Dados do Trabalho

Título

CHALLENGES OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN THE INTRA-HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Introdução

Palliative care (PC) is an integral part of health practice, being performed by a multidisciplinary team and indicated for patients with no possibility of cure. Among these patients, this form of care prevails in cancer patients. They are an approach to improving the quality of life of patients and families in the face of diseases that threaten the continuity of life, including at the end of life. They act to guide professional practice aiming to control pain and all symptoms of a physical, social, emotional and spiritual nature, always respecting bioethical principles and humanized treatment.
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic caused by the new coronavirus (Sars-Cov-2), initiating restrictive and social isolation measures to control the spread of the virus. In this context, several changes occurred in the intra-hospital environment, such as the indefinite suspension of visits and companions, leading to difficulties in exercising the PC.
Another difficulty was the illness and death of different people in the same family unit. Unfinished mourning and the difficulty of adapting to the farewell processes.

Objetivo

To analyze scientific and routine evidence from an institution accredited by the National Academy of Palliative Care (ANCP) on the practice of PC in the COVID-19 pandemic scenario.

Método

Literature review using the descriptors “palliative care” and “pandemic” and the keyword “COVID-19”. Studies were selected for analysis, in addition to the report of the professional experience of members of the CP team from an institution accredited by ANCP.

Resultado

The literature review and experience reports of the PC team showed difficulties faced in face of the pandemic and the reinvention of the multidisciplinary PC team with measures to minimize suffering and pain caused by the distance and the clinical condition of the patient and family members. The importance of using technologies that allowed video calls to ensure that the patient did not feel alone was highlighted, since face-to-face farewell strategies needed to be adapted to the restrictions of the period and the flexibility of restrictive measures to better support in particular situations such as Terminal palliative care.

Conclusão

Palliative care are extremely important to guarantee the individual's integral health. The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to affect the experiences of terminality, death and grief. Thus, interventions aligned with emerging demands in this context are necessary.

Palavras-chave

Challenges of palliative care in the intra-hospital; paliative care; COVID-19 pandemic.