The meanings of quality of life: interpretative analysis based on experiences of people in burns rehabilitation

Authors

  • Maria Cristina Silva Costa
  • Lídia Aparecida Rossi
  • Lívia Mara Lopes
  • Caroline Lopes Cioffi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692008000200013

Keywords:

quality of life, burns, culture, nursing

Abstract

This research aimed to interpret the meanings of quality of life, taking into consideration the meanings attributed by those who have undergone serious burns, their experiences and social/cultural background. We used the ethnographic method based on modern hermeneutics. Nineteen patients with burn sequelae, already discharged from the Burns Unit of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School Clinical Hospital participated in this study, along with their relatives. Participants belong to the working class, are between 18 to 50 years old and have been in rehabilitation for at least a year. Data were collected by direct observation and semi-structured interviews. The analysis was processed through the identification of units of meanings and construction of thematic nucleuses. Patients and relatives reported that quality of life had changed because of physical and psychological limitations caused by the burns. The meanings of quality of life are associated with the performance of social roles and are guided by family, work, normality, autonomy and social integration.

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Published

2008-04-01

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2008)

Section

Original Articles

License

RLAE’s authorship concept is based on the substantial contribution by each of the individuals listed as authors, mainly in terms of conceiving and planning the research project, collecting or analyzing and interpreting data, writing and critical review. Indication of authors’ names under the article title is limited to six. If more, authors are listed on the online submission form under Acknowledgements. The possibility of including more than six authors will only be examined on multicenter studies, considering the explanations presented by the authors.
Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

The meanings of quality of life: interpretative analysis based on experiences of people in burns rehabilitation. (2008). Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 16(2), 252-259. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692008000200013