Clinical and epidemiological profile of oncological patients undergoing palliative care in a hospital in the South of Santa Catarina

According to the redefinition of the World Health Organization, “palliative care promotes a better quality of life in patients with diseases that threaten the continuity of life, through the assistance of a transdisciplinary team, to generate improvements in the quality of life of patients and their families”. Palliative care proposes changing the way of approaching the patient, shifting the focus on the disease to patient care, making active participation in decision-making, according to the patient's wishes. The study aimed to understand the clinical and epidemiological profile of cancer patients receiving palliative care in the south of Santa Catarina. A cross-sectional study was carried out, collecting secondary data through medical records, from January to December 2022. 150 patients were included in the research, with the highest prevalence age between 61 and 70 years (30.7%), 92.7% white, 52.7% married or in a stable union, 86% Christian and 66.7% with complete or incomplete primary education. The most common neoplasm was of the gastrointestinal tract (36%). More than half of the patients had metastases (76%). The main stage found was IV (39.3%). Furthermore, 50% of patients were included in the palliative care program for less than 30 days. The data from this study are like data previously described in the literature. It is essential to know the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients to better serve them and generate a better quality of life for the patient and their family.