Equipe multiprofissional e cuidados paliativos: Interfaces para promoção da saúde na atenção básica

Abstract

Through more humanized assistance, palliative care seeks to reduce suffering, relieve pain, and maintain human dignity for people with diseases beyond the therapeutic reach of their families. Population aging and the increase in the number of patients with chronic diseases amplify the need to strengthen palliative actions in comprehensive healthcare. Basic Healthcare is important for such care because it is responsible for monitoring the users throughout their lives, especially those who have serious illnesses. The general objective of the research was to analyze the practices related to the palliative care of health professionals who are part of multi-professional basic healthcare teams in the city of Campina Grande, state of Paraíba, Brazil. The method used was quantitative-qualitative. The instruments used were a socio-demographic questionnaire, an interview by guidelines, and a field diary. The data were read through enunciation analysis and descriptive statistics. The sample consisted of twenty- nine professionals. The results showed an essentially female profile (89.7%). None of the professionals had training in palliative care. 93.1% of participants confirmed having palliative care users under their responsibility. Analysis of the speeches showed that the palliative theory is not effectively incorporated among basic healthcare professionals. Their actions were dominated by guidelines, listening, and some technical procedures, such as dressing bandages. The main difficulties were the lack of resources in basic care, the lack of professionals and the lack of training of the team. Most of the participants stated that they had a calm position in relation to the death of the users. It is not a common practice for professionals to assist the family in mourning. This study was relevant because it is a topic that has not been extensively studied in Brazil, and because it is an instigator for the State to create public policies that include palliative care in basic healthcare. Everyone deserves to live with dignity, even in their last days of life.