Le parole e i silenzi. Risignificare la terminalità dopo la fine

Journal title SALUTE E SOCIETÀ
Author/s Ana Cristina Vargas
Publishing Year 2015 Issue 2015/3
Language Italian Pages 15 P. 102-116 File size 304 KB
DOI 10.3280/SES2015-003009
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The author examines the transformations in the perception of medical care of caregivers after the loss, with particular attention to physician-patient and familypatient communication. There is a persistent discontinuity between oncological and palliative care, which leads to strong difficulties in communication and has a negative impact both during the disease, and after the loss. The "simultaneous care" model represents a good alternative to improve quality of life and to allow a better communication and gives the patient and his/her family, a possibility to prepare for the end. It’s argued that an open communication is also associated with an early activation of coping strategies in the family group and has a positive impact on the elaboration of mourning. In Italian families still prevails a communication model based on "not telling" strategies, nevertheless, silence can have different meanings and is not always a synonym of an absence of awareness. In this perspective, it is important to adopt a personalized communication model, in order to provide all the information the patient needs, respecting, if necessary, his desire of "not to know".

Keywords: Medical anthropology; end of life; bereavement narratives, grief; continuous care; communication.

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Ana Cristina Vargas, Le parole e i silenzi. Risignificare la terminalità dopo la fine in "SALUTE E SOCIETÀ" 3/2015, pp 102-116, DOI: 10.3280/SES2015-003009