Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Cuidar de um familiar que sofre de cancro provoca uma mudança profunda, no modo
de organização da família cuidadora, ao nível das necessidades físicas, emocionais e sociais.
Embora todos os membros da família sejam influenciados pelas mudanças introduzidas pelo
processo da doença, o cuidador principal é especialmente afetado. É ele que vive mais de
perto todo o processo e, numa segunda fase, sofre a perda do próprio doente. Pretende-se com
este estudo, uma melhor compreensão das vivências e das mudanças mais sentidas na vida dos
familiares cuidadores de doentes com cancro. Para o efeito, realizámos um estudo qualitativo,
através da análise de um grupo focal de três familiares ex cuidadores de doentes com cancro,
assistidos num Hospital no interior do país. Da análise, emergiram temas que tiveram um
impacto significativo nas vivências familiares, como sejam os primeiros sintomas do doente,
associados ao diagnóstico da doença; mudanças ocorridas no processo inicial, ao nível dos
comportamentos, das capacidades físicas e da imagem; mudanças ao nível da reorganização
das famílias para o processo de cuidar. O desgaste emocional, associado à adaptação às perdas
em vida e após a morte, teve uma ampla manifestação. Ao longo de todo o processo existem
momentos de grande dualidade de sentimentos, a vida passa a ser em função do doente, face à
necessidade de cuidar e à sua eminente perda. O ex cuidador revelou sofrimento decorrente da
sobrecarga vivida, com especial enfoque na quebra das rotinas e na reorganização da sua vida
para cuidar.
ABSTRACT: Caring for a family member who suffers from cancer causes a profound change in the way the family is organized. Although all members of the family are influenced by the changing circumstances necessarily introduced by the disease process, the primary caregiver is especially affected. It is he/she who lives more closely the whole process and, subsequently, suffer the loss of the patient himself. The purpose of this study is understand better the experiences and changes in the lives of family caregivers of cancer patients. To this end, we conducted a qualitative study through the analysis of a focus group of three former family caregivers of cancer patients, assisted in a hospital in the countryside. From the analysis, themes emerged such as changes in the disease process, whether at the level of behavior, body image; reorganization of the families towards the care process. The adaptation to the losses in before and after death, as well as coping strategies and the pain of loss, were widely expressed. Throughout the process, there are moments of great duality of feelings, given the need to care for the patient and their imminent loss. Due to burdensome changes a certain level of distress was witnessed in their recollection of the caregiving experiences.
ABSTRACT: Caring for a family member who suffers from cancer causes a profound change in the way the family is organized. Although all members of the family are influenced by the changing circumstances necessarily introduced by the disease process, the primary caregiver is especially affected. It is he/she who lives more closely the whole process and, subsequently, suffer the loss of the patient himself. The purpose of this study is understand better the experiences and changes in the lives of family caregivers of cancer patients. To this end, we conducted a qualitative study through the analysis of a focus group of three former family caregivers of cancer patients, assisted in a hospital in the countryside. From the analysis, themes emerged such as changes in the disease process, whether at the level of behavior, body image; reorganization of the families towards the care process. The adaptation to the losses in before and after death, as well as coping strategies and the pain of loss, were widely expressed. Throughout the process, there are moments of great duality of feelings, given the need to care for the patient and their imminent loss. Due to burdensome changes a certain level of distress was witnessed in their recollection of the caregiving experiences.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao ISPA - Instituto Universitário
Keywords
Família Cuidadores informais Cancro Luto Adaptação Family Informal caregivers Cancer Grief Adjustment