Cuidados paliativos e serviço social: velhas demandas, novos desafios para a atuação profissional

Abstract

The present study represents the critical reflective learning process for the conclusion of the Social Service course at the University of Caxias do Sul, through the elaboration of the Course Conclusion Work (TCC). Its theme is Palliative Care in public health services and Social Work, which was defined as a research problem: How does the work of social workers in the care of users in palliative care in health services? From the research problem, the following guiding questions were elaborated: I) What is the relationship between the history of care and the Health Policy in Brazil? II) What is palliative care and for whom is it intended? III) When does Social Work become part of the care of users in palliative care in health services in Brazil? IV) How has the work of social workers materialized with users in palliative care in health services? These questions were the basis for the formulation of the general research objective, which is: To understand the work of the social worker in the care of users in palliative care in health services. The critical dialectical method was used to answer the research problem and the guiding questions and, thus, reach the objectives. According to Konder (2008, p.7), "dialectics is the way we understand reality as essentially contradictory and in permanent transformation". In this sense, we highlight the categories of the critical dialectical method used in this research, namely: contradiction, historicity, mediation, totality, and work. For this study, we adopted a bibliographic and documental research, of exploratory nature, with a qualitative approach and based on the critical theoretical referential. As a reflection tool, we used content analysis. The relevance of this study lies in the possibility of stimulating debates about Palliative Care and of giving visibility to the work of social workers in the sense of making possible for users and their families, ccessibility to public policies, aiming at the guarantee of social rights and the exercise of citizenship. It is evident that the trajectory of health care in Brazil happened slowly and gradually, through the pressure of social movements, through the Sanitary Reform, until its materialization with the conception of the SUS. The insertion of Social Service in health, which according to the law of regularization of profession (1993), the social worker has attributions and technical competencies in the area of health, providing important instruments for the development of strategies to guide the professional practice. It was also possible to understand the history of Palliative Care worldwide and the importance of the professional social worker in multidisciplinary teams, since the issue of aging and chronic diseases in Brazil require assistance and intervention from different areas of health services at all levels, including home care, long-term care and palliative care. Idenfies that the social assistant, health professional, integrant part of the Palliative Care team, has an important function in the interventions carried out with the users and their families, as well as having a role and established competences. Emphasis is also given to critical reflection as to the findings of this study, as well as, the proposition of possible actions, the "creation of a specific policy with implementation of the National Palliative Care Policy, with funding guaranteed, integrated into the Health Care Network, as part of the Primary care via the Family Health Strategy". Also, "encourage Permanent Education Programs in Institutions that develop work with Palliative Care, with the goal intended to improve the professionals of health and motivate the preparation of researchers, with the attempt to strengthen the scientific bases of care". [resumo fornecido pelo autor]