Sobrecarga e desconforto emocional em cuidadores de idosos

Caregivers' concerns through health professionals' eyes

OBJECTIVES

Advancements in medicine and science have enabled more and more people to live longer with a chronic medical condition, namely cancer. Nevertheless, the palliative care (PC) approach continues to be introduced and incorporated later in the lives of patients and families dealing with such conditions. Thus, the need for individuals to care for this population in our society is increasing, giving rise to the so-called "informal caregivers." The present study intends to examine the main obstacles faced by informal caregivers taking care of a cancer patient receiving PC based on what health professionals working in these settings perceive and write down. To achieve this goal, the written files of 2 Portuguese palliative care institutions were analyzed.

METHODS

An inductive thematic analysis was conducted, focusing on the contact between health professionals and family caregivers and based on the notes taken by health professionals.

RESULTS

Three main overarching themes were identified: (1) burden, (2) intra-family impact of the illness, and (3) network vulnerabilities. Included in this are the emphasis on the role of the family and social support, the high levels of psychological morbidity and caregiver burden present over this period, and a great need for information about the illness.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

This study provided a broader awareness regarding the daily struggle experienced by family caregivers, particularly those who juggle between "roles." It is vital to understand the scope of the obstacles experienced by caregivers during the terminal phase of their loved one's illness, given how important it is to address the family's needs. Future studies and practitioners should consider these observations and topics when considering new approaches for this population, as they ought to be quite focused and short in time in order to meet people's needs.

Factores que influyen en la sobrecarga de cuidadores informales de pacientes con Trastorno Neurocognitivo debido a enfermedad de Alzheimer

La sobrecarga es uno de los fenómenos presentados en los cuidadores de pacientes con Alzheimer. El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar los factores que influyen en la sobrecarga de cuidadores informales de pacientes con Alzheimer, partícipes de un programa de intervención en Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia. El estudio fue transversal anidado en un ensayo controlado aleatorizado con 3 grupos en paralelo, y con una muestra a conveniencia de 58 cuidadores. Adicionalmente, se aplicó la escala de carga del cuidador de Zarit y una entrevista estructurada, al igual que se utilizó un modelo de efectos mixtos con varianza no estructurada. Se encontró que la edad media fue de 55.6 años (79.3 %), mujeres e hijos (70.7 %), un bajo uso de redes de apoyo (8.6 %) y una mediana de dedicación al cuidado de 24 horas/día. Como factores asociados a la sobrecarga, por cada año del cuidador, la sobrecarga disminuye 0.5 puntos (p = 0.005), así como se encuentra con más sobrecarga a los cuidadores cuyos pacientes tienen una mayor afectación del comportamiento (p = 0.003), los cuidadores que tienen otro empleo (p = 0.025) y la falta de apoyo brindado por otros familiares (p = 0.014). Estos resultados permiten caracterizar a familiares cuidadores en quienes se requiere una intervención multidisciplinaria.

Work-family balance among caregivers of elderly people: a systematic review

Abstract Introduction Active workers may experience role conflict when trying to reconcile work and caregiving activities with elderly family members. Objective To carry out a systematic review of empirical research on work-family balance among caregivers of the elderly. Method Scopus, PubMed, Scielo, BVS, Web of Science and PsycInfo databases were consulted to identify research published from 2015 to 2020. Results 20 articles were identified and categorized as follows: 1. Caregivers of elderly people with dementia and cancer; 2. Gender; 3. Sandwich Generation and Baby Boomers; and 4. Individual and collective coping strategies. It was highlighted that there are specificities in the work-family balance that can favor both positive and negative spillovers; therefore, they must be considered in the planning of individual and collective strategies. Conclusion In order to favor work-family balance, the choices between work and family responsibilities should be studied, as well as expanding this narrow framework through the analysis of aspects involving gender, biography, cultural norms, social values, economic aspects and political solutions available to these workers.

