FONSECA, L. G. A., PANCIERA, S. P., ZIHLMANN, K. F. Hospitalization in pediatric oncology and child development: cognitive and affective interface [Hospitalização em oncologia pediátrica e desenvolvimento infantil: interfaces entre aspectos cognitivos e afetivos]. Psicol. Cienc. Prof. 41 (spe3), 2021.
Available on: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703003189238
Abstract: Diagnosing and treating childhood cancer requires children to develop coping strategies, indicating the need for understanding their perception and cognitive organization. Thus, this study aimed to understand how participants perceive the process of hospitalization and treatment for childhood neoplasia according to Piaget’s stages of cognitive and affective development. This qualitative study was conducted with a convenience sample of five children aged between 4 and 9 years, diagnosed with leukemia and treated at a pediatric oncology outpatient clinic in a hospital in Baixada Santista, São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, Piagetian proofs, and The Thematic Drawing-and-Story Procedureand analyzed in the light of Bardin’s Thematic Content Analysis (1988), Piaget’s theory, and Trinca’s theory (2002), respectively. Two children (4 and 6 years old) were characterized as preoperative and three (8 and 9 years old) as concrete operative. The discourse of preoperative children included high levels of symbolism regarding the suffering arising from hospitalization and the effects of treatment, while concrete-operative children demonstrated mastery of the notion of cause and consequence and logical thinking. A qualitative comparison between Piagetian Proofs and drawings showed consistency between the types of evaluation. All participants showed an understanding of their current condition and treatment, presenting different forms of coping. They also highlighted an optimistic position regarding the prospects for healing, regardless of their cognitive development stage.