Significados dos cuidados paliativos por profissionais de saúde que cuidam de pessoas em hemodiálise

Abstract

In the universe of chronic kidney disease, and in particular the hemodialysis clinic, palliative care has proven to be an alternative for better service to users, not only in the end-of-life process, but in coping with a chronic disease without the possibility of cure. Research Question: How do health professionals understand the meanings of palliative care when caring for people on hemodialysis. How do health professionals understand the meanings of palliative care when caring for people on hemodialysis? To understand the meanings of palliative care by health professionals who care for people on hemodialysis. The collection of research data took place from September to November 2022, the type of research was qualitative and descriptive in nature, carried out with 11 participants through semi-structured interviews, and analyzed using Minayo's Content Analysis method. The NVIVO Software (12th version) was used to organize the data found. Viktor Frankl's Theory served as a philosophical framework for the interpretation of the data found regarding the meanings. As for the interviews, two thematic categories emerged: Category 1 - Meanings of palliative care in the understanding of health professionals who care for people on hemodialysis, with the following subcategories: (Emotions and feelings; Respect and dignity; Terminality; Comfort and Quality of life); Category 2 - (In) understanding of the meaning of Palliative Care by health professionals who care for people on hemodialysis and as a subcategory (lack of knowledge). It was possible to understand the meanings of palliative care by health professionals, through the empirical categories and subcategories found. The presence of creative, attitudinal and experiential values described in Viktor Frankl's theory appeared in all the meanings found. The possibility of elaborating emotions and feelings, the most common subcategory, was perceived in the meanings brought by the professionals. Respect and dignity stood out in the end of life process, with comfort and quality of life being advocated as attributes in care the finitude of life was seen as something more punctual than procedural, with palliative care being associated with patients in the phase end of life. The lack of technical training about this specialty pointed to (miss)understanding, as well as lack of knowledge about its early indication. The study achieved the main objective of knowing the meanings of palliative care in the understanding of health professionals who care for people on hemodialysis. Viktor Frankl's Theory guided the reflections that emerged from the interviews, including a greater understanding and understanding of the meanings found that point to the meaning of life of health professionals. With this research, it is hoped that other studies will be encouraged, which can broaden the understanding of the issues raised and that palliative care becomes a reality in care. That can reverberate in a better quality of life for people with chronic diseases, as well as for professionals responsible for caring.