[The perception by nurses of the significance of palliative care in patients with terminal cancer].

Abstract

This study sought to assess the perception of nurses with respect to cancer patients under palliative care. It is an exploratory study with a qualitative approach conducted with nurses from a hospital attending cancer patients under palliative care located in the city of João Pessoa, State of Paraíba. The study included nine nurses who worked in the hospital. The empirical material was collected using the technique of semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the content analysis technique. The interpretative analysis of the interviews led to the definition of three categories: Improving the quality of life through the alleviation of pain and suffering; Palliative Care: a multi-professional study of terminal patients and their families in the grieving process; Communication: a source of dignity in the terminal care process. The conclusion reached is that the study revealed that the nurses involved acknowledge the importance of the multidisciplinary team. It enables the nurses to reflect on the use of communication as an essential element of care for patient and family under palliative care. It is hoped that the data obtained may foster further research on the topic.

• Authors: Maria Andréa Fernandes, Carla Braz Evangelista, Indiara Carvalho dos Santos Platel, Glenda Agra, Marineide de Souza Lopes, Francileide de Araújo Rodrigues
• Journal: Ciencia & saude coletiva (Cien Saude Colet) Vol. 18 Issue 9 Pg. 2589-96 (Sep 2013) ISSN: 1678-4561 [Electronic] Brazil
• Vernacular Title: Percepção dos enfermeiros sobre o significado dos cuidados paliativos em pacientes com câncer terminal.
• PMID: 23989565 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Attitude of Health Personnel
• Humans
• Neoplasms (nursing)
• Nursing Staff, Hospital (psychology)
• Palliative Care
• Qualitative Research
• Terminal Care