Humanized care at the end of life. Systematic review

Maffare M.V.; Rosa Ferrera J.M.D.; Orobio M.L.O.; Meneses-La-Riva M.E.; Morales-García W.C.; Cabanillas-Chávez M.T. · Temperamentvm (2025) · DOI: 10.58807/temperamentvm20257656

Resumen

Objective: To examine the current scientific evidence related to humanistic nursing care at the end of life. Methodology: This study is a narrative review, based on a search of major databases such as SCOPUS, SciELO, PUBMED, and Cuiden. The search included articles published between 2018 and 2022, using keywords such as humanized care, critical patients, and palliative care, in both English and Spanish. A total of 328 articles related to humanized care were initially identified; however, after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 26 studies were selected for analysis. Main Results: The findings show that promoting humanized care in critically ill patients is a complex task, particularly in terms of communication, due to the patients' specific conditions. Palliative care must be delivered in a humanized manner, although this process can have emotional and psychological impacts on the healthcare personnel providing. Conclusions: Humanized nursing care at the end of life represents a significant challenge, as the traditional paradigm of care focuses on preserving life. In contrast, end-of-life care does not aim to cure but rather to accompany the patient and provide comfort, which may conflict with the usual objectives of nursing care.

Instituciones: Universidad César Vallejo; Universidad Peruana Unión