Care needs of youth living in chronic situation resulting from concomitant disorders^*

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To understand the care needs in the young experiencing concomitant chronic diseases.

Methods:

This was a situation study with a comprehensive approach employing Life History, interviews, and observations. The attentive reading of the material evidenced the health needs and care minutiae performed by the young and families arranged in a descriptive framework, allowing the election of sense axes.

Results:

Out of the many needs, efforts, and care, we intentionally elected two major mobilizing needs: "the need for the diagnosis for suffering caused by a kidney problem" and "the need for chemotherapy for cancer." The synthesizing fractal tree drawing enabled grasping different mobilized resources and the "myriad of care" conducted by the family toward each mobilizing need.

Conclusion:

The visibility of the entire care required in chronic situations allows guiding professionals involved in supporting families to alleviate suffering.

Keywords:
Adolescents; Family; Family caregivers