Role of occupational therapy to women with breast cancer in palliative care.

Abstract

A retrospective, descriptive study with a qualitative approach, based on document analysis, to review the socio-demographic data, clinical and referring to Occupational Therapy visits. The goal is to identify and to categorize the interventions of occupational therapist with women with breast cancer, served by the Palliative Care Service of a public hospital, university, high complexity, located in the state of São Paulo. The project was approved by the ethics committee in research (Process n. 1259 /2013).The initial sample was composed of 49 women diagnosed with gynecological cancer, of which 27 have been identified breast cancer; 23 of them had been met by the occupational therapist and composed the final sample. Data and procedures were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Interventions covered both the patient and his family; involved different procedures, such as care and family support, guidance on coping strategies, energy conservation, encouraging independence and autonomy for the ADL and IADL and meaningful activities. Occupational therapy enables the construction of healthy environments and power, creation and uniqueness in Palliative Care.