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Abstract(s)
O presente estudo explora as repercussões sentidas pelos familiares cuidadores do doente
paliativo, decorrentes da assumpção deste papel, bem como as necessidades daí resultantes. Ser
familiar e, simultaneamente, cuidador informal de um ente querido acarreta múltiplos desafios e
exigências, que implicam constantes alterações no quotidiano, sofrimento e desgaste a vários níveis. O
familiar cuidador depara-se com uma situação complexa na qual tem de lidar com uma dupla
confrontação: por um lado, a dificuldade em lidar com o conhecimento antecipado da perda do ente
querido; por outro lado, os constrangimentos, as responsabilidades e dificuldades que decorrem de
assumpção do papel de cuidador.
Assim, no sentido de conhecer, de forma concreta, quais são os impactos e necessidades
sentidas pelos familiares cuidadores do doente paliativo, realizou-se um estudo qualitativo no qual se
utilizou, como instrumento de recolha de dados, uma entrevista semi-estruturada. Esta foi aplicada a 8
familiares cuidadores de doentes paliativos seguidos na Consulta Externa do Serviço de Medicina
Paliativa do Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto.
Do estudo realizado, podemos concluir que as repercussões e as necessidades decorrentes da
assumpção deste papel estão interligadas, e são evidentes e significativas nos familiares cuidadores.
No que concerne às repercussões sentidas, os familiares cuidadores apontam osníveis psicológico e
emocional, económico e social, físico e profissional como os que sofrem maiores transformações,
sendo que o domínio psicológico e emocional é o que se encontra mais presente nos relatos dos
entrevistados.
No que diz respeito às necessidades sentidas pelos familiares cuidadores estas resultam,
sobretudo, das repercussões acima descritas, evidenciando-se aos seguintes níveis: psicológico e
emocional, económico e social e físico. Para além destes, o domínio das necessidades ao nível
material e espiritual foram sendo evidenciadas pelos familiares cuidadores no decorrer da entrevista.
Embora, maioritariamente, os entrevistados evidenciassem as necessidades sentidas decorrentes de
assumir este papel, surgiram relatos de necessidades gerais inespecíficas, sem que se referissem
exemplos concretos.
The following study explores the consequences and needs as perceivedby the family caregiversof palliative care patients. As a family member and, simultaneously, an informal caregiver of a family member a number of challenges and demands arise, comprising changes in daily routines, suffering and overall personal weariness. The family caregiver is presented with a complex situation experiencing a double tense situation: on the one hand, the difficulties in having to deal beforehand with a loss of a family member; on the other hand, the constraints, responsibilities and problems that occur when one assumes the role of an informal caregiver. To that end, and with the purpose of truly comprehending what impacts and needs are felt by palliative care patients’ family caregivers, a qualitative study was performed using a semi-structured interview as a research tool. 8 palliative care patients’ family caregivers that are currently being treated at the Specialized Palliative Care Unit of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto have participated in this study. We can conclude that assuming the role of an informal caregiver of a relative one has several consequences, with a high impact on the family caregivers’ needs. Concerning the repercussions felt, family caregivers highlight the major changes experienced at a psychological and emotional, economic and social, physical and professional level; given the interviewees’ reports, the psychological and emotional levels represent the ones where most changes occur. In what refers to the needs that family caregivers feel, these mainly result from the repercussions above mentioned and are highlighted specifically at psychological and emotional as well as at social and physical levels. Besides those, material and spiritual needs also came forth during the interview processes. Even though most interviewees emphasize the needs that arise when assuming this caregiver role, some reports suggest unspecific general needs with no specific examples
The following study explores the consequences and needs as perceivedby the family caregiversof palliative care patients. As a family member and, simultaneously, an informal caregiver of a family member a number of challenges and demands arise, comprising changes in daily routines, suffering and overall personal weariness. The family caregiver is presented with a complex situation experiencing a double tense situation: on the one hand, the difficulties in having to deal beforehand with a loss of a family member; on the other hand, the constraints, responsibilities and problems that occur when one assumes the role of an informal caregiver. To that end, and with the purpose of truly comprehending what impacts and needs are felt by palliative care patients’ family caregivers, a qualitative study was performed using a semi-structured interview as a research tool. 8 palliative care patients’ family caregivers that are currently being treated at the Specialized Palliative Care Unit of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto have participated in this study. We can conclude that assuming the role of an informal caregiver of a relative one has several consequences, with a high impact on the family caregivers’ needs. Concerning the repercussions felt, family caregivers highlight the major changes experienced at a psychological and emotional, economic and social, physical and professional level; given the interviewees’ reports, the psychological and emotional levels represent the ones where most changes occur. In what refers to the needs that family caregivers feel, these mainly result from the repercussions above mentioned and are highlighted specifically at psychological and emotional as well as at social and physical levels. Besides those, material and spiritual needs also came forth during the interview processes. Even though most interviewees emphasize the needs that arise when assuming this caregiver role, some reports suggest unspecific general needs with no specific examples