Interaction experience for families who live with their child's disease and hospitalization

Abstract

Starting from the research question about the meanings the family attributes to interactions experienced during their child's hospitalization, this study tried to understand the interaction experience of families in pediatric hospitals, as well to identify the interventions considered effective the family's perspective. Symbolic Interactionism was the theoretical framework that supported the data analysis process, and Grounded Theory was the methodological framework. Six families with hospitalized children participated. The results allowed us to identify the phenomena "feeling secure to assume risks" and "feeling insecure to assume risks", representing the symbolic meanings attributed to relational contexts that emerge from interaction between families and health professionals. The identified concepts significantly contribute to achieve a better understanding of the family-centered care approach and provide a way to reflect on interaction and intervention with families in pediatric clinical care practice.