Palliative care: epidemiological profile with a biopsychosocial look on oncological patients

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Palliative care is a set of practices that encompasses patients with life-threatening diseases which approach is no longer curative, but comforting, including care for the family. The objective of this study was to verify the epidemiological profile of cancer patients in palliative care. METHODS: We interviewed 100 cancer patients in palliative care, as well as the sociodemographic and biopsychosocial variables, using the Karnofsky index, Palliative Performance Scale and Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. RESULTS: The prevalent age group was between 51-60 years (34%), more than half female (77%), incomplete elementary school (40%) and resident in the interior of Maranhão (73%). Concerning the use of pain drugs, 52% reported not forgetting to take their pain drug, while 56% took drug on their own. As to the diagnosis, only 13% of the interviewees were aware of a palliative diagnosis, and more than half of them were aware of primary or oncological diagnosis (65%). Regarding the evaluation of functional capacity, 52% had the Karnofskys index between 70 and 90%; Palliative Performance Scale, 62% between 80 and 90%, and Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale the following most significant variables in tiredness, (60%); sadness, (84%); anxiety, (73%); lack of appetite, (51%) and absence of well-being (79%). CONCLUSION: Knowing the profile of patients is key to identify the obstacles to the effective implementation of palliative care, making it possible to implement targeted measures.