Meanings of caring in settings of life and death produced by psychologists working with palliative care in Brazilian National Health System (SUS) about caring in settings of death and dying

Abstract

Palliative care (PC) in Brazilian National Health System (SUS) should be provided in a comprehensive and multidisciplinary manner at the interface between service users, families, carers and the health team, addressing human finitude. The aim of this study was to describe meanings about caring in settings of death and dying produced by psychologists working with PC in the SUS. We conducted a qualitative study drawing on social constructionism and inspired by the description of meanings from everyday life. We interviewed four psychologists working in home care, outpatient PC and hospital care. Two core themes were developed: work processes and their reverse; and close to death and dying. The findings show the importance of team working in self-educational processes, the challenges of working with death and dying in the face of everyday limitations, and critical and reflective constructions of work that promote mental health.