[Demands for attention experienced by a patient in a bone marrow transplants unit]

The capacity to focus attention is essential for the effective handling of everyday life for it allows one to perceive, think clearly and keep the intended activity in course despite environmental distractions. This qualitative approached study was aimed at identifying the attention demands experienced by a patient diagnosed with sharp myeloid leukemia submitted to a bone marrow transplants (BMT) following the theoretical reference of attention and attention demands. The data was collected through a semi-structured interview and a-systematic observation, with later content thematic analysis. The results pointed out that the patient in BMT lives multiple attention demands, such as: absence of family, fear of death, uncertainty about the future, restricted physical space, removal from work and too much handling by the Nursing staff, among others.