Conceptions about palliative care: literature review

Abstract

This literature review study aimed to identify the conceptions of palliative care mentioned in Brazilian journals. The databases LILACS, SciELO and BDENF were used. In total, 47 articles were selected, published from 2000 to 2006. The conceptions found refer to the concept of palliative care, understood as integral care for individuals in terminal conditions, emphasizing the physical, psychosocial and spiritual aspects of the individual and the family; quality of life; care based on a humanistic approach and valuation of life; pain and symptom control; ethical issues about life and death; multidisciplinary approach; dying as a natural process; the priority of care over cure; communication, spirituality and mourning support. These conceptions are considered highly important in palliative care; however, there is a lack of services and centers to deliver these types of care. Keywords: Hospice care; Terminally ill; Terminal care RESUMO A proposta deste estudo bibliográfico foi identificar as concepções dos cuidados paliativos, referidas em periódicos nacionais. Foram utilizadas as bases de dados LILACS, SciELO e BDENF, sendo selecionados um total de 47 artigos, publicados no período de 2000 a 2006. As concepções encontradas referem-se ao conceito de cuidados paliativos, entendido como cuidado integral voltado para indivíduos em condições terminais, com ênfase no aspecto físico, psicossocial e espiritual do indivíduo e família; qualidade de vida; cuidado baseado em uma abordagem humanística e de valorização da vida; o controle da dor e dos demais sintomas; as questões éticas sobre a vida e a morte; a abordagem multidisciplinar; o morrer como processo natural; a prioridade do cuidado sobre a cura; a comunicação, a espiritualidade e o apoio ao luto. Considera-se que estas concepções assumem grande importância nos cuidados paliativos, no entanto, existe uma lacuna de serviços e núcleos para realizar estes cuidados. Descritores: Cuidados paliativos; Doente terminal; Assistência terminal RESUMENLa propuesta de este estudio bibliográfico fue identificar las concepciones de los cuidados paliativos, referidas en periódicos nacionales. Para ello se utilizaron las bases de datos LILACS, SciELO y BDENF, siendo seleccionados un total de 47 artículos, publicados en el período del 2000 al 2006. Las concepciones encontradas se refieren al concepto de cuidados paliativos, entendido como un cuidado integral volcado a individuos en condiciones terminales, con énfasis en el aspecto físico, psicosocial y espiritual del individuo y familia; calidad de vida; cuidado basado en un abordaje humanístico y de valorización de la vida; el control del dolor y de los demás síntomas; las cuestiones éticas sobre la vida y la muerte; el abordaje multidisciplinario; el morir como proceso natural; la prioridad del cuidado sobre la curación; la comunicación, la espiritualidad y el apoyo en el luto. Se considera que estas concepciones asumen gran importancia en los cuidados paliativos, entre tanto, existe una laguna de servicios y núcleos para re...

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