Equilíbrio trabalho-família entre cuidadores de idosos: uma revisão sistemática

Resumo Introdução Trabalhadores podem vivenciar um conflito de papéis ao tentarem conciliar trabalho e atividades de cuidado com familiares idosos. Objetivo Realizar uma revisão sistemática das pesquisas empíricas sobre equilíbrio trabalho-família entre cuidadores de idosos. Método Foram consultadas as bases de dados Scopus, PubMed, Scielo, BVS, Web of Science e PsycInfo para identificar as pesquisas publicadas no período de 2015 a 2020. Resultados Identificaram-se 20 artigos que foram categorizados da seguinte forma: 1. Cuidadores de idosos com demência e câncer; 2. Gênero; 3. Geração Sanduíche e baby boomers; e 4. Estratégias de enfrentamento individuais e coletivas. Destacou-se que existem especificidades no equilíbrio trabalho-família que podem favorecer tanto o spillover positivo quanto o negativo; por isso devem ser consideradas no planejamento das estratégias individuais e coletivas. Conclusão Para favorecer o equilíbrio trabalho-família, deve-se estudar as escolhas entre os trabalhos e responsabilidades familiares, bem como ampliar esse quadro estreito por meio da análise de aspectos que envolvam gênero, biografia, normas culturais, valores sociais, aspectos econômicos e soluções políticas disponíveis a esses trabalhadores.

The association between caregiver burden, distress, psychiatric morbidity and healthcare utilization among persons with dementia in Singapore

BACKGROUND

Caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) face high caregiving burden, distress related to responsive behaviours, and psychiatric morbidity. The present paper examines how these are associated with healthcare utilization of the PWD in Singapore.

METHODS

The data of 399 caregiver-PWD dyads were extracted from a national cross-sectional survey. PWD completed the Client Service Receipt Inventory, which provided information on their healthcare utilization (i.e. emergency service use, hospital admission, length of stay in hospital, and number of outpatient visits) within a frame of 3 months. The Zarit Burden Interview  (ZBI), Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), and Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) were administered to caregivers. Information on severity of dementia, physical multimorbidity of the PWD, household composition, and caregivers' sociodemographic characteristics such as age, gender, and education were collected. Variables significantly associated with healthcare utilization in the univariate analyses were selected and included in the final regression models. Emergency service use and hospital admission were investigated using logistic regression analyses, whilst negative binomial models were utilized for length of stay in hospital and number of outpatient visits.

RESULTS

After adjusting for significant correlates such as dementia severity and multimorbidity, only caregiver distress from responsive behaviours was positively associated with emergency room utilization, while caregiver burden was positively associated with length of hospital stay in the final regression model. Psychiatric morbidity was associated with healthcare utilization outcomes at the univariate level but did not reach statistical significance in final models.

CONCLUSION

The study identifies caregiver variables associated with the healthcare utilization of PWD. Policy makers and healthcare professionals should provide interventions to ease burden and distress amongst caregivers of PWD.

Caregiving and bereavement in palliative care: A cross-cultural study between Brazil and Portugal

Caregiving and bereavement outcomes are strongly influenced by socio-cultural context. Past research has found higher levels of caregiver burden and psychological morbidity in Portuguese compared to Brazilian caregivers. This study compared Brazilian and Portuguese family caregivers in palliative care to identify differences in psychological morbidity and caregiver burden and their relationship with psychosocial factors such as sociodemographic variables, circumstances of end-of-life care and dying, social support, family functioning, and perception of quality of care. Prospective data were collected from convenience samples of family caregivers in Brazil (T0 n = 60; T1 n = 35) and Portugal (T0 n = 75; T1 n = 29) at two separate time points-during caregiving (T0), and during the first two months of bereavement (T1). The study samples consisted mostly of women, offspring, and spouses. In both countries, family caregivers devoted most of their day to taking care of their sick relatives and reported a lack of practical support. Portuguese caregivers had higher levels of burden than Brazilian caregivers, and in both populations a greater burden was associated with more psychopathological symptoms. Higher caregiver burden among Portuguese caregivers was associated with the circumstances of death and the perceived lack of emotional support. Among Portuguese caregivers, symptomatology persisted during bereavement, reaching significantly higher levels of anxiety, somatization, and peritraumatic symptoms compared to the Brazilian sample. These results show differences between family caregiver samples in Portugal and Brazil during the bereavement process. Understanding the underlying cultural patterns and mechanisms requires future research.

