Metasynthesis is an emergent technique to synthesize qualitative research findings. Besides conceptual and methodological controversies, methasynthesis has the potential to contribute for evidence-based practice. In the last decade, several publications addressed the relevance of this and other techniques to synthesize qualitative research findings. This paper presents a brief discussion of methasynthesis, including a description of each one of its steps. Keywords: Qualitative research; Evidence-based medicine; Biomedical research; Exploratory behavior RESUMO A metassíntese qualitativa é um campo de pesquisa emergente com potencial contribuição para a prática baseada em evidências, apesar das controvérsias de caráter conceitual e metodológico. Na última década, inúmeras publicações têm apontado a relevância deste tipo de estudo e os diferentes métodos para conduzir a síntese de pesquisas qualitativas. O presente artigo é uma sinopse destes aspectos, incluindo as etapas da metassíntese. Descritores: Pesquisa qualitativa; Medicina baseada em evidências/métodos; Pesquisa biomédica; Comportamento exploratório RESUMEN La metasíntesis cualitativa es un campo de la investigación emergente con potencial contribución para la práctica basada en evidencias, a pesar de las controversias de carácter conceptual y metodológico. En la última década, innumerables publicaciones han apuntado hacia la relevancia de este tipo de estudio y los diferentes métodos para conducir la síntesis de investigaciones cualitativas. El presente artículo es una sinopsis de estos aspectos, incluyendo las etapas de la metasíntesis.

The study was conducted with the purpose of identifying how nursing professionals understand the expression 'humanized care'. This is a qualitative research, accomplished according to the historic oral thematic method. Seven nurses of a major São Paulo hospital were chosen to partake on this study. According to the analysis and understanding of the meanings expressed on the different speeches it was possible to identify that the expression 'humanized care' has been used with the intension of expressing dehumanization, associated both with nursing professionals dehumanization, from the patient's perspective, and with dehumanization associated with the institution from the nursing professionals point of view. It was identified that this term has been used without the full understanding of its meaning.

Neste trabalho, após revisão bibliográfica sobre trabalho em equipe, verificou-se, num estudo prévio, como as enfermeiras que trabalham em unidades de internação de um hospital governamental, caracterizam e vivenciam o trabalho em equipe.

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The present article discusses a qualitative study which aimed to understand the typical of nurses' professional practice caring for patient with cancer in general hospitals. In order to find out the reasons that motivate nurse's action, and to put in evidence what is original, significant, specific and typical about this phenomenon, we have taken into consideration the premises of the philosopher Alfred Schütz, which provide us with subsidies to unveil them. The data collected through semi-structured interviews reported that nurses admit not having the required theoretical knowledge and experience or enough practice to take care of a cancer patient. Thus, they don't feel capable of developing actions which may positively influence care on patients and their family members.