Terapia sentido de vida

: sua importância para a qualidade de vida em doentes em cuidados paliativos

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the importance of the Meaning of Life Therapy (MLT) for the patients´ quality of life and psychological well-being in palliative care (PC) in Portugal. Given the increase in life expectancy and the prevalence of chronic and oncological diseases, it becomes crucial to address the psychoexistential needs of patients and their families. The MLT, a psychoexistential intervention inspired by therapies such as Dignity Therapy and Life Review, has been adapted to the Portuguese cultural context, integrating aspects such as forgiveness, reconciliation, and farewell, with the aim of promoting the psychological adjustment of end-of life patients through the enhancement of a sense of meaning and life review. This study aims to conduct a qualitative analysis, based on the phenomenological approach, of patients' responses to the protocol of the MLT, with the goal of evaluating the adequacy of the topics addressed to the psychoexistential needs of palliative patients in Portugal. The sample consisted of five patients from a hospital in the North of Portugal. The results highlighted emerging themes such as the importance of family, preservation of identity, socio-professional valuation, life retrospection, and clinical situation. The study concluded that MLT is effective in promoting the psychological, spiritual, and existential well-being of PC patients, contributing to the preservation of dignity and life quality at the end of life.

Date of Award	10 Jul 2024
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Elisa Veiga (Supervisor)