DEATH AND DYING IN THE DAILY PRACTICE OF PHYSICIANS AT AN ONCOLOGY TREATMENT CENTER

Abstract

Oncology care involves challenging situations related to the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with cancer. These challenges are intensified by circumstances involving the finitude of life, with repercussions on medical decisions and interventions. Given the importance of this topic, this study aimed to investigate how physicians deal with the process of death and dying during the care of cancer patients. This is an observational, descriptive, qualitative-quantitative, cross-sectional study involving 23 physicians affiliated with an oncology treatment center located in Belém, Pará, Brazil. The research protocol involved the application of an electronic questionnaire with four sections, covering sociodemographic characteristics, perceptions regarding the importance of the topic, academic preparation, and challenges faced. The results demonstrate significant gaps in medical training with regard to emotional and technical preparation for dealing with death and dying, especially at the undergraduate level. It is concluded that although death and dying are part of the daily routine of oncology care, there remains a need to strengthen medical training in terms of the emotional and communicational aspects that permeate this context.