Melhor em casa: atuação de psicólogos em equipes multiprofissionais de cuidados paliativos domiciliares

Abstract

One of the fields in which psychologists work is in the field of health, with home care, based on a set of actions to promote health, rehabilitate, prevent and treat illnesses. Thus, one of the possible approachesto thisscenario is Palliative Care, which aimsto offer relief from suffering and quality of life to patients and their families with life-threatening illnesses, through a multi- professional team of which psychology professionals are a part. The main aim of this study was to investigate how psychologists work within the multi-professional home palliative care team. To achieve this, a systematic literature review was carried out, with an exploratory nature and a qualitative approach, covering works indexed in scientific databases from the last 8 years (2017-2024). The search was carried out in five databases, resulting in the analysis of six papers, after they had been selected because they met all the proposed inclusion criteria. The results were organized into three categories of analysis, showing a significant number of interventions carried out by psychology professionals in Brazil. The research identified various practices, both individual and in conjunction with the health team involved in the context. In general, scientific work focused on the fundamental axes of patient support; attention to family members and caregivers; and essentially multi-professional palliative care. It was also possible to see the efforts to be guided by the principles advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Academy of Palliative Care (ANCP), in offering comprehensive and humanized care. This study highlights the importance of the presence of psychologists in home health care, as they are professionals who transcend patient care by acting as an integrating link between the team, the patient and their support network. Further research is suggested in this area, incorporating spiritual and cultural elements in a systematic way and also involving other Brazilian regions, thus contributing to the improvement of professional practices that encompass a greater variety of needs. It is also advisable to focus on building discussions that favor the valorization of this professional in palliative care.