The Perspective of PHC Professionals on Finitude: Personal and Professional Impacts of Death on Care Practice

Abstract

Life and death are natural processes of human existence, but coping with finitude remains challenging, especially for healthcare professionals. This study aimed to discuss the finitude of life with Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals, analyzing how they deal with this issue in their personal and professional lives. The qualitative research was conducted through four focus groups with 20 professionals from PHC. Content analysis allowed access to the subjectivities, experiences, and meanings attributed to death, revealing emotional, spiritual, and social aspects that permeate their personal and professional trajectories. It was observed that coping with death is permeated by ambivalent feelings, ranging from fear to acceptance, and that bonding with users can enhance both care and suffering. Violence in the region also emerged as a central element in the trivialization of death and its impact on the grieving process. Reflecting on death and finitude itself proved to be a possible path to improving care, highlighting the need to incorporate the topic of death into ongoing health training and education, especially in PHC, promoting spaces for listening, reflection, and support.