Experiences on facing death: social representations of relatives of patients that have no possibility of a cure

representações sociais de familiares de pacientes fora de possibilidades de cura

Abstract

This study aimed at determining the social representations of relatives of patients that have no possibility of a cure. It is a descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach. Five family members, aged between 19 and 45 years, participated in the survey. Data was collected through guided, semi-structured interviews. The field study was a hospital school in the Federal District. Two distinct lines emerged from the analysis of the interviews: a) the psychosocial framework that forges the representations concerning the process of death and dying; and b) the relatives' health care evaluation as humanized or dehumanized, depending on the attitude of the professional and on the institution's physical and material conditions. The results revealed the weaknesses of a family group in the face ofa painful event. The patients' relatives complained about the lack of support from the healthcare team. According to them an effective communication approach could strengthen links that encourage the emergence of mechanisms of adaptation to confront disease and grief. The study revealed that health professionals are not prepared to attend to the needs of this kind of patient.