Nursing Diagnoses in Institutionalized Elderly Individuals according to Betty Neuman

Objective: To identify nursing diagnoses in caregivers of institutionalized elderly and to associate them with stressors, according to the Betty Neuman Model. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study with 41 formal caregivers of institutionalized elderly. The data were collected using a structured form according to the Betty Neuman Systems Model. Subsequently, the diagnoses were formulated based on the NANDA-I Taxonomy and these were associated with the stressors perceived by the caregiver. Results: There was a prevalence of women with eight to 12 years of schooling who did not attend a caregiver course for the elderly. The stressors perceived by caregivers were family, financial, work and health. Fifteen nursing diagnoses were identified, highlighting: Sedentary lifestyle, anxiety, stress overload and impaired comfort. Conclusions: The use of the Neuman Model facilitated the identification of nursing diagnoses. The family stressor was the most prevalent in the caregivers’ report. The main diagnoses identified show the need to meet the health demands of caregivers, since they can impact on the quality of care provided to the elderly.

Estudo comparativo entre cuidadores formais e informais de idosos

Resumo Este estudo objetivou comparar as condições de saúde e a sobrecarga de cuidadores formais e informais de idosos. Estudo observacional, seccional, comparativo com coleta em 2014, em São Carlos/SP, utilizando-se os instrumentos Escala de Sobrecarga de Zarit e SRQ 20 (Self Reporting Questionaire). A amostra, constituída de 15 cuidadores formais e 35 informais. Os formais, maioria mulheres (86,7%), média de 36,7 anos, escolaridade de 13,7 anos, carga horária de 7,5 horas diárias de trabalho, 26,7% com desconforto emocional e maior frequência, sentiram-se “um pouco sobrecarregados” (40%). Os informais, maioria mulheres (85,7%), 42,9% representados por filhos, média de 55,2 anos, escolaridade de 7,1 anos, tempo de cuidado de 6,5 anos, com 19,8 horas diárias no cuidado ao idoso, 17 (48,6%) apresentaram leve sobrecarga e 16 (45,7%) apresentaram desconforto emocional. Revelaram-se importantes diferenças e alertas para o planejamento de intervenções visando à melhoria nas condições de saúde e de trabalho destes indivíduos.

Violence against the elderly: the conceptions of nursing professionals regarding detection and prevention

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the conceptions of the nursing professionals working in Basic Health Units regarding the detection and prevention of violence against the elderly.

METHODS

Descriptive, exploratory, qualitative study. Performed in two BHUs in Mossoró/RN, using a semi-structured interview script, from March to August of 2013. Sample composed of four nurses and six nursing technicians. The content analysis, pre-analysis, material exploration, and treatment of results were performed.

RESULTS

Four categories were identified: Strategies used to identify violence against the elderly; Types of violence against the elderly; Conduct used after finding a suspicion of violence; SUS and the problem of violence against the elderly. Many professionals recognize/distrust possible cases, however, they do not know how to proceed. The dimension of the problem requires that pragmatic interventions be performed in the clinical setting and in the social context.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

There is a need for continuing education for professionals and greater communication between the bodies responsible for reporting and embracement.

Burden, profile and care: caregivers of socially vulnerable elderly persons

Abstract Objectives: To compare burden and sociodemographic profile and to analyze the care needs of caregivers of elderly persons enrolled in Social Care Referral Centers in a municipal region in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Method: A cross-sectional, quantitative-qualitative study was carried out. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Zarit Burden Scale and three open questions regarding care needs were applied. The quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and the correlation test. The hermeneutic-dialectic referential was applied and the qualitative data were analyzed by the content analysis technique. Results: A total of 86 caregivers participated in the study. The majority were female (71.7%), had a mean age of 56.5 (sd=14.9) years, suffered burden and lived in vulnerable neighborhoods. With regard to care, the provision of support for activities of daily living, difficulties in caring and the help of other relatives were identified. Burden negatively correlated with age range and schooling (r=-0.11; r=-0.87). Conclusion: Guidance and the acquisition of caring skills remain unprovided by the resources and services that exist in vulnerable contexts, and resolutive support strategies are lacking in public facilities.

