Background Family caregivers’ empowerment can assume strategic importance in palliative care. Healthcare professionals and volunteers have been showing significant gaps in this field. Hence, education has been advocated as an effective strategy to fill this gap. While several educational initiatives exist, a comprehensive evidence synthesis on the effectiveness of educational training on healthcare professionals and volunteers is lacking. Aims An integrative review was conducted to explore worldwide initiatives, aiming to improve healthcare professionals and volunteers’ competence in a palliative care setting especially in relation to the family caregiver. Method A scoping literature review was conducted with systematic searches in multiple databases – REDALYC, CINAHL, SCIELO, EBSCO, ERIC and MEDLINE since January 2012. Studies were selected based on programmes content and its impact evaluation. Four researchers assessed the studies regarding their eligibility with reference to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Findings Twenty‐two studies met the eligibility criteria. Multi‐professional learning was reported, emphasising nurses and physician's enrolment. Only few studies showed participants’ learning outcomes. Inconsistencies in delivery mode and duration were identified. Impact evaluations were heterogeneous and relied on no validated instruments. Family caregiver's content was addressed only in three initiatives. Conclusions Further research is needed using a more reliable design, mode of delivery and impact measurement of educational training. In addition, more initiatives associated with cost‐effectiveness, shorter‐ and longer‐term clinical impact are needed. Despite the strides already made towards the establishment of an evidence base for healthcare professionals in the field of palliative care, either greater consideration is required for family care providers in the education of healthcare professionals and respect for the cultural diversity.

Qualitative research in the area of health: the whys and whereforesResearchers in the area of health, in which the hegemony of clinical trials prevails, still look askance upon the idiosyncrasies of qualitative research. The uncertainty regarding what qualitative research really is, and what its contribution to this area represents, still persists. It is often said "One cannot generalize," "It lacks substance," "Few individuals are studied" and, even disparagingly, "This is very subjective." These criticisms have contributed to the evolution of qualitative research and highlight the rigor behind well-conducted studies. Although statistical generalization has not been established, there has been a marked focus on internal validity that measures the specificities of the group/phenomenon/case studied. The contributions to the construction of knowledge are undeniable, since what is eventually lost in scope is gained in depth and understanding. The detailed description of phenomena and their subsequent deconstruction and reconstruction, enhance the mobilization and critical transferability of knowledge, thereby enabling analytical generalization.The inseparability of the phenomena from their context underpin qualitative research, as it is impossible to discern opinions, perceptions and the significance of individuals by silencing the context. It is the contextualized specification that makes it possible to aspire to higher levels of understanding.After this "eye-opener" on qualitative research, the question arises: Why conduct qualitative research in the area of health? The answer is that qualitative methods have much to offer to those who study the health services. Firstly, the growing credibility of mixed studies today will gradually break down the quantitative-qualitative dichotomy, either by using qualitative investigation as exploratory for the quantitative research or, conversely, by clarifying, based on questionnaires, opinions and behavior in the natural environment in which the phenomenon studied occurred.Secondly, because qualitative studies focus on people, namely on that which makes them have recourse to the care and personal experiences that have an impact on their health status. The essence of qualitative investigation focuses on the search for significance, to the extent that the phenomena, manifestations, occurrences, facts, events, thoughts, feelings and subjects are all formative aspects of human experience. The meanings that are lasting also become culturally shared and are incorporated as a structuring element of the social group that orbits around these representations and symbolisms.Knowing the significance of the health-illness phenomena can contribute greatly to enhance the quality of the relationship between consumers and healthcare providers; foster greater adherence to health measures individually and collectively; and acquire a more profound understanding of the emotions and behavior of patients, families and health professionals. Undoubtedly, health is of the people, for the people and by...

No abstract

No abstract

O cuidador informal surge da necessidade de se cuidar dos doentes e idosos no domicílio, com a função de auxiliar nas medicações, higiene e alimentação sem remuneração. Esse tipo de auxílio suscita sobrecarga física, psicológica e financeira. No âmbito da qualidade do cuidar, salienta-se a necessidade de se olhar e ajudar os cuidadores informais no árduo apoio aos seus doentes, que, na maioria, são idosos. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar as percepções vivenciadas pelas cuidadoras informais, bem como o reconhecimento, por elas próprias, das sobrecargas que as afetam holisticamente - emocionais, físicas, financeiras -, e a importância de desenvolver estratégias de coping na formação sobre como melhor cuidar. As entrevistadas residem nas regiões Norte e Centro de Portugal e responderam ao inquérito adaptado do The Zarit Burden Interview. As entrevistas foram analisadas com o apoio do software NVivo 8. Os dados obtidos indicam que as cuidadoras informais enfrentam mais sobrecargas físicas e emocionais do que financeiras. No entanto, salientaram que, apesar das dificuldades, gostam de cuidar dos seus familiares. Quanto a serem convidadas para participarem de formações sobre como melhor cuidar, algumas confirmaram o interesse. Verificase que as cuidadoras informais são carentes de uma formação que as capacite a melhor cuidar prevenindo consequências danosas.