Promote the knowledge of Palliative Care to health professionals so that pain and other symptoms of suffering related to the end of life are treated in an appropriate and satisfactory manner.

The training of health professionals, whether doctors, psychologists, nurses, nursing technicians or assistants, physiotherapists, or any other professional related to the care and care for others, does not include looking at the human being we will care for. In college, in complementary courses, there is no space for discussions and reflections on life, quality of life and death. However, it is exactly these issues that we face in the day to day of our profession. 

Educational proposal

Multiprofessional Course on Palliative Care

Casa do Cuidar guides its educational investment towards the realization of a more complete Multiprofessional Course, with modern teaching characteristics and with the possibility of complementing the practical learning through partnerships with institutions and professionals recognized as references in the practice of Palliative Care in Brazil and in the world.

At the end of the Advanced Multiprofessional Course on Palliative Care at Casa do Cuidar, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills compatible with the necessary quality in the good practice of assisting patients with diseases that threaten the continuity of life and support for their families.

The 40-hour practical internship is optional and will take place at the Clinica Florence – Hospice.

On learning, the student will receive training in the following aspects of care:

 

Physical aspects of care

  • Emphasizes the assessment and treatment of physical symptoms with appropriate and validated tools.
  • It recognizes that the management of symptoms is multidimensional, using a pharmacological, interventionist, behavioral approach and complementary interventions.
  • Recommends the use of explicit policies for the treatment of pain and management of symptoms, as well as the safe prescription of controlled drugs.

 

Psychological and psychiatric aspects of care

  • Conducting systematic reviews on the process of collaborative assessment of psychological concerns and psychiatric diagnoses.
  • It defines essential elements including patient-family communication about the assessment, diagnosis and treatment options for common diseases in the context of respecting the objectives of patient and family care.
  • Describes necessary elements of a bereavement support program.

 

Social aspects of care

  • Emphasizes interdisciplinary involvement and collaboration with patients and families to identify, support and support patients and families.
  • Defines the essential elements of a social palliative care assessment.
  • Describes the role of the professional social worker with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work.

 

Spiritual, religious and existential aspects

  • It includes a definition of spirituality, assessment, access and personal collaboration in addressing spiritual concerns throughout the course of the disease.
  • It offers requirements for staff training and education in the provision of spiritual assistance.
  • Emphasizes the responsibility of the interdisciplinary team, including a properly trained chaplain, to explore, assess and address the spiritual issues of the patient and family.
  • Promotes spiritual and religious rituals and practices for comfort and relief.

 

Cultural aspects of care

  • It defines culture and cultural competence for the interdisciplinary team, emphasizing culture as a source of resistance and strength for the patient and his family.
  • It emphasizes cultural and linguistic competence, including simple language, literacy and linguistically appropriate service delivery.
  • Care of the patient in an active process of death.
  • Highlights communication and documentation of signs and symptoms of the dying process in the care circle: the patient, the family, and all other health professionals involved.
  • It points out the importance of a thorough evaluation and management of pain and other symptoms.
  • Emphasizes the essential attention for the orientation of families on what to expect in the process of dying and in the post-death period.
  • Stresses support for mourning.
  • It highlights social, spiritual and cultural aspects of attention throughout the process.

 

Ethical and legal aspects of assistance

  • It is divided into three sections: planning, advance care, ethics, and legal aspects of care.
  • Emphasizes the palliative care team’s responsibility to promote the ongoing discussion of care goals, along with the completion and planning documentation for advance will directives.
  • Affirms and recognizes the frequency and complexity of ethical issues in palliative care. Offers ethics team skills and ethics committee advice.
  • Under legal issues: recognition of complex legal and regulatory issues that arise in palliative care that require team members to understand their respective spheres of practice in providing palliative care.
  • Emphasizes access to a specialized lawyer, essential to navigate complex and sensitive legal and regulatory issues in palliative care.

 

Based on the proposal contained in: A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK AND PREFERRED PRACTICES FOR PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE CARE QUALITY: A CONSENSUS REPORT