OBJECTIVE: Characterize the profile of patients under palliative care at this institution and evaluate the prevalence of depression in these patients. METHODS: Sixty two cancer patients under palliative care, who had answered three questionnaires: one regarding their demographic characteristics, another to evaluate their quality of life and the Beck's depression inventory were surveyed. RESULTS: Of these patients, 68% presented with some degree of depression. Most of them were aware of their diagnosis (87.1%), did not talk to their physicians on other subjects but their disease (81.18%), were satisfied with their treatment (93.33%) and with the support they received (95.70%). Pain, fatigue, weakness and sleep disturbances were the most frequently reported symptoms. There was a significant correlation between presence of depression and not knowing the diagnosis (p=0.008), being admitted to the hospital (p=0.0019) and not having ever received oncologic treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients under palliative care at this institution, despite being satisfied with the treatment, reported poor communication with their physicians and presented with a high rate of depression. Awareness of their diagnosis and having received prior oncologic treatment (p=0.07) correlated significantly and inversely with having depression.
Cancer; Palliative care; Depression; Quality of life
