A PERCEPÇÃO DO PROCESSO DE MORRER DA PESSOA COM DOENÇA ONCOLÓGICA TERMINAL

Abstract

This study aims to identify, describe and analyze the perception of the dying process of a person in a moment of vulnerability, to analyze variable quality of life of people with terminal cancer illness in their physical, psychological, functional, social, spiritual and configuration of your social support network. This study is organized in a theoretical introduction and a chapter reviewing the literature, both based on material found in the databases: Portal Capes, Lilacs and SciELO, Brazil, especially in the period 2000 to 2010, relating the keywords : cancer, quality of life, palliative care, terminally ill, death and finitude. Following, a second and final chapter in the form of an empirical article, organized according to the guidelines adopted by the Psychology Journal: Reflection & Critical. This journal follows the APA (American Psychological Association). This study is exploratory and descriptive, with qualitative variables, a sample consisting of ten individuals of both sexes, aged between 19 and 84 years, resulting in a state of terminal malignant disease undergoing palliative chemotherapy in a specialized hospital. We used a demographic data sheet and semi- structured interviews. The results show that among the more positive dimensions to understand the quality of life, are the physical aspect and access to treatment in a specialized health center. For establishment of the welfare and the dying process, the physical and functional dimensions are the most committed and spiritual dimensions and social / family, the most satisfactory. Moreover, we find that the higher the perception of death, the more intense is the need for social support. At this moment, the psychological distress became more frequent, with greater spiritual quest. In general, the participant moves from concern with the functional aspects to the psychological, seeks to understand the dying process itself, minimizing the importance attached to the issue of dependence on others.