Comparison of the cognitive performance of elderly caregivers with and without chronic pain

Abstract OBJECTIVE Understanding and characterizing chronic pain in elderly caregivers, verifying the cognitive performance of the elderly of the sample and verifying whether there is difference in the cognitive performance of elderly caregivers with and without chronic pain. METHOD Participants were people aged 60 years or older who lived with another elderly person in the same household and who were registered in Family Health Units. Data collection took place at participants' homes. Pain was assessed by the EMADOR and cognition was assessed by ACE-R. Statistical analyzes were performed using Shapiro-Wilk's and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS The study included 187 elderly caregivers with chronic pain and 133 without chronic pain, with a higher frequency of women. Chronic pain was present in 58.4% of the participants. Regarding the sociodemographic variables, there was no difference between the groups except for the gender variable (p=0.025). No difference was found in cognitive performance among the elderly with chronic pain and those without chronic pain for any domain of the ACE-R instrument. CONCLUSION The results contradicted the initial hypothesis that there would be a difference between the groups; however, there is a gap in the scientific knowledge on chronic pain and cognition, especially in elderly caregivers, opening perspectives for future investigations.

Informal caregivers of older people recovering from surgery for hip fractures caused by a fall: fall prevention

The objectives of this study were to investigate the sociodemographic characteristics of informal caregivers of elderly persons who had undergone surgery for hip fractures caused by a fall, explore the level of caregiver's knowledge regarding fall prevention, and assess the relationship between this knowledge and the use of preventative measures in practice. This investigation consists of a cross-sectional study using nonprobability sampling methods conducted over a period of 12 months and involving 89 caregivers. The majority of caregivers were female (76.4%) and sons or daughters of the patients (64%). Environmental modification was the predominant preventative measure used by caregivers (88.2%). 58.1% of caregivers believed it was possible to prevent falls in the elderly and there was a significant association (p = 0,002) between believing it was possible to prevent falls and carrying out modifications in the home and/or to the daily routine of the older person. Informal caregivers with wide or partial knowledge of fall prevention put preventative measures into practice. These findings demonstrate that the number of falls among older persons could be significantly reduced if health care programmes widened their actions to include the guiding principles of the WHO falls prevention model.

Reflection on the public home care caregivers profiles

Abstract Introduction: The increase of life expectancy and the decrease in mortality rate have resulted in changes in the epidemiological profile with predominance of non-communicable chronic diseases and global changes in the care system. This scenario has generated increased demands for caregivers, which in Brazilian reality, tends to arise in the family environment. Objective: This study aimed to know and reflect on the caregivers’ profiles of public home care in the city of Goiânia, Goiás. Methods: The data were collected through the application of a caregiver characterization tool and presented descriptively. Results: The caregiver’s profile of this study corroborates the ones described in the specific literature. Most of them are females, married, patient’s spouse or daughter, having health problems, dedicating twelve or more hours to caring and informal exercise of this activity. Conclusion: The results show the significance of family caregivers within the family care and lead to the reflection about this role in the care sphere and the need for public policies that offer a support social network and that are tuned with this reality.

Chronic pain in elderly caregivers at different levels of frailty

Objective

To determine whether there are differences in the intensity of chronic pain of elderly caregivers who are frail, pre-frail and non-frail.

Methods

Quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study. The subjects were 187 elderly caregivers evaluated with a Multidimensional Pain Assessment Scale and the Fried Frailty Phenotype Assessment Components. Descriptive and comparative analyzes, Pearson's chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used.

Results

24.1% of the caregivers were frail, 55.1% pre-frail and 20.9% non-frail. The only socio-demographic variable that differed between the three groups was age (p=0.03). Mean pain intensity values were as follows: frail elderly (6.98), pre-frail (6.38) and non-frail (5.85). However, these differences were not significant (p=0.150).

Conclusions

The present study did not find a significant difference in the intensity of chronic pain in elderly. Nevertheless, it is essential that health professionals and health care public policies give special attention to older caregivers.

A (re)organização do núcleo de cuidado familiar diante das repercussões da condição crônica por doença cardiovascular

RESUMO Este artigo objetivou compreender a (re)organização do núcleo de cuidado familiar diante das repercussões da condição crônica por doença cardiovascular. Trata-se de estudo de caso norteado pela abordagem familiar concebida como Modelo Calgary de Avaliação na Família. A unidade de análise desta pesquisa foi uma família que vivencia a condição crônica por doença cardiovascular de um de seus membros. Evidenciou-se que, conforme o cotidiano se modifica pelas mudanças geradas com a internação, começa uma nova configuração no modo de vida da família. Sugere-se a implementação de estratégias que envolvam os familiares no planejamento da alta hospitalar.

