Os processos de luto vivenciados por profissionais que atuam no contexto da oncologia infantil

Abstract

Grief in pediatric cancer is a challenging process for both families and healthcare professionals, with profound effects on the mental health of the latter. The lack of proper grief processing can lead to severe emotional implications, highlighting the importance of psychological support within multidisciplinary teams. This study aimed to investigate the emotional impact of grief on professionals working in pediatric oncology and its influence on mental health and work quality. The research was descriptive, cross-sectional, and qualitative, with semi-structured interviews conducted with 15 professionals from a reference hospital in pediatric oncology in Belém, Pará. The results showed that professionals face significant emotional complexity, with grief being a recurring experience, and the need for emotional support being emphasized. The study also pointed out that parenthood intensifies reactions to grief, influencing the handling of loss, and unrecognized grief was identified as a factor affecting the quality of care. Two main categories were identified: understandings of death and pediatric grief, and emotional bonds with pediatric patients and coping mechanisms for grief. It was concluded that parenthood and unrecognized grief are crucial themes, suggesting the need for greater emotional support and more research in the field.