Family perception about their presence or not in a pediatric emergency situation

Abstract

The objective was to understand the perception of family members who experienced an emergency situation in relation to their presence or not during the child’s treatment in the Pediatric Emergency Department. A qualitative study developed in a Pediatric Emergency Department. The study subjects consisted of ten relatives who had experienced an emergency situation. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews and data were submitted for thematic content analysis. The results showed that among the ten relatives interviewed only one said that they preferred not to remain with the child during the emergency situation. Regarding the clinical condition of the children, five of them had special health care needs. Previous negative situations had influenced the family member’s choice of staying during the assistance. Considering the benefits of family presence, it is recommended that nursing teams develop strategies which can facilitate the inclusion of the family in child care in any situation, while respecting the uniqueness of each person.