Contributo para a definição de competências em cuidados paliativos para os radioterapeutas em Portugal

Abstract

Introduction: Radiotherapy is a localized cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells through a linear accelerator. The main objective of palliative radiotherapy is to alleviate a multitude of symptoms related to advanced cancer and incresing the quality of life of these patients. Objective: Once the competences of radiation therapists in palliative care are not well defined in Portugal, this thesis has as a main objective to contribute to the definition of such competences. Method: This thesis is divided into two steps. In the first step was performed a literature systematic review with the main question to be investigated being: ‘’What are the competences of radiation therapists in palliative care?’’. Moreover, on the second step it was performed a focus group with the purpose of debating the results acomplished on the first step of this thesis and possible competences that were not previously included. Results: All the selected articles highlight the importance of increasing both theoretical and pratical knowledge of palliative care on areas such as clinical and thecnical competences, as well as skills of lidership, investigation and communication and their beneficial impact association with each skillset. Having in hands the resuts obtained in the focus group it was possible to understand that there are competences that can be easily implemented to the portuguese reality than others taking in consideration how the health services are organized in Portugal. Conclusion: This study enabled to illustrate the nowadays competences defined in countries with advanced pratices and discussed how these could be implemented with the portuguese reality. Some of the competences analised are already performed by portuguese radiation therapist. While some of these competences can be easily implemented, in a reality close to what it is performed today, there are some which hardly will ever be.

Date of Award	14 Nov 2022
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Manuel Luís Capelas (Supervisor) & Vera Quintino (Co-Supervisor)