Management strategies for caregivers of under 14-year dialysis patients Estrategias de gestión en cuidadores de menores de 14 años en diálisis

Abstract

Objective. To  determine  the  management  strategies  in the grieving  process of caregivers of under-14 -year dialysis patients in rena lunit at University Hospital Hernando Moncaleano Perdomo (HUHMP)inNeiva. Materials and methods. Aqualitative phenomenological study. A semi-structured interview was used. The means used by caregivers to cope with the grieving process according to the theory of Dysfunctional Grief by Gaskill et al., were effective internal management strategies: spirituality, motivation and resignation; ineffective internal management strategies: guilt and over protection; effective external management strategies: Support provided by the couple, family, health staff and social support; ineffective external management strategies: Ineffective Support from partner, family, social environment and health staff. It was found remarkable power lessness. Conclusions. Caregivers do not accept their reality, resignation helps to cope with it; on the contrary, power lessness impedes it. The resignation, which helps to decrease feeling sof power lessness, is achieved by means of effective and ineffective management strategies, although the latter produce discomfort and trigger feelings of power lessness, limiting the implementation of effective management strategies. These findings broaden the view of the health team, especially the nursing staff allow ingrecognizing that a caregiver needs to be cared.