Behavior changes in children with chronic diseases and its repercussions in the family:Hospital da Criança - Obras Sociais de Irmã Dulce, Salvador, BA

Abstract

It is a pilot study, involving 15 children that were commited at the Hospital da Criança: Obras Sociais de Irmã Dulce, Salvador, Bahia. The objective of this study is the investigation of family’s perception about the pediatric patient with chronic illness. The responsible for the patient answered a questionnaire that approached subjects regarding the partner demographic profile, family  knowledge degree about the disease, behavior alterations in child and its family, besides the impression of prognostic and  the medical services that were offered to the researched population. The results evidenced that some kind of behavior alteration were presented by all evaluated population, being more frequent symptoms of: sadness; anxiety; isolation and sleepness. The parents referred that after the appearance of the disease, the more common manifestations were: increase of the familiar union, feeling of fear, anxiety and concern with physical sequels. Regarding the model of hospital care, it was revealed that they were satisfied with the quality and efficiency of the medical service. However, they consider insufficient the psychological support to the child and the family throughout the confrontation of the chronic disease. The next phase of this study should make possible a more consistent and inclusive analysis concerning the proposed theme.