A vivência no grupo: a experiência para as pessoas diabéticas

Abstract

This study searches for comprehension of meanings of living through a group considering the experience of people with diabetes mellitus. Is an ethnographic study with 13 diabetic persons that participated in collective group activities specialized for people living with this disease. Subjects were found at a public center health located in the central/southern area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Enrique Pichon-Riviéres proposed techniques for operative groups (1998) were the guiding theories of this work. Field work was done through participation/observation and ethnographic interviews as seen inLeiningers work (1998). Olesens (1991) proposed model for observation registries was also employed. Analysis of the data was guided by the Analysis of Content theory proposed by Bardin (1977) and information gathered was organized into 5 (five) thematic groups: Meaning of group for diabetic persons; Process of group for diabetic persons; The coordinator as an active participant in group processes; The group as a space for learning and transformation; The group as a means to control the disease. Further data analysis brought outconceptions and meanings that helped to reveal the experiences that subjects dealt with in the group, determining their behavior and their feelings and thoughts that shaped the organization and construction of the group. The study offers a unique opportunity to reflect not only on Pichon-Riviéres group techniques incorporated by the health center staff as an educational tool, but also highlights the need for the creation of discussion groups and operative groups in the hopes of extending nursing education, whether in educational institutions or work environments.