Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
A oncologia médica é uma daquelas áreas em que a excelência da prestação de
cuidados de saúde implica a integração de uma abordagem de cuidados paliativos.
Como futura oncologista, a realização de estágio em serviços de cuidados paliativos de
reconhecido valor na comunidade científica internacional permite uma valorização
profissional inquestionável, bem como uma oportunidade única para reflexão e
crescimento pessoal. No sentido de promover a consolidação de conhecimentos teóricos
e a aquisição de competências técnicas e científicas na área de cuidados paliativos, foi
realizado um estágio que decorreu, no período de 1 de fevereiro a 14 de março de 2011,
no serviço de cuidados paliativos do Elizabeth Bruyère Hospital e, no período de 15 de
março a 13 de abril de 2011, no The Ottawa Hospital, com a respetiva equipa intrahospitalar
de cuidados paliativos e de suporte, correspondente a um período de atividade
assistencial de 375 horas.
Os objetivos essenciais do estágio consistiram em adquirir competências em
cuidados paliativos no doente oncológico nas áreas do controlo dos sintomas mais
comuns (dor, sintomas gastrointestinais, sintomas respiratórios, hemorragia aguda
catastrófica, sintomas neuropsiquiátricos e astenia-anorexia-caquexia), da comunicação
com o doente e sua família, da investigação clínica e da formação. A integração na
equipa multidisciplinar prestadora de cuidados paliativos permitiu não só a observação
atenta e crítica da prática clínica diária, como também a discussão ativa dos diversos
casos clínicos. Esta interação ativa com a equipa foi fundamental para proporcionar uma
reflexão, no sentido de gerar modificações pessoais e profissionais que conduzam à
excelência da assistência clínica em oncologia médica. Por outro lado, a colaboração
com a equipa de investigação permitiu um enriquecimento científico, nomeadamente
através do contacto com diferentes metodologias de investigação e com as
peculiaridades da investigação clínica em cuidados paliativos. Além disso, vários
trabalhos desenvolvidos nas áreas do controlo sintomático, investigação clínica e
formação foram essenciais para complementar a atividade assistencial.
Em suma, apesar da limitação inerente a um estágio observacional, a realização
de estágio no contexto de mestrado de cuidados paliativos permitiu um crescimento
pessoal e uma abertura de novos horizontes no que diz respeito à aquisição de
competências técnicas e científicas em assistência clínica, comunicação, investigação
clínica e formação em cuidados paliativos.
Medical oncology is undoubtedly one of those areas where the excellence of health care involves the integration of a palliative care approach. As a future oncologist, the completion of an observership in palliative care services of recognized value in the international community, allows an unquestionable professional development as well as a unique opportunity for personal reflection. In order to promote the consolidation of theoretical knowledge and the acquisition of technical and scientific skills in palliative care, an observership was performed at the Palliative Care Unit of Elizabeth Bruyère Hospital from February 1st to March 14th 2011, and at the Palliative Care and Supportive Team of The Ottawa Hospital, corresponding to a total of 375 hours of clinical practice. The main goals of the observership were the acquisition of skills in palliative care in cancer patients in the areas of management of the most common symptoms (pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory symptoms, catastrophic bleeding, neuropsychiatric symptoms and asthenia-anorexia-cachexia), communication with patients and their families, clinical research and education. The integration in the multidisciplinary team providing palliative care allowed a close look at the daily practice and promoted educational discussion about the clinical cases. This active interaction with the team provided a reflection in order to generate professional and personal changes that lead to excellence in clinical care in the area of medical oncology. On the other hand, collaboration with the research team allowed the contact with various research methods and with the peculiarities of clinical research in palliative care. Moreover, in addition to clinical care, other work developed in the areas of symptom control, clinical research and education was very important in order to achieve the goals of the observership. As a conclusion, despite the limitations inherent in an observership, it was possible to allow a personal growth and the opening of new horizons in relation to the acquisition of technical and scientific skills in palliative care, namely, in clinical care, communication, clinical research and education.
Medical oncology is undoubtedly one of those areas where the excellence of health care involves the integration of a palliative care approach. As a future oncologist, the completion of an observership in palliative care services of recognized value in the international community, allows an unquestionable professional development as well as a unique opportunity for personal reflection. In order to promote the consolidation of theoretical knowledge and the acquisition of technical and scientific skills in palliative care, an observership was performed at the Palliative Care Unit of Elizabeth Bruyère Hospital from February 1st to March 14th 2011, and at the Palliative Care and Supportive Team of The Ottawa Hospital, corresponding to a total of 375 hours of clinical practice. The main goals of the observership were the acquisition of skills in palliative care in cancer patients in the areas of management of the most common symptoms (pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory symptoms, catastrophic bleeding, neuropsychiatric symptoms and asthenia-anorexia-cachexia), communication with patients and their families, clinical research and education. The integration in the multidisciplinary team providing palliative care allowed a close look at the daily practice and promoted educational discussion about the clinical cases. This active interaction with the team provided a reflection in order to generate professional and personal changes that lead to excellence in clinical care in the area of medical oncology. On the other hand, collaboration with the research team allowed the contact with various research methods and with the peculiarities of clinical research in palliative care. Moreover, in addition to clinical care, other work developed in the areas of symptom control, clinical research and education was very important in order to achieve the goals of the observership. As a conclusion, despite the limitations inherent in an observership, it was possible to allow a personal growth and the opening of new horizons in relation to the acquisition of technical and scientific skills in palliative care, namely, in clinical care, communication, clinical research and education.