NURSING CARE AND QUALITY OF LIFE: THE PERCEPTION OF OLDER PEOPLE IN ONCOLOGICAL PALLIATIVE CARE

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the perception of older adults with cancer receiving palliative care regarding nursing care and its relationship with quality of life.Method: a cross-sectional, mixed-methods study conducted with older adults in oncological palliative care. Data were collected using the abbreviated quality-of-life assessment instrument and the Palliative Outcome Scale. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were treated through content analysis. Results: the sample had a mean age of 74 years, with a predominance of males. The environmental domain presented the highest mean score, while the social domain obtained the lowest. The items “quality of care” and “feeling of peace” had the highest scores. Qualitative analysis revealed categories of continuous presence, empathy, and gratitude. Conclusion: nursing plays an essential role in promoting comfort and dignity, being perceived as a key link between technical care and humanized support in oncological palliative care contexts.