Abstract

AGUIRRE-BRAVO, Ángela Natalia  and  SAMPALLO-PEDROZA, Rosa. Phonoaudiology in palliative care. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2015, vol.63, n.2, pp.289-300. ISSN 0120-0011.  https://doi.org/10.15446/revfacmed.v63n2.48539.

Palliative care (PC) can be applied since the moment a potentially life-threatening illness is diagnosed, during its progression and in the final stages of life. To ensure quality of life for a terminally ill patient and their family, physical, emotional and spiritual care are provided; hence, it can be deduced that the PC are not only applied when a curative treatment has an unfavorable effect and/or in the agony stage of the patient. With the purpose of documenting, describing, and characterizing the role of the speech-language pathologist in PC, a narrative literature review was conducted by means of specialized databases, books, management guidelines, and websites of institutions and organizations worldwide recognized in PC, speech-language therapy, craniofacial pain, cancer, and chronic illnesses, among others. With the information obtained, it was possible to make a theoretical contextualization, identify the situation in Colombia and determine the role of the speech therapist in communication, craniofacial pain and dysphagia. It was concluded that there is little information that would determine the role of the speech-language pathologist in PC, despite the report on the importance of their professional work in this area. Furthermore, all of their professional activities are aligned with the guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the quest for care that guarantees a good life during the final days.

Keywords : Palliative care; Dysphagia; Pain; Quality of life; Speech-language pathology.

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