SIGNIFICADOS DO CONFORTO PARA ADOLESCENTES COM CÂNCER EM TRATAMENTO QUIMIOTERÁPICO

Abstract

Objective: To understand the meaning of comfort for adolescents with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Descriptive, exploratory study with qualitative approach, developed with adolescents with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Data collection was performed through a semi-structured interview and the data were analyzed through content analysis. Results: 10 male and female adolescents participated in the study, aged between 10 and 18 years, length of hospitalization ranging from one to 15 days, white ethnicity and infirmary hospitalization sector predominated in the sample of six adolescents. Content analysis revealed two categories: comfort in the daily life of adolescents with cancer undergoing chemotherapy; the impact on the comfort of adolescents with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Conclusion: The adolescents presented meanings of comfort in a positive way to their daily life regarding satisfaction, well-being, support of health professionals and the physical structure of the institution; as discomforts related to the development of symptoms, functional alterations, time of hospitalization and removal from the support network of family and friends.