Communication of bad news in palliative care within pediatric oncology

Abstract

The study aims to understand the process of communicating bad news experienced by families of patients in hospice care from the pediatric oncology reference center in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. This is a qualitative descriptive study using structured interviews with families of children and adolescents in palliative care and guided by thematic and categorical content analysis. It was observed that, in the view of family members, communication brings ambivalent reactions, involving the need to know and the suffering caused by the prospect of the child’s death. Humanizing factors, such as an empathic stance, welcoming attitude and affection related to the others’ suffering experience, resonate in the good relationship between professionals and family members. It is concluded that the communication in palliative care is an imperative in everyday pediatric oncology and causes suffering that requires mental health care. Thus, professional practice needs constant improvement in order to qualify the services of palliative care.