Oncological Care Needs and the continuum of care in Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Introduction: cancer has important repercussions on all areas of the lives of sick people and their families, with physical, cognitive, emotional, social, spiritual and occupational consequences. This requires the development of coping and adaptation strategies in the different phases of the disease and treatment. Objective: to understand the needs for oncological care at different stages of cancer progression and how the occupational therapist has to adapt their objectives and intervention strategies throughout the treatment and progression of the disease. Methodological procedures: qualitative and exploratory study, which addresses the different comprehensive care needs of people with cancer and how they change throughout treatment. The data collected will be analyzed from the perspective of Braun and Clarke's Thematic Analysis. Participants: 20 people diagnosed with cancer will be selected, at different stages of the disease's evolution, treated at the Mental Health Interconsultation Service of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto (HCFMRP-USP). Methods: individual interview based on a semi-structured script in which people feel comfortable reporting the main needs and difficulties encountered during the course of the disease, its treatment and rehabilitation. Expected results: identify the needs of people with cancer, from the perspective of multidimensionality - physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs - in order to adapt the occupational therapeutic process to their demands in the continuum from functional and occupational rehabilitation to palliative rehabilitation. Final Considerations: the actions of occupational therapists, centered on the person and on meaningful occupations, can create possibilities and life projects, promote quality of life and social participation in the different stages of the disease's evolution. However, needs change throughout treatment and occupational therapists need to know them and adapt their treatment considering the continuum between rehabilitation demands and palliative care.