Instrumentos para avaliação de pacientes hospitalizados em cuidados paliativos: revisão integrativa

Abstract

The need for careful assessment of patients as to their needs in palliative care motivated the present study, in which the objective was to identify instruments used for the assessment of the hospitalised patient in palliative care. This is an integrative literature review study, carried out from October to November 2021, on online database platforms: U.S. National Library of Medicine, Latin American and Caribbean Literature on information on Health Sciences, Scientific Electronic Library Online and the Virtual Health Library. A total of 126 scientific articles were located, of which 10 were selected to compose the study sample. Fifteen instruments were identified, six generic, four specific for people in palliative care, four specific for cancer patients and one for patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The instruments that were most repeated among the studies were: Palliative Performance Scale and Edmonton Symptom Assessment. The most relevant aspects to be evaluated in palliative care patients were: functional capacity, physical and psychological symptoms and advanced age. The instruments proved useful to guide health professionals in patient assessment, care planning and decision making.