Abstract

WITTMANN-VIEIRA, Rosmari  and  GOLDIM, José Roberto. Bioethics and palliative care: decision making and quality of life. Acta paul. enferm. [online]. 2012, vol.25, n.3, pp. 334-339. ISSN 0103-2100.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-21002012000300003.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the decision-making process and quality of life of adult oncology patients, hospitalized in a palliative care unit. METHODS: A cross-sectional study, conducted over 12 months, which included 89 patients who agreed to participate by responding to the Psychological-Moral Development, WHOQOL-OLD and WHOQOL-BREF instruments. RESULTS: In evaluating the Psychological-Moral Development instrument, patients demonstrated a capacity for making decisions in their best interest. In the domains of WHOQOL-OLD, the social participation had the lowest mean, and intimacy had the best. In terms of application of the domains of the WHOQOL-BREF instrument, the physical domain had the lowest mean, while the environment had he best performance. CONCLUSION: Patients demonstrated satisfaction with the capacity to establish social relationships, personal and intimate, even while hospitalized.

Keywords : Bioethics; Quality of life; Decision making; Palliative care; Vulnerable populations.