The person-environment relationship in the process of finitude

  • Myrlanne Alves da Costa University of Fortaleza
  • Renata Bezerra de Holanda University of Fortaleza
  • Cynthia de Freitas Melo University of Fortaleza
  • Karla Patrícia Martins Ferreira University of Fortaleza
  • Ana Cristina Eberhardt Lins University of Porto
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/psic.68246
Keywords: Psychology of health; environmental psychology; palliative care; intensive care units; home assistance service.

Abstract

Objective: To understand the relationship between caregivers and patients who are undergoing the process of finitude with the environment where they are during this process. Method: This is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research. According to the saturation criterion, there were 19 participants: 10 patients (5 in palliative care at home and 5 in curative care in Intensive Care Units - ICU) and 9 relatives of the respective patients. They responded to a narrative interview, which is characterized as an instrument that makes it possible to understand how the participant perceives and experiences the environment around her/him. For the analysis of the material, the interview was interpreted through textual analysis using the Iramuteq software. Results: The results indicated great adversities in the process of finitude in both environments: ICU and home; however, the family environment is seen as promoting quality of life and of death with dignity by patients, due to the support network offered by family and friends. Conclusion: the person-environment relationship in the process of finitude is characterized by affections and meanings, and needs to be taken into account as a facilitator of quality of life.

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Author Biographies

Myrlanne Alves da Costa, University of Fortaleza

University of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Renata Bezerra de Holanda, University of Fortaleza

University of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
 

Cynthia de Freitas Melo, University of Fortaleza

University of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Karla Patrícia Martins Ferreira, University of Fortaleza

University of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Ana Cristina Eberhardt Lins, University of Porto

Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

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Published
2020-03-09
How to Cite
Alves da Costa M., Bezerra de Holanda R., de Freitas Melo C., Martins Ferreira K. P. y Eberhardt Lins A. C. (2020). The person-environment relationship in the process of finitude. Psicooncología, 17(1), 131-148. https://doi.org/10.5209/psic.68246
Issue
Vol. 17 No. 1 (2020)
Section
Articles

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