Senses and meanings attributed to Hope by children with orofacial clefts and their family caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the senses and meanings attributed to Hope by children with orofacial clefts and their family caregivers. METHOD: This is a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study, based on the Hope-Promoting Mutual Help Intervention Model and Symbolic Interactionism. It was conducted at an association in Paraná, with children aged five to ten years, with orofacial clefts, and with family caregivers of children under ten years old with the same condition. Data were collected through Dramatic Therapeutic Play and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was of the deductive type, with the support of Atlas.ti®. RESULTS: Sixteen children with orofacial clefts and 26 family caregivers participated. For children, Hope was associated with the expectation of good things, including professional aspirations and a transformation of self-image. For caregivers, Hope was associated with inner strength and spirituality, essential for giving meaning to life. CONCLUSION: Hope is an essential dimension for children with orofacial clefts and their family caregivers in coping with rehabilitation, and is fundamental to the care process.