Education for the informal caregiver of cancer patients in the dying phase
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35381/s.v.v10i1.5038Keywords:
Cancer, education, family caregiver, terminal phase, palliative care, (Source: DeCS).Abstract
Objective: To describe the education provided to informal caregivers of oncological patients in the terminal phase, based on a bibliographic study. Method: A qualitative, descriptive investigation was conducted through a review of scientific literature indexed in nursing databases, using health science descriptors. All selected articles were systematically analyzed. Results: Fourteen articles were identified and reviewed; 60 % were published between 2020 and 2022, 70 % were found in PubMed, 80 % originated from developed countries, and 54 % employed qualitative methodologies. These findings highlight the growing relevance of caregiver education in oncology contexts. Conclusion: The analysis revealed four key interventions aimed at families and informal caregivers of terminal oncology patients: knowledge for managing physiological dysfunction, knowledge for pharmacological management, guidance for coping with grief, and support for spiritual needs. These dimensions emphasize the importance of training informal caregivers to provide comprehensive and humanized care during the final stage of illness.
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