Discussion of a care protocol for caregivers of cancer patients undergoing palliative care

Abstract

This study's objective was to evaluate the overall well-being and level of distress among caregivers of cancer patients and identify the difficulties faced by physicians who provide care to these patients in order to support the proposition of a new care protocol for a palliative care outpatient service. In the first phase, indicators of the overall well-being and distress levels of ten caregivers of patients undergoing palliative care were assessed using the General Comfort Questionnaire and the Impact of Event Scale Revised. In the second phase, physicians were interviewed to provide their opinions concerning palliative care and the difficulties they face to refer patients to a palliative care service. Spearman's negative correlation, performed to campare the results of both instruments applied to caregivers, suggests that higher levels of distress are associated with lower overall levels of well-being. There is, from the perspective of physicians, a need to integrate the care providade by both curative and palliative outpatient services to facilitate integrating the teams and enabling the maintenance of bonds among patients, families and professionals.