Resumo: Introdução: Cuidar de um familiar adoecido gera um cotidiano adverso envolvendo sofrimento para o cuidador. A literatura da terapia ocupacional não aborda as estratégias de enfrentamento que cuidadores adotam com familiares com doença crônica ou como a percepção sobre o papel desempenhado interfere nas ocupações e projetos. Objetivos: Caracterizar os modos de enfrentamento dos cuidadores no cotidiano após um mês da alta hospitalar de um familiar com doença crônica não transmissível (DCNT) e identificar a percepção que eles elaboram sobre si. Método: Estudo quantitativo-qualitativo, descritivo e transversal composto por 30 cuidadores de familiares com DCNT acompanhados em enfermaria clínica de um hospital geral. Instrumentos: questionário sociodemográfico, Índice de Barthel, Escala de Modo de Enfrentamentos de Problemas e questionário semiestruturado. A análise dos dados quantitativos foi realizada com estatística descritiva, testes ANOVA para medições repetidas e teste de Duncan e Tukey. A análise temática de conteúdo foi empregada para tratamento dos dados qualitativos. Resultados: Os principais modos de enfrentamento foram focalizados no problema e em pensamentos religiosos e fantasiosos. Os participantes expressaram os "sentimentos frente aos problemas cotidianos", apontando a percepção positiva em face dos sentimentos benéficos advindos dos cuidados, mas também uma percepção negativa pelas alterações da vida ocupacional. As "estratégias de enfrentamento" dos participantes foram a realização de atividades prazerosas, a espiritualidade e busca por suporte social informal, que contribuíram para aliviar os problemas vividos. Conclusão: Foram caracterizadas as estratégias de enfrentamento dos cuidadores de familiares com DCNT, destacando quão complexa é a experiência de ser um cuidador.

There is a consensus in the literature that the company of a family member during the hospitalization period increases patient recovery. However, this can have some negative effects on the caregiver's health. With the purpose of reducing these negatives effects, it is useful to let family members express themselves. The State Hospital of Ribeirão Preto created a Group of Family Companions coordinated by the Occupational Therapy and Social Service. This study focuses on the assistance offered in a general hospital to families that undergo the whole illness and hospitalization process of their family member, suffering the impacts of this process in their daily lives, and on the intervention of Occupational Therapy in these cases.

Resumo: O papel ocupacional de cuidador é visto como oneroso, uma vez que os cuidadores têm maior risco de adoecer e de ter perdas no seu desempenho ocupacional. Entretanto, estudos recentes apontam benefícios, inclusive crescimento pessoal e reconhecimento social. No presente trabalho buscou-se identificar indicadores sociais, estratégias de enfrentamento, percepção de benefícios e ônus e alterações nos papéis ocupacionais de cuidadores de idosos.Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, descritivo e transversal. A coleta ocorreu nas enfermarias de dois hospitais de Ribeirão Preto, SP. Foram incluídas 20 cuidadoras, 50% apresentaram baixa escolaridade, 60% eram católicas, 75% filhas, 95% moravam com o idoso, 80% eram cuidadoras há mais de um ano e 65% por mais de 12 horas ao dia. Occupational roles, benefits, burdens, and ways of coping with problems: A descriptive study on caregivers of dependent elderly in the context of family Abstract: The occupational role of caregiver is seen as demanding. Caregivers present higher risks of illness and loss in occupational performance. However, recent studies have shown some benefits to this role, including personal growth and social recognition. The present study aimed to identify social indicators, coping strategies, perceived benefits, and burdens and changes in the occupational roles of caregivers. This is a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study. The sites were two hospitals in the municipality of Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo state. The 20 caregivers included in the study showed the following characteristics: mean age of 51, 50% with low educational level, 60% Catholic, 75% female, 95% living with the elderly, 80% caring for the elderly for over one year, and 65% caring for the elderly for more than 12 hours a day. The most commonly used coping strategies were focused on the problem. The positive psychological domain was the most frequent. Losses occurred in the performance of occupational roles and interest in new future roles. Benefits and burden of care were identified, as well as changes in occupational performance, indicating a demand for occupational therapy. Papéis ocupacionais, benefícios, ônus e modos de enfrentamento de problemas: Um estudo descritivo sobre cuidadoras de idosos dependentes no contexto da família

Introduction: Bereavement has variable effects on people since the feelings and behaviors generated by the death of are influenced by society. In this way, bereavement is a subjective and social process that impacts various dimensions of life, including the occupational dimension. Objective: To identify, in the national and English literature, studies of occupational therapists related to the process of bereavement. Method: Systematic review, using the descriptors "occupational therapy", "grief", "mourning" and "attitude to death" and the respective English words "occupational therapy", "grief", "mourning" and "bereavement" in five databases. Afterward, thematic analysis was performed. Results: Seven studies were included, six in English and one in Portuguese. All articles presented qualitative approaches: autoethnography (3), interview (1), thematic analysis (2), narrative (1). Three categories were created for thematic analysis: 1) "The relationship between the study participants and the deceased person", which refers to the bond of the bereaved with the deceased and the impact of this bond in bereavement; 2) "The impacts of bereavement in occupations", which identifies how bereavement interferes with the occupations of those who experience it, and 3) "The occupation as middle and end of the occupational therapy process with the bereaved person", which seeks to understand the use of occupations as a possibility of care with the mourner. Conclusion: It was concluded that the production of occupational therapists with bereaved subjects is short, but it is understood that this professional can contribute to the care of the bereaved, and other studies are needed that point to evidence, to strengthen this profissional performance.

Introduction: Bereavement is a complex process characterised by a state of grief and suffering, which impacts the health and well-being of the bereaved, and extends to their occupational performance. Thus, occupation can be understood to be central in the expression of bereavement after the death of a loved one as it mediates identity formation, interpersonal relationships, a sense of belonging, and future perspectives. Purpose: To review English and Portuguese literature and identify how occupational therapists perceive and/or intervene in the bereavement process. Method: A meta-synthesis was conducted by database search and article analysis. Results and Discussion: Eight qualitative style articles were analysed. From these, three categories were derived from the content analysis: 1) Relationship between study participants and the deceased; 2) Occupational repercussions of bereavement; and 3) Occupation as a means to an end in the therapy process of the bereaved. Conclusions: Although the need for studies of the bereavement process and its implications for occupations is urgent, this study points out that occupations can be predictors of understanding the elaboration process through occupational engagement and that they also act as a potential resource to construct meaning about the death of the loved one.