The role of Primary Health Care professionals in palliative care

Background: Patients in end of life care are becoming increasingly common in health services owing to the population’s progressive aging and the consequent increase in the number of patients with serious illnesses. In Brazil, the few existing palliative care services are usually linked to specialize...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Silva, Mariana Lobato dos Santos Ribeiro
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2013
País:Brasil
Institución:Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina de Família e Comunidade (SBMFC)
Repositorio:Revista Brasileira de Medicina de Família e Comunidade (Online)
Idioma:portugués
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.rbmfc.org.br:article/718
Acceso en línea:https://rbmfc.org.br/rbmfc/article/view/718
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Primary Health Care
Palliative Care
Family Health
Atención Primaria de Salud
Cuidados Paliativos
Salud de la Familia
Atenção Primária à Saúde
Saúde da Família
Descripción
Sumario:Background: Patients in end of life care are becoming increasingly common in health services owing to the population’s progressive aging and the consequent increase in the number of patients with serious illnesses. In Brazil, the few existing palliative care services are usually linked to specialized hospitals; however, in many countries, Primary Health Care (PHC) is considered the best healthcare level for providing and coordinating palliative care to patients. Methods: An integrative literature review was carried out with the objective of understanding PHC practitioners’ roles in palliative care. Results: The articles selected underwent thematic analysis resulting in eight categories describing the role of PHC professionals and their essential participation in palliative care: 1) Facilitate home care; 2) Ensure comprehensive assistance; 3) Use longitudinality as a tool of care; 4) Take responsibility for palliative care with the family; 5) Seek further professional development in palliative care; 6) Enable the coordination of palliative care; 7) Facilitate the access to palliative care to the patients and their families; 8) Work collaboratively inside and outside PHC. Conclusion: Easy near-home access to palliative care associated with constant management of symptoms and with sensibility to the reality of families is extremely important and helpful to patients in end of life stage.