Factors associated with the resilience of family caregivers of persons with dementia: a systematic review

Abstract Background: Resilience is the ability of individuals or groups to overcome adversity without displaying physical or mental disorders, or even learning to deal with unfavorable conditions more efficiently. There have been many studies on resilience, which try to identify the conditions under which people in situations of deprivation or adversity overcome such challenges. Objective: The present article aimed to identify factors associated the with development of resilience in family caregivers of people with dementia and the possible outcomes of resilience for the caregiver and receiver of care. Method: The study consisted of a systematic literature review carried out in accordance with the PRISMA methodology with searches in the Lilacs, PsycInfo, PubMed, SciELO, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases, using pre-established descriptors. Results: After synthesis of the extracted data and the considerations of this review, it was possible to identify possible factors associated with the development of resilience in family caregivers of persons with dementia: depression, anxiety, burden, drug use, the relationship with the person receiving care and health conditions are associated with the resilience of family caregivers. Conclusion: We found in literature that the development of resilience by family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's is influenced by factors related to the patient and the caregiver himself or herself.

Psychiatric morbidity and its correlates among informal caregivers of older adults

OBJECTIVE

This present study estimated the psychiatric morbidity among informal caregivers of older adults and investigated its association with their socio-demographic factors and older adult's health status, including dementia, depression and physical health conditions.

METHODS

Data from a national cross-sectional survey were used. For each participating older adult, an informal caregiver who 'knew the older adult best' and was aware of their health condition, was also interviewed to collect information on the older adults' care needs, and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Data from 693 pairs was used. Informal caregivers were administered the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ)-20 and psychiatric morbidity was defined as those with a total SRQ score of ≥8. Measures included informal caregivers' socio-demographic characteristics, assessment of dementia and depression in the older adults and self-report on their lifetime and current physical conditions. The association of socio-demographic characteristics, health conditions, care assistance and BPSD was investigated using backward stepwise logistic regression analysis where psychiatric morbidity (total SRQ score<or ≥8) was used as a dependent variable and all other variables served as independent covariates.

RESULTS

Among informal caregivers, 8.8% exhibited psychiatric morbidity. Higher proportions of spousal caregivers and caregivers of older adults having more care needs and BPSD exhibited psychiatric morbidity. After adjusting for all covariates, caregivers' marital status, and the presence of BPSD and dementia in the older adults were identified as the strongest correlates of caregivers' psychiatric morbidity. The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 10%, 13.9% and 12.7% respectively in these groups. Married caregivers had higher odds of psychiatric morbidity (OR 2.50, 95% CI: 1.13-5.52). In addition, caregivers of older adults' with any BPSD (OR 5.87, 95% CI: 2.60-13.24) and dementia (OR 2.28, 95% CI: 1.23-4.20) were also associated with higher odds of psychiatric morbidity.

CONCLUSION

Informal caregivers' marital status and presence of any BPSD and dementia in the older adults in their care were identified as the strongest correlates of caregivers' psychiatric morbidity. Clinicians should be cognizant of the risk in this group of caregivers and assess and intervene to alleviate caregivers' psychological problems.

Measuring the impact of informal elderly caregiving: a systematic review of tools

PURPOSE

To classify and identify the main characteristics of the tools used in practice to assess the impact of elderly caregiving on the informal carers' life.

METHODS

A systematic review of literature was performed searching in Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, IBECS, LILACS, SiiS, SSCI and Cochrane Library from 2009 to 2013 in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French, and in reference lists of included papers.

RESULTS

The review included 79 studies, among them several in languages other than English. Their inclusion increased the variety of identified tools to measure this impact (n = 93) and allowed a wider analysis of their geographical use. While confirming their overlapping nature, instruments were classified according to the degree of integration of dimensions they evaluated and their specificity to the caregiving process: caregiver burden (n = 20), quality of life and well-being (n = 11), management and coping (n = 21), emotional and mental health (n = 29), psychosocial impact (n = 10), physical health and healthy habits (n = 2), and other measures. A high use in practice of tools not validated yet and not caregiver-specific was identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The great variety and characteristics of instruments identified in this review confirm the complexity and multidimensionality of the effects of elderly caregiving on the informal carer's life and explain the difficulties to assess these effects in practice. According to the classification provided, caregiver burden and emotional and mental health are the most evaluated dimensions. However, further work is required to develop integrated and caregiving focused procedures that can appraise this complexity across different countries and cultures.

