Cuidados paliativos e terminalidade: percepção de pacientes diante da impossibilidade de cura

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the perception of terminally ill patients in palliative care facing up to the impossibility of cure. Methods: This is an exploratory research of qualitative nature, performed in a Palliative Care Unit of a hospital in the city of Patos, Paraíba, Brazil. Ten internal patients of the referred unit participated in the study. For data collection, a semi-structured interview was used. The empirical material was analyzed using the Content Analysis technique proposed by Bardin. Results: There were two thematic categories: "Fear and suffering, powerlessness and appreciation of life" and "Importance of palliative care in the hospital and family support". Conclusion: The study made it possible for patients to understand and resignify about the terminality of life and change their daily habits. It also revealed that the family has relevance as an emotional support, configuring a pillar that complements hospital care, which ensures the maintenance of their quality of life.