title: Health workers coping with having a relative in palliative care for cancer.
abstract: Objective To know the experience of health workers who are coping with having a relative in palliative care for cancer. Methodology A qualitative study conducted with four family members of cancer patients in palliative care. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews from November to December, 2014, at the home of the participants. The data were analysed using the operative proposal of Minayo. Results Two themes emerged, Health worker and family member coping with a cancer diagnosis and Health worker and family member coping with the proximity of death. Conclusions Being a family member and a health professional at the same time demanded greater involvement in care and caused distress since these workers witnessed the suffering of a family member with a terminal disease. However, their professional knowledge supported decision-making during the care process.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Aline Blaas
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Schiavon
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rosani Manfrin
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Norlai Alves de
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Hospital Escola, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Daniela Habekost
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Michele Rodrigues
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Universidade Católica de Pelotas.
authors.forename: Isabel Cristina Oliveira
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Arrieira
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003657:Decision Making; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000523:psychology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D000070659:Patient Comfort; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D055815:Young Adult