Resumen

ALBERGARIA, Rita  y  AMORIM, Rita. Characterization of the patients of a non-hospital psycho-oncology unit. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2018, vol.19, n.3, pp.550-563. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/18psd190307.

Experiencing cancer generally results in high levels of emotional suffering both in cancer patients and their relatives. Aiming to contribute to the well-being and quality of life of these individuals, in 2011, Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro, Núcleo Regional do Sul (LPCC- NRS) created a Psycho-Oncology Unit (UPO). This Unit provides specialized psychological support through the promotion of: adaptation to diagnosis and treatment; strategies to facilitate symptom management; and communication between the patient and health professionals and/or family/caregivers. This study aimed to characterize the psycho-oncology patients of LPCC-NRS-UPO, from the date of its creation until June 2017, in order to further adapt this service to this population’s needs and to provide an improved service to those who are affected by the oncological disease. The sample consisted of 522 subjects, 341 of which were cancer patients. The results showed that the individuals followed at the LPCC-NRS-UPO were mostly women with breast cancer, aged over 60, residents in Lisbon and highly educated. Most were having treatment at Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG) and reached the Psychology service through friends or relatives due to cancer-related suffering. Psychological help was generally based on the supportive psychotherapy model and the average number of therapy sessions was between 2 and 5. This study allowed us to characterize the patients followed at the LPCC-NRS-UPO and propose strategies to enhance the LPCC-NRS in its mission to support cancer patients and their relatives.

Palabras clave : psychology service; cancer patients; relatives; characterization.

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