Children in conservative renal treatment: Experiences of family caregivers

Abstract

Objective: to understand the experience of the family caregiver of the child in conservative renal treatment. Method: a qualitative study. Participants consisted of 11 family caregivers of children in conservative renal treatment in the South of Brazil, during the period of April to August of 2015. For the collection of the information, semi-structured interviews were carried out, whose data were recorded. For the analysis of the information, transcription of the interviews was used, codification, and organization of the categories according to the scholars. Results: the data allowed the construction of five categories: discovering the disease, dealing with the disease, realization of the child’s health; living life for the child; and realizing the existence of support. Conclusion: the experience of family caregivers is related to affective, social, professional and economic changes.