Necessidades do familiar cuidador do doente paliativo

Abstract

The following study explores the consequences and needs as perceivedby the family caregiversof palliative care patients. As a family member and, simultaneously, an informal caregiver of a family member a number of challenges and demands arise, comprising changes in daily routines, suffering and overall personal weariness. The family caregiver is presented with a complex situation experiencing a double tense situation: on the one hand, the difficulties in having to deal beforehand with a loss of a family member; on the other hand, the constraints, responsibilities and problems that occur when one assumes the role of an informal caregiver. To that end, and with the purpose of truly comprehending what impacts and needs are felt by palliative care patients’ family caregivers, a qualitative study was performed using a semi-structured interview as a research tool. 8 palliative care patients’ family caregivers that are currently being treated at the Specialized Palliative Care Unit of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto have participated in this study. We can conclude that assuming the role of an informal caregiver of a relative one has several consequences, with a high impact on the family caregivers’ needs. Concerning the repercussions felt, family caregivers highlight the major changes experienced at a psychological and emotional, economic and social, physical and professional level; given the interviewees’ reports, the psychological and emotional levels represent the ones where most changes occur. In what refers to the needs that family caregivers feel, these mainly result from the repercussions above mentioned and are highlighted specifically at psychological and emotional as well as at social and physical levels. Besides those, material and spiritual needs also came forth during the interview processes. Even though most interviewees emphasize the needs that arise when assuming this caregiver role, some reports suggest unspecific general needs with no specific examples

Date of Award	7 Jul 2013
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Sandra Martins Pereira (Supervisor) & António Manuel Fonseca (Co-Supervisor)