The meaning of quality of life for nursing caregivers in an intensive care unit for adults; O significado de qualidade de vida para cuidadores de enfermagem em uma unidade de terapia intensiva adulto

Everton Fernando Alves (1)

1 UEM - Universidade Estadual de Maringá [Brasil] = State University of Maringá [Brazil] = Université d'État de Maringá [Brésil]

Quality of life of nursing caregivers who work in the ICU has been the focus of several studies in recent decades. This study aimed to identify the meaning of quality of life given by nursing caregivers working in ICUs for adults. This was a descriptive exploratory study with a qualitative approach. There were five central themes that gave direction to the meaning of quality of life: QOL as biopsychosociospiritual welfare; time for family and social life; QOL related to leisure; professional achievement as a source of QOL; and financial stability. The findings suggest that the meaning of quality of life is subjective, because it depends on the importance of the factors that nursing caregivers attaches to their life, such as those related to personal needs, resources and training materials for their job performance and professional achievement, as well as being valued by means of economic stability.

Mots clés: Qualitative Research; Qualidade de Vida; Cuidados de Enfermagem; Equipe de Enfermagem; Unidade de Terapia Intensiva; Pesquisa Qualitativa; Quality of Life; Nursing Care; Nursing Team; Intensive Care Units; Qualitative Research.

Domaines: Santé publique et épidémiologie; Psychiatrie et santé mentale

Everton Fernando Alves. The meaning of quality of life for nursing caregivers in an intensive care unit for adults; O significado de qualidade de vida para cuidadores de enfermagem em uma unidade de terapia intensiva adulto. O mundo da Saúde, 2013, 37 (4), pp.458-463. ⟨hal-00937127⟩