Desafios para assistência a pacientes onco- hematológicos vivenciados por profissionais de saúde

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the perception of health professionals about the challenges experienced in assisting patients with hematological neoplasms within the Health Care Networks. Method: Descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, carried out with health professionals from the Rio Oncology Care Network Grande do Norte (RN) and Ceará (CE), with at least three (03) months of direct work with onco-hematological patients. Data collection only began after approval, which occurred on April 6, 2023, under opinion 5,987. 385 and CAAE 67213623.0.0000.5537 and took place on June 14, 2023, through a focus group. Data were collected from speeches and arguments presented through triggering questions about the research theme. A questionnaire composed of closed questions was also used with the purpose of characterizing the sociodemographic and professional profile of the participants. The statements were processed with the support of the Interface de R pour Analyzes Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionneires (IRAMUTEq) software and the Microsoft Excel 2019® software. Results: The focus group was made up of seven health professionals, six of whom were nurses (85.7%) and one doctor (14.3%), with an age range between 34 and 57 years old and an average of 44 years old. The majority of participants live in Natal/RN (71.4%) and the rest in Fortaleza/CE (28.6%). The analysis carried out with the support of IRAMUTEq generated four classes: "Comprehensive assistance and access to exams", "Acquisition of medicines and supplies", "Mental exhaustion and locomotion of onco-hematological patients" and "Communication between care networks and Telemedicine". Regarding the perception of professionals, a lack of comprehensive assistance in care networks was highlighted, which directly interferes with the conduct of therapy. In addition to difficulties in scheduling and carrying out exams for continuity of care, as well as the failure to acquire high-cost medicines and new technologies. Other obstacles mentioned were mental exhaustion on the part of patients with hematological neoplasms, and the obstacles they routinely face when needing to travel long distances from their home to healthcare networks to receive assistance. Final considerations: The barriers to providing safe and quality care to onco-hematology patients are intrinsically linked to challenges in providing comprehensive care, carrying out exams, obtaining medicines and the considerable journeys that are necessary to access care. The importance of conducting similar studies in different regions of Brazil is also highlighted, in order to map the difficulties and challenges faced by patients and health professionals. It is suggested that viable strategies for facing these challenges include the development of specific lines of care, the formulation of appropriate public policies, among other measures