Symptoms other than pain in palliative care in Portugal.
OBJECTIVE
To study the burden of patients' symptoms other than pain and their treatment by Portuguese palliative care teams.


METHODS
Of the 21 Portuguese palliative care teams identified, 10 accepted to participate. Data from all patients observed on the 18th week of 2011 were collected.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-four patients were included in this study. One hundred and fifty-one patients (92%) had cancer. The patients' median age was 71 years (16-95) and 84 (51%) were females. The main symptoms were fatigue (116 [85%]) and depression/sadness (107 [65%]). Many different drugs were used for symptom control and other aims. Symptoms and drugs used here are similar to those practiced in other countries.


CONCLUSIONS
The practice of palliative care in Portugal seems to be similar to those in other countries.
Department of Palliative Care, Instituto Português de Oncologia, Porto, Portugal ferrazg@ipoporto.min-saude.pt.
Ferraz
F
Gonçalves
Department of Palliative Care, Instituto Português de Oncologia, Porto, Portugal.
Ana
A
Almeida
Department of Palliative Care, Hospital do Mar, Lisboa, Portugal.
Catarina
C
Antunes
Department of Palliative Care, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal.
Maria
M
Cardoso
Department of Palliative Care, Hospital do Litoral Alentejano, Santiago do Cacém, Portugal.
Margarida
M
Carvalho
Department of Palliative Care, Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos, Matosinhos, Portugal.
Maria
M
Claro
Department of Palliative Care, Instituto Português de Oncologia, Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Francisca
F
Coimbra
Department of Palliative Care, Hospital do Mar, Lisboa, Portugal.
Inês
I
Diniz
Department of Palliative Care, Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos, Matosinhos, Portugal.
Bruno
B
Fonseca
Department of Palliative Care, Hospital de St. Maria, Lisboa, Portugal.
Emília
E
Fradique
Department of Palliative Care, Centro Hospitalar de S. João, Porto, Portugal.
Edna
E
Gonçalves
Department of Palliative Care, Instituto Português de Oncologia, Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Florbela
F
Gonçalves
Department of Palliative Care, Hospital do Litoral Alentejano, Santiago do Cacém, Portugal.
Maria
M
Gonçalves
Department of Palliative Care, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
Américo
A
Magalhães
Department of Palliative Care, Instituto Português de Oncologia, Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Paulo
P
Pina
Department of Palliative Care, Centro Hospitalar de S. João, Porto, Portugal.
Conceição
C
Pires
Department of Palliative Care, Instituto Português de Oncologia, Porto, Portugal.
Paula
P
Silva
Department of Palliative Care, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal.
Ricardo
R
Silva
Department of Palliative Care, Instituto Português de Oncologia, Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Rui
R
Silva
Department of Palliative Care, Hospital de St. Maria, Lisboa, Portugal.
Filipa
F
Tavares
Department of Palliative Care, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
Laura
L
Teixeira
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000070659:Patient Comfort; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
existential problems; nonphysical problems; palliative care; psychological problems; symptom control; symptoms other than pain