A aplicação de cuidados paliativos nos doentes insuficientes renais crónicos terminais no final da vida

• Autor(a) principal: Moreira, Maria Isabel das Neves Sá Oliveira da Costa
• Data de Publicação: 2006
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10216/22230
• topic: Bioética; Bioethics; Porto

The End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is a progressive and debilitating illness, inevitably fatal, unless treated by one of the existent renal replacement therapy. The acceptance of older patients with multiple diseases has contributed to the increase of mortality and morbidity, as well as complications and symptoms associated with dialysis. The quality of care, given to renal patients in the End of the Life, hasn t been one of the priorities of health care. The possibility of application of palliative care to these patients, according to their necessities, from the moment of the diagnosis until the end of their lives, contributing to the improvement of the given cares, was at the base of this work subordinated to this theme. A transversal study was done, with analytical component, to a group of 229 renal patients and to a group of 128 health care professionals that take care of them, between May and October 2006, in six dialysis units and two Hospital services in the north of the Portugal. From this work, we conclude that educational level and scholarship of renal patients is low which causes serious implications on their knowledge concerning their illness and treatment. Thus, patients become incapable of making clear decisions about their treatments at the End of their Lives. The lack of formation in End-of-Life Care mentioned by the professionals of health questioned on this work would be the main reason for the difficulties in taking care of patients with end stage renal disease at the end of their lives. We believe that, the moment of creating a specific palliative care plan for the renal disease has arrived, through the creation of a multidisciplinary team that besides planning and carrying through specific formation, should provide support to all in need.