INTERPRETATION OF THE ACCOMPANIMENT NORM, REGARDING THE PRESENCE OF PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS, IN PEDIATRIC INVASIVE PROCEDURES: ANALYSIS FROM A BIOETHICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Research has been conducted regarding parental presence during pediatric patient care, and it is occasionally possible to face several tense moments regarding the acceptance (or not) of parental presence during invasive procedures. In Chile, Statute 20.584 mentions family accompaniment during hospitalization, but it does not specify such accompaniment while performing invasive procedures. In addition, the norms and rules of family accompaniment vary in different healthcare centers. OBJECTIVE: To reveal how nurses at a southern Chilean hospital interpret the accompaniment hospital norm regarding parental presence during pediatric invasive procedures, with analysis from a bioethical perspective. METHODS: Qualitative study with phenomenological design based on the Husserl philosophy, which uses a descriptive method approach. For information analysis, the Streubert & Carpenter steps were used, based on three key concepts: essences, intuition, and phenomenological reduction. Data saturation was achieved with 9 participants. RESULTS: 2 categories were revealed: Meaning of the accompaniment norm and Parental and/or principal caregiver behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of family members during the procedure is controversial, with arguments both in favor and against it. The experience is directly related to professional and personal bioethics. The findings reveal the necessity of care humanization, continuous capacitation, and the creation of consensual written protocols by healthcare professionals.