Authors
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
A doença oncológica terminal não traz implicações apenas ao doente oncológico,
repercutindo também na família os seus efeitos, muitas vezes devastadores.
Este trabalho de investigação pretende melhorar o conhecimento sobre as estratégias
de coping utilizadas pelos familiares de doentes oncológicos em fase terminal, as
reações emocionais à doença, a sua perceção de auto-eficácia e o contributo dado pela
assistência de uma equipa de cuidados paliativos.
Trata-se de um estudo exploratório descritivo e correlacional com uma amostragem
do tipo acidental, constituída por 131 familiares de doentes oncológicos em fase
terminal. Como instrumento de colheita de dados foi utilizada a Escala de Ajustamento
Mental ao Cancro de um Familiar e a Escala de Auto-Eficacia Generalizada Percebida.
Os resultados demostram que são adotadas, preferencialmente, estratégias de
confronto face a doença oncológica terminal.
O Espírito de Luta e a Aceitação/Resignação favorecem um ajustamento mental ao
cancro mais adaptativo, contribuindo de forma contrária o Desânimo/Fatalismo e a
Preocupação Ansiosa/Revolta.
Apesar da influência negativa da Preocupação Ansiosa/Revolta, observou-se que por
vezes ela dá origem a recursos de tipo Espirito de Luta.
A valorização positiva do desempenho do familiar melhora a sua auto-eficácia,
favorecendo o conjunto de respostas cognitivas e comportamentais face ao cancro. Os
que optam por estratégias de Aceitação /Resignação face à doença oncológica terminal
também evidenciam uma mais elevada auto-eficácia.
A assistência por uma equipa de cuidados paliativos contribuiu para aumentar a
perceção de auto-eficacia, não se verificando valores significativos nos resultados do
ajustamento mental ao cancro do Familiar
A terminal oncological disease brings implications not just to the oncological patient, reflecting its sometimes devastating effects, on the family. This investigation intends to improve the theoretical knowledge of coping strategies, used by relatives of oncological patients in terminal stage, their emotional reactions to the disease, their perception of self-efficacy and the contribution given by the assistance provided by team of palliative care. It is an exploratory study, descriptive and correlational, with accidental type sampling, constituted by 131 relatives of terminal stage oncological patients. The Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale - Partner and the General Perceived Self- Efficacy Scale where used as data gathering instruments. The results show that strategies of confrontation of the terminal oncological disease are preferably adopted. Fighting spirit and Acceptance/Resignation favor a more adaptive mental adjustment to cancer, while Helplessness/Fatalism and Anxious Preoccupation/Revolt contribute in the opposite sense. In spite of the negative influence of Anxious Preoccupation/Revolt, it was observed it sometimes originated Fighting Spirit resources. The positive valorization of the relatives’ performance improves their self-efficacy, favoring a set of cognitive and compartmental responses regarding cancer. Those who choose Acceptance/Resignation strategies, to face the terminal oncological disease, also show higher self-efficacy. The assistance provided by a team of palliative care contributes to increase the perception of self-efficacy. There were no significant values, on the results of mental adjustment, to a relatives’ cancer.
A terminal oncological disease brings implications not just to the oncological patient, reflecting its sometimes devastating effects, on the family. This investigation intends to improve the theoretical knowledge of coping strategies, used by relatives of oncological patients in terminal stage, their emotional reactions to the disease, their perception of self-efficacy and the contribution given by the assistance provided by team of palliative care. It is an exploratory study, descriptive and correlational, with accidental type sampling, constituted by 131 relatives of terminal stage oncological patients. The Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale - Partner and the General Perceived Self- Efficacy Scale where used as data gathering instruments. The results show that strategies of confrontation of the terminal oncological disease are preferably adopted. Fighting spirit and Acceptance/Resignation favor a more adaptive mental adjustment to cancer, while Helplessness/Fatalism and Anxious Preoccupation/Revolt contribute in the opposite sense. In spite of the negative influence of Anxious Preoccupation/Revolt, it was observed it sometimes originated Fighting Spirit resources. The positive valorization of the relatives’ performance improves their self-efficacy, favoring a set of cognitive and compartmental responses regarding cancer. Those who choose Acceptance/Resignation strategies, to face the terminal oncological disease, also show higher self-efficacy. The assistance provided by a team of palliative care contributes to increase the perception of self-efficacy. There were no significant values, on the results of mental adjustment, to a relatives’ cancer.