Introduction: In clinical practice, we observe the application of Complementary Therapies (CT) in palliative care. However, their integration is not always formalized in the PC services and there is often no clinical record of them. This is a mixed, crosssectional, descriptive and exploratory study that aims to contribute to knowledge about the use of Complementary Therapies (CTs) in Palliative Care (PC) in Europe. Objectives: To identify whether CTs are included in palliative patient care plans, how they are integrated, which CTs are used and for what purpose, how patients access these therapies and what judgment professionals in PC teams have about their relevance. Material and methods: A questionnaire was designed for the study and applied to 615 PC teams in 16 European countries. The data obtained was anonymized, organized and processed in a database. Quantitative data was processed and analyzed using statistical methods (IBM SPSS). Qualitative data was processed and analyzed according to Bardin's methodology. Results and Discussion: The results show that CTs are present and formally integrated in PC. Massage and aromatherapy are the most used therapies. The needs related to CTs are assessed by any member of the multidisciplinary team. The patient's wishes and changes in their condition motivate the assessment of CT needs. The assessment procedures value autonomy, availability, accessibility and suitability to the symptoms. CT recommendation depends on the patient's request, as well as it is recommended at the start of care or if pharmacological measures are insufficient or inadequate. Most interventions take place in an inpatient setting. The main objectives of using CTs are to promote well-being, comfort and symptom management. Criteria for the indication of CTs are the patient's wishes and symptoms. Most teams use measuring tools to evaluate the effects of CTs. Most participants (75%) consider the use of CTs to be highly relevant, that is, very relevant or essential. Conclusions: The results of the study and the professionals' perception of relevance and usefulness of CTs in PC, make this study a starting point for the formal integration of CTs into PC plans in Portugal. We conclude that this integration constitutes a valid therapeutic approach to the multiple dimensions of palliative patient's suffering and complexity.
Date of Award | 5 Dec 2024 |
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Original language | Portuguese |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | Mara de Sousa Freitas (Supervisor) |
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- Complementary therapies
- Palliative care
- Integrative
- Organization
- Pertinency
- Mestrado em Cuidados Paliativos
Terapias complementares nos cuidados paliativos
Guerreiro, T. S. I. V. (Student). 5 Dec 2024
Student thesis: Master's Thesis