The role of Primary Health Care professionals in palliative care

• Autor(a) principal: Silva, Mariana Lobato dos Santos Ribeiro
• Data de Publicação: 2013
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira de Medicina de Família e Comunidade (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://www.rbmfc.org.br/rbmfc/article/view/718
• topic: Primary Health Care; Palliative Care; Family Health; Atención Primaria de Salud; Cuidados Paliativos; Salud de la Familia; Atenção Primária à Saúde; Cuidados Paliativos; Saúde da Família; Cuidados Paliativos; Atenção Primária à Saúde

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.