[Sources of meaning of caring and lack of caring in a pediatric hospital].

Exploratory study, that is part of a set of data collected through interviews with 10 clients admitted to a pediatric hospital, with the purpose to identify meanings and sources of caring and non caring. Caring encompasses three meanings: professional caring, parental caring and friendly caring. Non caring means the lack of interest of health professionals who perform procedures without attention and respect for the human being. Caring actions and behaviors are mentioned more frequently than those of non caring. Results also revealed that parents, health professionals, hospital personnel, visitors and roommates make clients feel cared for.