Observação etnográfica numa unidade de cuidados intensivos neonatais: desafios, ética e trabalho emocional

Abstract

Over the last decades several legal documents have been produced in order to regulate ethical procedures in scientific research. However, the reflections and possible responses to the challenges emerging from the emotional work performed by qualitative researchers have been neglected, especially when addressing sensitive issues. Based on the reflective analysis of ethically important moments recorded on field diaries during 5 months of ethnographic observation conducted in the Department of Neonatology of a public hospital in the metropolitan area of Porto - Portugal, this article will explore the emotional work of the researcher in managing the challenges provided by the field. The aim is, thus, to contribute to root on fieldwork the limited methodological reflection conducted in this area, particularly in the following levels: self-disclosure and reciprocity regarding the meanings attributed to parenthood; listening to untold stories, management of emotions; and reflexivity arising from the investigator academic background and respective experience of data collection. During the period of ethnographic observation the importance of emotional labor was highlighted. The contact with the parents allowed a deeply understanding of the immensity and magnitude of the ambivalent feelings that they experience in the context of the hospitalization of their children, challenging the normativity of parental roles. The sharing of personal and highly emotional information by mothers and fathers is converted in the responsibility of giving voice to their views, experiences and knowledge in order to contribute to enrich good medical practices, improve health governance and, especially, to the development of parents-centred care in neonatal units. Despite the intersubjectivity underlying ethnographic observation, the establishment of guidelines based on the personal experience of researchers and disseminated in scientific articles, as well as the implementation of training courses oriented to health research involving sensitive contexts and/or issues is advocated.