The experience and self-care of physicians in the face of a patient's death
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22421/1517-7130/es.2025v26.e1093Keywords:
Self-care, Physicians, DeathAbstract
The practice of medicine is shaped by various situations that create internal conflicts for professionals, one of which is death. Although it is an inherent event in human existence, physicians are often profoundly impacted by this experience, influenced by the cultural context surrounding it. This study presents an integrative review aimed at exploring how physicians react to the death of a patient and investigating the strategies they use for self-care in these scenarios. Based on the results, three main categories were identified for discussion: challenges in dealing with the process of death, different contexts of death, and coping mechanisms for grief. These experiences are directly influenced by their emotional, sociocultural, and professional perspectives, which lead to the adoption of diverse grief coping strategies. Finally, the article emphasizes the need for more appropriate training in addressing the experience of death and in promoting self-care in the face of such events.
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