[Burden in family caregivers of the elderly: prevalence and association with characteristics of the elderly and the caregivers]

A cross-sectional, epidemiological study aimed to estimate the prevalence of burden among family caregivers of impaired elderly residents in the city of João Pessoa, and to identify associations between the mean burden and social and demographic characteristics of the elderly and the caregivers. A total number of 240 elderly residents in a previously drawn census tract participated in this research. The sample was composed of 52 elderly and their caregivers. For data collection, a questionnaire was applied with questions on social and demographic characteristics of elderly and caregivers, and the Burden Interview Scale was used. Results showed a high prevalence of burden among caregivers (84.6%), in which a statistically significant association was found with the following characteristics: retired elderly, elderly as head of family, spousal caregivers, and caregivers with less education. The findings of this study may contribute to the development of activities focused on formal and emotional support for the caregivers.

Reconhecendo a sobrecarga e a qualidade de vida de cuidadores familiares de idosos frágeis

OBJETIVOS: Analisar as correlações entre o grau de dependência funcional de idosos residentes na comunidade, o nível de sobrecarga relacionada ao cuidado e a percepção de qualidade de vida dos cuidadores familiares desses idosos. MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional, descritivo e analítico, com amostragem não probabilística selecionada por conveniência entre dezembro de 2008 e maio de 2009 na área urbana de Curitiba e Colombo, estado do Paraná. As entrevistas foram aplicadas aos cuidadores, empregando-se: inquérito sociodemográfico; avaliação funcional do idoso; avaliação da sobrecarga (Zarit-Burden-Interview) e qualidade de vida (WHOQOL-Bref). Utilizaram-se os coeficientes de Spearman, de Mann-Whitney e Kruskal Wallis para avaliar as correlações entre as escalas e destas com variáveis sociodemográficas. Análise bivariada identificou quais variáveis se correlacionariam à sobrecarga, incluídas as significativas em modelo de regressão linear múltipla. RESULTADOS: Foram entrevistados 45 cuidadores, predominando mulheres (91,11%) com elevada escolaridade, assistindo idosos funcionalmente dependentes (66,77%). Percebeu-se sobrecarga moderada/severa em 75,55% da amostra. Observou-se correlação entre dependência funcional e maior sobrecarga no cuidador (r=-0,281, p=0,013) e pior percepção de qualidade de vida. A regressão linear múltipla identificou forte associação entre sobrecarga relacionada ao cuidado e o domínio psicológico do WHOQOL-bref e o tempo como cuidador (R²=0,58, p<0,001). CONCLUSÃO: Em amostra de cuidadores familiares, foram identificadas correlações significativas entre menor nível de sobrecarga relacionada ao cuidado e melhores percepções de qualidade de vida, bem como associação entre maior grau de dependência do idoso assistido e maior sobrecarga e qualidade de vida menos satisfatórias.

Concepções e práticas de cuidado na visão de homens

Olhar o cuidado na perspectiva dos homens é um grande desafio, visto que sempre esteve associado à mulher. Por meio de pesquisa qualitativa exploratória e descritiva, teve-se por objetivo descrever as concepções e as práticas de cuidado a partir da percepção de homens. Foram realizadas entrevistas narrativas com 13 homens entre 20 e 30 anos, residentes na área de abrangência de uma Estratégia de Saúde da Família. A partir da análise temática os resultados demonstraram que os homens concebem cuidado de forma abrangente e singular; se constituem seres de cuidado para familiares, amigos e colegas; o praticam por meio de ações e atitudes diversificadas; numa relação de reciprocidade se sentem cuidados pelas mulheres-mães-esposas-irmãs. Foi constatada a relevância deste estudo para a enfermagem, uma vez que contribuirá com o planejamento de ações inovadoras e condizentes com as concepções desses sujeitos.