Identification of patients referred to Palliative Care in the Brazilian Family Health Strategy: an exploratory study

Abstract Background Palliative Care (PC) aims to offer a better quality of life to patients with advanced stage diseases but there is few data about its application and requirements in the primary care. Thus, a screening method was performed to identify patients with need for PC in the Brazilian Family Health Strategy (ESF), to quantify how the number of patients in a Basic Health Unit (UBS) and to describe their clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. Methods ESF patients were screened by Palliative Care Screening Tool to identify the need for PC and a questionnaire was applied to obtain data. Results Screening method resulted in 24 patients included (0.73% of the ESF registered population), with average age of 76 years old. Chronic conditions were most frequent, especially due to stroke, cancer and dementia. Most patients required considerable assistance in daily activities, and the most usual support offered by UBS was drugs and technical orientation. We identified limitations in the received support from UBS. Conclusion There is no specific initiative to offer PC in the ESF despite some patients’ needs, with high level of functional incapacity. The specific polices to support the PC application in primary care are limited.