Maternal opinions about bathing for pain relief in hospitalized children

Objective  To analyze maternal opinions regarding the use of therapeutic baths to relieve pain in children hospitalized for respiratory problems.

Methods  This is a descriptive, qualitative study, conducted in a secondary teaching hospital, in the city of São Paulo, between July 2022 and July 2023. A total of 16 mothers of children hospitalized for respiratory problems, with acute pain, literate, who followed the intervention - therapeutic bath and one-hour follow-up - participated. The bath consisted of immersion in hot water (between 37-39°C), with 2/3 of the body immersed for at least five minutes. Through convenience sampling, mothers were asked to write their opinion with the guiding phrase “Write your opinion about the use of therapeutic baths to relieve your child’s pain”, with poetic freedom in writing. The data were subjected to thematic content analysis, complemented by lexical analysis, with the IRAMUTEQ^® software. National ethical guidelines were respected.

Results  Mothers believed that therapeutic bathing is an effective and innovative intervention, with mutual benefits for their children and themselves. In children, they reported that bathing provided relief from pain and respiratory symptoms, comfort and numbness. For mothers, it provided satisfaction with care, rest and a feeling of inclusion.

Conclusion  Mothers believed that therapeutic bathing is an effective and innovative intervention, with mutual benefits for children and themselves, with pain relief and subsequent maternal satisfaction.

Mothers; Child, hospitalized; Pain management; Baths; Respiratory tract diseases; Attitude