[Interdisciplinary relationships and humanization in intensive care units]

To analyze those aspects of the relationship between the health care team of an ICU that may be decisive in the construction of humanized care.

phenomenology: descriptive and exploratory. ANALYSIS and observation unit: Polyvalent 23-bed adult ICU.

nine extensive interviews.

healthcare professionals in interaction in the ICU that is being studied.

assigning of data to emergent categories. Contrasting with existing theories.

Identification of guideline values circumspect to the humanistic paradigm. The value of professional role is accepted as emergency factor of certain attitudes. All the professional groups detect lack of independence situations, which are not always attributable to hierarchical reasons. Systematic interdisciplinary communication is evaluated positively. Humanization requires time, resources, and intergroup relationships and explicit commitment by the institution.

Relief of great suffering situations is the main reason for interdisciplinary disagreement. Construction of a tolerant setting and institutional recognition as factors favoring humanized care. Lack of time and resources as obstacles to the humanization of care.