Análisis del afrontamiento de la enfermera frente a la muerte de un paciente pediátrico / Analysis of how nurses cope facing the death of a paediatric patient

Objetivos Evaluar el afrontamiento ante la muerte de un paciente pediátrico que realizan las enfermeras, relacionarlo con las diferentes variables sociodemográficas y describir las estrategias de afrontamiento personal que utilizan estos profesionales para manejar el proceso y aceptar la muerte del paciente. Método Estudio observacional, descriptivo, correlacional y transversal, realizado de enero a junio de 2018 con enfermeras de las áreas de cuidados paliativos pediátricos, Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos, Neonatología y Oncohematología de un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel asistencial de la ciudad de Barcelona. Se administró un cuestionario ad hoc dividido en tres partes: datos sociodemográficos, escala de Bugen de afrontamiento a la muerte y dos preguntas abiertas. Resultados El 31,37% de los encuestados afronta el proceso de muerte del paciente pediátrico de forma adecuada, mientras que el 33,33% tiene un mal afrontamiento. El mejor afrontamiento se obtuvo en cuidados paliativos pediátricos, seguido de oncología pediátrica, neonatología y, por último, cuidados intensivos. Además, las variables relacionadas con este afrontamiento son el turno de trabajo, la muerte de un ser querido en menos de tres años y la formación previa. Por el contrario, la edad, la experiencia y los hijos no se relacionan con el afrontamiento. Los profesionales encuestados demandan una mayor formación sobre esta temática para mejorar su afrontamiento y la necesidad de contar en el ámbito de trabajo con un apoyo psicológico profesional. (AU)

Aims To evaluate how nurses cope with the death of a paediatric patient, relate it to the different sociodemographic variables, and to describe personal coping strategies used by nurses in managing the process and accepting the death of the patient. Methodology an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study, carried out from January to June 2018 with nurses from the palliative care area, intensive care unit, neonatology and oncohaematology area of a tertiary paediatric hospital in Barcelona city. An ad hoc questionnaire was applied, divided into three parts: socio-demographic data, the Bugen scale of coping with death and two open questions. Results 31.37% of the respondents faced the process of death of the paediatric patient adequately, while 33.33% did not cope well. The best coping was in paediatric palliative care, followed by paediatric oncohaematology, neonatology and, finally, the intensive care unit. In addition, the variables related to this coping are the work shift, the death of a loved one in less than 3 years and previous training. On the other hand, the age of the respondents, experience in the unit and having children are not related to coping. Moreover, the professionals surveyed demand more training to improve their coping in this area, as well as interdisciplinary sessions to discuss cases of deceased patients. (AU)

Analysis of how nurses cope facing the death of a paediatric patient.

AIMS: To evaluate how nurses cope with the death of a paediatric patient, relate it to the different sociodemographic variables, and to describe personal coping strategies used by nurses in managing the process and accepting the death of the patient. METHODOLOGY: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study, carried out from January to June 2018 with nurses from the palliative care area, intensive care unit, neonatology and oncohaematology area of a tertiary paediatric hospital in Barcelona city. An ad hoc questionnaire was applied, divided into three parts: socio-demographic data, the Bugen Scale of coping with death and two open questions. RESULTS: 31.37% of the respondents faced the process of death of the paediatric patient adequately, while 33.33% did not cope well. The best coping was in paediatric palliative care, followed by paediatric oncohaematology, neonatology and, finally, the intensive care unit. In addition, the variables related to this coping are the work shift, the death of a loved one in less than 3 years and previous training. On the other hand, the age of the respondents, experience in the unit and having children are not related to coping. Moreover, the professionals surveyed demand more training to improve their coping in this area, as well as interdisciplinary sessions to discuss cases of deceased patients.