Nursing interventions for terminally ill cancer patients: an integrative review

Abstract

To identify in the scientific literature nursing interventions for cancer patients at the end of their lives within the scope of Primary Care. Integrative literature review study, carried out in a paired and independent manner, between the months of March and April 2020. The DeCS and MeSH descriptors used were: Cancer, palliative care at the end of life, nursing care, neoplasms , palliative care and care, nursing. The searches took place through access via CAPES to the databases: LILACS, MEDLINE, BDENF, CINAHL, SciELO and COCHRANE. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 250 articles were found and after complete refinement, 10 articles made up the final sample. The results brought the psychospiritual dimension with a greater number of nursing interventions. The literature emphasizes that religious and spiritual experiences are related to the greater quality of the dying process, as it provides greater serenity and dignity before death. Nursing interventions in the context of the physical dimension are primarily aimed at relieving symptoms, symptoms include mainly pain and respiratory symptoms. The environment is a dimension that needs to be studied by nurses, in order to generate evidence regarding possible interventions that make the environment, whether physical, sound or visual, therapeutic for the patient and family. The evidence on nursing interventions aimed at end-of-life cancer patients in Primary Care is focused on the psycho-spiritual dimension and mainly brings the context of feelings, beliefs and religiosity.