Distress and Psycho-Oncological Support for Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC) face an incurable disease that brings along many challenges. Health care professionals, and nurses in particular, have a main role in supporting these patients to adapt and adjust to their condition. In this study, we discuss how good communication skills can be the first level of emotional support to patients and families; and how the high prevalence of distress in this population makes it of great importance to screen for distress regularly and treat it when needed. DATA SOURCES: We present our research study on the impact of negative effects on biobehavioral processes that contribute to disease progression, and comment on the psychological interventions that may reduce it, with a particular focus on the CALM therapy model we validated for the Portuguese ABC patients. We also report on the added human value of a retreat for couples and professionals that our team has tested with ABC patients and their partners. CONCLUSION: It is critical to screen for distress in ABC patients who have a higher prevalence of distress. There are available evidence-based interventions to assist clinicians in reducing their suffering. CALM therapy and a retreat format may be options to consider with ABC patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: As front-line clinicians, nurses have an important role in providing provide emotional support to patients using good communication skills, but also in identifying patients at risk for distress, screening for it regularly, and referring patients for specialized psychosocial care when needed.

Construção da integralidade no cuidar de pessoas com diabetes mellitus em um centro de saúde em Feira de Santana (BA) / Integrality-building in the care of people with diabetes mellitus in a healthcare unit of Feira de Santana, Bahia State

Este estudo analisa o cuidado de pessoas com diabetes mellitus (DM) sob a ótica da integralidade, através do acesso, do vínculo-responsabilização e da formação da equipe em um centro de saúde de Feira de Santana (BA). É um estudo qualitativo, numa aproximação crítico-reflexiva. Os sujeitos foram os trabalhadores de saúde (Grupo I) e usuários cadastrados no Programa de Atenção ao Diabético (Grupo II). A entrevista estruturada e a observação sistemática foram utilizadas como técnicas de coleta de dados e a análise de conteúdo e o fluxograma analisador de Merhy, como técnicas de análise dos dados. Os resultados revelam que a atenção básica é pouco estruturada, com um modelo de organização dos serviços esgotado, um processo de cuidar construído no cotidiano do serviço de forma fragmentada, superficial, médico-centrado, e que a municipalização como vem se desenvolvendo em Feira de Santana provocou (des)estruturação e (des)continuidade da atenção à saúde das pessoas com DM. O acesso é restrito, focalizado e direcionado a ações de baixa complexidade. O acolhimento e o vínculo, distantes da corresponsabilização, e ainda há carência de formação e de autonomia. Conclui-se que é necessário ampliar o debate sobre o cuidado integral e gestão do trabalho, valorizando a práxis cotidiana dos sujeitos envolvidos no cuidado.

This study analyses the care of people with diabetes mellitus (DM), under the light of integrality, through access, bond-accountability, and team formation in a healthcare unit of Feira de Santana, Bahia State. It is a qualitative study adopting a critical and reflexive approach. The subjects were healthcare workers (Group I) and users registered in the diabetes program (Group 2). Data collection techniques included a structured interview and systematic observations, while the data analysis was based on content analysis and Merhy's analyzer flowchart. The results reveal that basic attention has little structure, an ineffective organization model, and a healthcare process built on the everyday of the service in a fragmented and shallow way, centered on the figure of the doctor. They also reveal that municipalization of health, as it has been done in Feira de Santana, caused the dismantling and discontinuation of healthcare attention to people with DM. Access is restricted, focused on and directed to low-complexity actions. Hosting and bond with the user are still distant from co-responsabilization, and there is a lack of autonomy and education in the process. In conclusion, it is necessary to widen the debate on whole care and work management, and valuate the everyday praxis of those involved with care.