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Significado da intervenção médica e da fé religiosa para o paciente idoso com câncer The meaning of medical intervention and religious faith for the elderly cancer patient

ARTIGO ARTICLE

Jorge Juarez Vieira Teixeira 1 Fernando Lefèvre 2

Centro de Ciências Médicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná. Rua Universitária 1619, Jardim Universitário. 85819-110 Cascavel PR. [e-mail] 2 Departamento de Prática de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, USP.
1

Abstract This study aimed at identifying the meaning medical intervention and religious faith have for the elderly patient with cancer. A descriptive and qualitative investigation was developed between January 9 and March 28, 2001 in the Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual - Francisco Morato de Oliveira/IAMSPE (Hospital for State Public Servants). The studied sample was not randomized and consisted of 20 elderly men and women with cancer. The data were collected in semi-structured interviews and organized and analyzed using the Collective Subject Discourse method, applying three methodological illustrations: the Central Idea, Key Expressions and the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD). The main central ideas of the discourse material were: 1. Nothing to complain about. I think it is very good and they are on the right track; 2. No. For now, I’m doing everything the doctors say; 3. I’ve already participated, but not currently; 4. I don’t participate in religious activity; 5. Invigoration, hope and balance. Religious faith is everything! 6. It remains the same; however, it changed the way to be. The CSD shows that the adopted medical intervention gave the elderly renewed hope and that religious faith is a key instrument for facing the disease. Key words Medical intervention, Religious faith, Cancer, Elderly, Qualitative research

Resumo Neste estudo, procurou-se identificar o significado da intervenção médica e da fé religiosa para o paciente idoso com câncer.