted in 52 evocations, with an emphasis on suffering, pain, love, mission, and family. Conclusion: the social representations of health professionals about terminally ill children and adolescents are associated with the situations being experienced, the strategies developed to deal with these moments in the exercise of the profession, and the consequences that this experience causes in the health professionals.
Highlights
It is estimated that some 600 thousand new cases of cancer will occur in Brazil year, across all age groups
This situation will require a governmental response for managing policies and more qualified professional practice to provide care for people in situations of chronic and terminal illness. In view of this scenario of increased neoplasms, children and adolescents are of central importance, with a median percentage of pediatric tumors observed in the population-based cancer registries of Brazilians that is close to 3%
Expressions that were coded with one or more codes were selected; these will be highlighted in the discussion to enable a better understanding by the readers, articulating the theory, and perception of the researchers
Summary
It is estimated that some 600 thousand new cases of cancer will occur in Brazil year, across all age groups This situation will require a governmental response for managing policies and more qualified professional practice to provide care for people in situations of chronic and terminal illness. In view of this scenario of increased neoplasms, children and adolescents are of central importance, with a median percentage of pediatric tumors observed in the population-based cancer registries of Brazilians that is close to 3%. The chances of cure of childhood cancers is about 70%, when the disease is discovered early; 30% of the cases need palliative care because of the end of life. The resulting conditions may be associated to the type or stage of the disease
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