APPLICABILITY OF THE TRANSCULTURAL BONN PALLIATIVE CARE KNOWLEDGE TEST (BPW) SCALE IN ONCOLOGICAL INTENSIVE CARE

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the knowledge of nursing professionals regarding palliative care (PC), based on the Transcultural Bonn Palliative Care Knowledge Test (BPW) scale in an oncological intensive care unit (ICU); to identify the main challenges related to palliative care; and to discuss methods to strengthen knowledge about palliative care in oncological intensive care.

Method: Field research, descriptive and exploratory, with a qualitative approach, using a sociodemographic questionnaire and a validated attitude scale based on the knowledge of nursing professionals in palliative care through the transcultural adaptation scale (BPW), in addition to a semi-structured interview, analyzed using Bardin’s content analysis under the theoretical perspective of Cicely Saunders.

Results: A total of 72 nursing professionals from an oncological intensive care unit participated. The central theme that emerged was the challenges of palliative care in the oncological ICU, which supported three categories: knowledge of the nursing team about palliative care; practice of palliative care in the ICU; and palliative care in the professional training of health professionals.

Conclusion: It was possible to verify that the lack of knowledge about palliative care is still a very present reality in the studied setting. Challenges such as lack of dialogue among teams, shortage of spaces for discussion, and insufficient technical-scientific training are important points to be addressed. Therefore, strengthening actions that promote change, consolidate critical thinking, and foster transformations in care practice is recommended.