Cuidados paliativos no tratamento de mulheres com câncer de mama: uma revisão de escopo

Abstract

Palliative care is an approach that aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families when they are faced with a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness. In doing so, it aims to prevent and relieve suffering through early recognition and proper assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial, or spiritual. Studies show that in breast cancer, the main symptoms of the disease and treatment are neglected, which should be the focus of palliative care. This prompts us to reflect on the current role of palliative care in the treatment of breast cancer, especially because it is the most common cancer in women. With this in mind, this study aimed to assess the scope of available literature on the role of palliative care in the treatment of women with breast cancer. To achieve this goal, a scoping review study was conducted based on the methodological recommendations proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute and the PRISMA ScR Guide to Scoping Reviews. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined using the PCC acronym, and searches were conducted in 8 databases and an electronic repository. The selection was performed by two independent reviewers using Rayyan software. The main results were extracted and analyzed using the thematic analysis technique. A total of 139 studies were included, most of which were published in the United States. 53.1% were published in the last 6 years and 46% had a cross-sectional design. fourteen final themes and 12 subthemes were identified from the thematic analysis. As conclusions, the available literature on palliative care in the treatment of women with breast cancer is extensive, recovering studies developed since the last century in which information on the use of conventional therapies is highlighted, in addition to critical points on: the use, transition and referral to palliative care services; integration of palliative care in breast oncology; role of nursing, barriers to access, home palliative care and quality of life; also highlighting information on perceptions of palliative care, program development, pain management, spirituality, costs and end-of-life care. Some research gaps were identified that will serve for the development of future studies.