Trujillo-De Los Santos Z, Paz-Rodríguez F, Sánchez-Guzmán MA, Nava-Galán G, Zamora-Ruíz P, García-Pastrana C, Ochoa-Morales A, Medina-Durán R, Mimiaga-Hernández C, Volkers GG

Language: Spanish
References: 10
Page: 8-13
PDF size: 213.66 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Due to multiple cultural and educational factors, or lack of information, the healthcare professionals can present anxiety and unhelpful attitudes to the objectives of palliative care. Objective: To determine differences between healthcare professionals regarding knowledge on palliative care, attitudes toward death and emotional burden due to working with terminally-ill patients. Methods: In this exploratory, descriptive, and cross-sectional study healthcare professionals were interviewed. A questionnaire was applied regarding palliative care, attitudes toward death and emotional work. The information was compared according to professional area. Results: A total of 40 professionals were interviewed: physicians (30%), residents (20%), nurses (25%), social workers (25%). A total of 70% were women. In all, 42.5% were either married or live in common-law marriage. A 55% were catholic. A total of 77.5% had knowledge regarding the objectives of palliative care. A 72.5% has no knowledge of the human rights charter of the terminally-ill patient. There were no differences among professionals regarding their attitude toward death and emotional work. Women conceived death as a passageway to a better life, thus getting a stronger emotional impact. It was also observed that the better informed, the less fear among participants, they are more sensitive, they tend to perceive more organizational rules, and they have better control of their negative emotions. Conclusions: These professionals studied require comprehensive training regarding palliative care with a bioethical approach, for a decent and human attention of the terminally-ill patient.

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