INFORMATION NEEDS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN PALLIATIVE ONCOLOGY CARE

Abstract

With the increase in cancer diagnoses in Brazil and in the world, the references encourage the incorporation of palliative care as early as possible, aiming at symptom control and relief of suffering. The study analyzed the information needs of patients with advanced cancer in palliative care, their families and caregivers. With a qualitative research approach, the location corresponded to the Cancer Hospital IV. Interviews were conducted with patients, caregivers, family members and the Focus Group with the interdisciplinary team, totaling 31 participants. Bardin's content analysis revealed three categories of analysis: translation and meaning of palliative care, palliative care as a stigma of death and terminality, and the denial of finitude. Therefore, the most expressive information needs were captured, with a view to the protagonism of palliative care as a treatment within oncological care, aiming at quality of life and coping with death, for the development of informative material.