SANTOS, L. F. Representação social da criança com câncer sobre o processo de adoecimento e tratamento [Social representation of children with cancer about the disease process and treatment]. Doctoral Thesis. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (PE). 2018.
Available on: https://repositorio.ufpe.br/handle/123456789/33088
Childhood cancer is a pathology with emotional, social and cultural repercussions, as it interferes in the schooling process, growth, development and routine of children and their families. The treatment is long and exhausting, and one of the main therapeutic modalities used is chemotherapy which has several side effects and may require hospital admissions. The objective of this study is to identify the social representations of children with cancer in the process of illness and chemotherapy treatment. This is a case study with a qualitative approach carried out in public oncohaematological service, in the State and region, in Recife (PE), Brazil. Sixteen children aged 7 to 11 years with a diagnosis of cancer who had or have already gone through chemotherapy participated. The sample was intentional and the number of participants was defined by the theoretical saturation criteria. For data collection, the triangulation method was used, using the drawing-story technique, an interview script and a form with information characterizing the participants. In the application of the Thematic Drawing-and-Story Procedure the child was asked to draw a picture that would portray a child who was performing the same treatment as she and then told the story of the drawing. Subsequently, in the interview there were questions about aspects experienced during illness and expectations. The characterization data of the participants were collected with the child responsible ones and described according to the frequency of responses. To assist in data collection the interviews were recorded, subsidizing the transcription step. The analysis of the data occurred through the technique of content analysis proposed by Bardin. The results found in the reports from the storyboards and the interviews formed four thematic categories: meanings of cancer, therapeutic process, hospital experiences and expectations after treatment. The results reflect the social representation of children in the face of cancer, allowing health professionals to reflect on the care offered to these children and their families. The research findings make it possible to rethink the care practice, as well as the training of health professionals for the interdisciplinary work in assisting this public.