Relatório de estágio no âmbito dos cuidados paliativos

Abstract

One of the many difficulties of implementing palliative care philosophy in healthcare relates to the lack of knowledge about it, and the insufficient research that Portugaldedicated to this area, making arguments that underlie the choice of internship forachieving a Masters in Palliative Care.In this context, the report presents the activities and reflections of learning, overseveral months of training in different institutions. At the empirical level, the mostimportant internship in terms of learning was conducted in the Palliative Care Unit ofCenter San Camilo, and in a Support Team and Home Care, both in Madrid.Subsequently, two observational / participation internships were performed, whichrepresented an experiential quest of the Portuguese reality in terms of palliative care: thefirst in the Palliative Care Service of IPO in Oporto, and the other one in the SeaResidential Hospital in Lisbon.This document represents a synopsis effort to explain the various dimensions andactivities addressed on internship, as well as professional skills resulting from thisperiod. Alongside the institutional involvement, internship activities had other levels ofaction: the divulgation of palliative care through training to youth, and the need forupdating, training and participation in scientific meetings. This report also describes abrief investigation about the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in a smallgroup of palliative patients, held in Center San Camilo.All the activities contributed to personal and professional changes, especially interms of conceptualization and clarification of the following components of a healthprofessional work in Palliative Care: the importance of teamwork and support toprofessionals, the importance of home care in this reality, communication as abeginning, middle and end, the psychological support to patient and family, support ingrieving and symptomatic control, particularly pain. From the reflections of this timeworking, it was inevitable to see evidence of how complex it is to provide holistic care to patients in their intimate relationship with the family as inseparable unit inintervention. As a psychologist, the deepening of all the above areas was essential for progressive training, and understanding of the importance of providing comprehensive care with professionalism and sensitivity to patients and their families, in this important stage of life cycle

Date of Award	Dec 2010
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria da Graça Pereira (Supervisor)