Patients with cancer in advanced stages of the disease and the meaning of spirituality in this existential moment

• Grant number: 12/13092-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Psychological Treatment and Prevention
• Principal Investigator: Carmen Maria Bueno Neme
• Grantee: Andrea Carolina Benites
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cancer is considered a public health issue worldwide. Despite the current scientific and technological advances, the disease is still seen as a threat and refers to the possibility of death, being the diagnosis and treatment a major impact on the patient and family's lives. Although medicine has reached constant advances in patient care with cancer, with the realization of early diagnosis and different treatment options, there are cases where the cure or control are not possible and the disease evolves, making the patient to receive the so-called palliative care. This patient is then considered "out of medical therapeutic possibilities" and the cancer reaches the terminal stage, intensifying palliative care, aimed at quality of life or survival of the patient. Different studies have pointed out the importance of spirituality in quality of life, thus helping in fighting the disease and the death possibility for both, patients and families, bringing reflections on life and the meaning of life, hope and new meanings for the existential condition. It is intended, in this study, to understand the experiences of cancer patients in advanced disease scenario and the meaning of spirituality before the pain of illness and the possibility of death. The subjects of study are adult men and women, aged from 30 to 65 years old, diagnosed with cancer, thus users of the Unified Health System (SUS), which have a private prognosis. Phenomenological method for collecting and analyzing the reports of the participants, which will be obtained in individual interviews, will be used. It is intended to grasp and understand their world, revealing experiences as a patient with cancer in advanced stages of the disease and the meaning of spirituality in this existential moment. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BENITES, Andrea Carolina. Vivências de pacientes com câncer em cuidados paliativos e o significado da espiritualidade. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências. Bauru Bauru.