Caracterização sociodemográfica e clínica de cuidadores de crianças e adolescentes em quimioterapia: estudo transversal

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer is one of the main causes of mortality in the world. Every year, around 225,000 children are diagnosed worldwide. In this sense, families who discover childhood cancer face a new reality, with factors of stress, anxiety and uncertainty, resulting in the need to face a set of challenges and psychological stress that also results in impacts for the child and/or or teenager with cancer. Objective: to describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of caregivers of children and adolescents undergoing chemotherapy. Method: cross-sectional, descriptive study, with a quantitative approach, developed from a randomized clinical trial, which was carried out between March and December 2022, in a philanthropic reference hospital for the treatment of childhood cancer in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, in the municipality of Natal. The sample number was 26 participants. To characterize the caregivers, an adapted form composed of sociodemographic and clinical variables was used, which were related to sex, age, education, training in the health field, marital status, income, place of residence, number of children, comorbidity and use of medication. In qualitative variables, descriptive analysis was carried out using absolute and relative frequency distributions. Results: females predominate, average age is 33 years old, most have completed secondary education. Half of the participants are married, with up to two children, receiving up to the minimum wage and the majority live in the interior of the state. Furthermore, only two participants stated that they had training in the health area. As for morbidities, seven reported having some condition involving medication use. Conclusion: the characterization of caregivers of children and adolescents with cancer brings visibility to this public and can, therefore, support the development of actions by nursing professionals who can serve this group. To do this, it is necessary to revisit concepts, rethink actions and intervene in a way that contributes to the relief of suffering.