Beliefs, values and practices of families in the care of hospitalized children: subsidies for nursing

Abstract

Objective: To know the beliefs, values and practices of families in the care of hospitalized children. Method: Qualitative study developed at the Pediatrics Unit of a University Hospital in southern Brazil through non-participant observation, participant observation and interview with children’s family members. The methodological framework of Ethnonursing was adopted. Data were coded, classified and scrutinized to identify saturation of similar or different ideas and patterns, and recoded by making theoretical formulations and recommendations. Results: Beliefs, values and practices of families depend on cultural references and are manifested in the care with feeding, clothing and hygiene, maintenance of sleep and rest, presence, care with medication and exercise of religious belief. Conclusion: Family members care for the hospitalized child based on their cultural reference and it is important that nurses take this aspect into consideration during care practice. Cultural care aggregates knowledge and can be considered a new paradigm for nursing care that allows an affective, reflective, human, empathic relationship between nurse/child/family.