Tecnologia educativa sobre cuidados paliativos para familiares de pessoas com doenças ameaçadoras da vida

Abstract

Introduction: Palliative care represents a form of assistance coordinated by a multidisciplinary team, aimed at improving the quality of life of both the patient and their family in the face of life-threatening illnesses. This is achieved by preventing and relieving suffering, treating pain and other physical, social, psychological and spiritual symptoms. This approach is extended to family members even after the patient's death, providing support during the grieving process. Despite its fundamental role in the care of individuals with serious illnesses, few studies examine the social representation of family caregivers about palliative care. Objective: To develop an educational technology based on the social representation of palliative care for family members of patients with life-threatening illnesses in order to help them understand the palliative therapeutic approach. Method: The first stage was a descriptive qualitative exploratory study, using Serge Moscovici's Theory of Social Representations from the perspective of the Central Nucleus Theory, proposed by Jean Claude Abric, as a conceptual framework for understanding the social representations of palliative care by family caregivers of patients with life-threatening illnesses. The second stage involved applied research into the technological development of teaching material, based on the data collected from social representation, as well as a bibliographical survey on the subject studied. Results: The results of the research were an educational technology booklet and two articles, including a scoping review. Conclusion: After the scoping review on caregivers' understanding of palliative care and the analysis of social representations, it was concluded that educational technology, of the didactic material type, is an effective tool for popularizing science when it is designed in an attractive and accessible way for the target audience. It aims to aid and facilitate understanding of the guidelines provided, promoting health education.