Family culture versus institutional hospital culture: a relation between two worlds.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nTo understand the relation between family culture and hospital institutional culture.\n\n\nMETHOD\nQualitative study, carried out in 2017, with relatives of children admitted to a Hospital in southern Brazil. The study included non-participant observation, to gain familiarity with the investigated cultural context; participant observation, to know the respondents experiences; and interviews. The data were coded and theoretical formulations and recommendations were made.\n\n\nRESULTS\nFifteen family members participated. Hospitalization is a time of encounter and interaction between family culture and institutional culture.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nHospital culture is presented as an instrument of family care and adaptation and flexibility of norms and routines to humanize cultural care.