RESUMEN
Na ortotanásia ocorre a suspensão dos procedimentos médicos na fase terminal do paciente para que ocorra a morte natural, com o alívio dos sintomas que levam ao sofrimento. Neste processo, profissionais como médicos, enfermeiros e psicólogos, interagem com o paciente e seus familiares. Por isso, é desejável que desde a graduação estes profissionais tenham em suas formações disciplinas voltadas para esta demanda. O objetivo desta pesquisa qualitativa foi avaliar o conhecimento sobre ortotanásia dos concluintes dos cursos de medicina, enfermagem e psicologia de uma universidade. Por meio de questões disparadoras foi realizada entrevista semiestruturada com 22 alunos. As entrevistas foram gravadas e transcritas para análise de conteúdo e identificação de categorias temáticas. Foram identificadas três categorias: conhecimento sobre a ortotanásia, quem deveria se envolver com este processo e sentimentos vivenciados frente à morte. Os dados mostraram que os estudantes possuem um baixo conhecimento sobre o tema, consideram importante o envolvimento dos familiares na decisão da ortotanásia, e não se sentem preparados para o enfrentamento da morte. Conclui-se que há a necessidade de mudanças sobre o enfoque dado ao tema terminalidade nos cursos de graduação da área da saúde, visando preparar melhor os futuros profissionais.
Orthothanasia involves the suspension of medical procedures for terminal phase patients, which leads to a natural death, relieving the symptoms that cause suffering. In this process, professionals such as physicians, nurses and psychologists, interact with patients and their families. Therefore, it is desirable that during undergraduate studies these professionals should take subjects geared to handle this aspect. The scope of this qualitative study was to evaluate the awareness with respect to orthothanasia of undergraduates in medicine, nursing and psychology courses in a university. Trigger questions in semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 students. The interviews were recorded and transcribed for content analysis and core identification themes. Three categories were identified: knowledge about orthothanasia; who should be involved in this process; and feelings experienced when facing death. The data revealed that students have scant knowledge about the subject, consider the family involvement in the orthothanasia decision to be important and they do not feel prepared to deal with death situations. The conclusion points to the need to change the focus on the end-of-life issue in the undergraduate courses in the area of health care in order to prepare the future professional adequately.
Asunto(s)
Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Actitud del Personal de Salud , Actitud Frente a la Muerte , Emociones , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Estudiantes del Área de la Salud/psicología , Privación de Tratamiento , Psicología , Estudiantes de Medicina , Estudiantes de EnfermeríaRESUMEN
Orthothanasia involves the suspension of medical procedures for terminal phase patients, which leads to a natural death, relieving the symptoms that cause suffering. In this process, professionals such as physicians, nurses and psychologists, interact with patients and their families. Therefore, it is desirable that during undergraduate studies these professionals should take subjects geared to handle this aspect. The scope of this qualitative study was to evaluate the awareness with respect to orthothanasia of undergraduates in medicine, nursing and psychology courses in a university. Trigger questions in semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 students. The interviews were recorded and transcribed for content analysis and core identification themes. Three categories were identified: knowledge about orthothanasia; who should be involved in this process; and feelings experienced when facing death. The data revealed that students have scant knowledge about the subject, consider the family involvement in the orthothanasia decision to be important and they do not feel prepared to deal with death situations. The conclusion points to the need to change the focus on the end-of-life issue in the undergraduate courses in the area of health care in order to prepare the future professional adequately.