How Women Under Antineoplastic Chemotherapy Perceive Nursing Care

Abstract

This study was developed with the objective of learning how women under antineoplastic chemotherapy perceive nursing care, adopting phenomenology as the method. Twenty women who attended chemotherapy sessions were interviewed, by answering open questions carried out in December 2008 and January 2009. The set was an oncology hospital, settled in Juiz de Fora-MG, which provides care to patients of this municipality and neighboring regions. A comprehensive analysis uncovered the Units of Meaning: perceiving nursing care; influence of nursing staff attitudes during treatment; nursing care expectation. The way how those women related they perceive the care given by the nursing staff surpasses the technical procedures dimensions and privileges the establishment of a relationship of aid in coping with this severe disease that arise doubts, fears and several emotions in them, in addition to the therapeutics that can cause unexpected reactions. They need that, in their daily care, the professionals cross the limits of providing effective and coherent information on treatment objectives and effects and offer emotional support as well. Clients’ sensitive perception also revealed that it is necessary to pay attention to the way how staff members express their own emotions and feelings, and it is clearly noticed that such aspect can reflect in the treatment continuity and attendance. Considering the needs arisen from the diversity of impaired dimensions which are consequences of both disease and therapeutics, some possibilities are opened up to conduct humanized care, aimed to this woman herself, considering each one individually.