Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in Home Palliative Care and Challenges of Medical Practice Facing the Finitude of Life

Abstract

Introduction: Palliative Care (PC) emerges as an important therapeutic approach in face of cancer progress. Objective: To identify the factors that affect the quality of life (QoL) of patients in home PC and discuss issues related to medical practice in health care. Method: Quantitative, qualitative, cross-sectional and descriptive study, involving 9 patients in home care at Ophir Loyola Hospital (HOL), using the Palliative Outcome Scale (POS), Patient Personal Profile Questionnaire and Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results: All the participants were diagnosed for over a year and had been in palliative care for more than six months, and most have already submitted to different therapeutic modalities, especially chemotherapy. Breast was the main site of primary tumor and among the physical symptoms presented, the presence of pain was reported by the majority of the participants. Analytical categories emerged from the theme quality of life, and the maintenance of health, family life, financial balance, importance of faith and hope, performance of daily and work activities and maintenance of autonomy were identified as variables that positively affect QoL. Socioeconomic difficulties were associated with worse performances in POS. All presented positive evaluation of the work done by the PC team. Conclusion: Clinical and social problems, especially pain and economic limitations are factors that interfere with the QoL of patients in home care. Despite the advances achieved, medicine still needs to prioritize the terminality of life as an inseparable part of medical education and practice.