Caracterização de um Programa de Cuidados Paliativos Oncológico: experiência de um hospital universitário

Abstract

In Brazil, cancer is the second main cause of death and it is already a public health issue, considering the magnitude of its impact to the population and public health system. To brazilians, cancer means: pain, suffering, fear, disability, agressive therapies and death. This study aims to characterize the Palliative Care Program in an Universitary Hospital in Triangulo Mineiro region. It is a transversal, descriptive and documentary research which describes the characteristics and work structure of the Palliative Care Program. The research was based on service’s historic: records, reports and nursing forms, which describes the work routine and the professionals that compose it. According the Scale from Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, it was noticed that 46% of the patients are completely dependent, potentially severe or close to death. 53% joined the program while using opioids, 50% knew about disease’s progress. It was observed the need to optimize the emphaty in the dialogue between oncologist, patient and Family regarding the initial diagnostic and disease’s evolution. Some parameters can be adopted in future studies, in order to allow a better evaluation frequency of the patients inserted in palliative care. Other studies should be developed to a better characterization of each service, looking forward to help the creation and improvement of integralized assistence to patients inserted at this program.