The support bonds as strategy of the families to deal with the chronic renal disease and the treatment

Objective: to present the support bonds as strategies used by the families to deal with the chronic renal disease. Methods: exploratory and descriptive research with qualitative approach, supported in Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model, accomplished in the period from May 2004 to June 2005 in an hemodyalisis unit of a city of South of Brazil. Ten relatives of customers in hemodyalitic treatment participated in the study and answered to a semistructured interview.The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Medicine of a university from the south of Brazil (protocol number 038/2004). Results: it was evidenced that the relatives try to establish several support bonds as strategies to work with the renal disease, among them, to involve the sick relative in the decisions of the family, to support him, to give attention and affection. They also look for support in the net of social support. Final considerations: it is essential that nursing knows the support bonds used by the families that are living getting sick, because like this,it can better attend them.