SYMPTOM CONTROL IN PATIENTS UNDER ONCOLOGICAL PALLIATIVE CARE: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL VIEW

Abstract

Patients in oncology palliative care often experience disease processes that involve a high burden of diverse symptoms. A patient-centered approach is the best strategy for adapting approaches aimed at reducing the human suffering imposed by health conditions. This is a narrative literature review article whose objective was to systematize recent studies on symptom management in oncology palliative care. The guiding question was: What strategies are identified for symptom control and promoting quality of life in oncology palliative care patients? The search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, and LILACS, using the keywords: "palliative care" AND "symptom management" AND "quality of life" AND "oncology." The research took place in the first half of 2025, between April and July. The inclusion criteria were: articles in Portuguese, English and Spanish, from the last ten years on the topic. Sixteen articles were selected and subjected to content analysis to describe the main findings. It is noteworthy that appropriate symptom management in cancer patients undergoing palliative care is extremely important for ensuring quality of life, improving well-being, and reducing the suffering caused by the disease process. Despite the difficulty of gathering standardized information for this care, considering the multiple diseases, age groups, and diverse approaches to these patients, it is difficult to obtain. In this context, person-centered care, with both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to specific symptoms, is crucial, assessed early, preferably from a multidisciplinary, multimodal, and individualized perspective.