Abstract
Aim: To identify eligible patients for palliative care and characterize the services involved in primary healthcare. Method: This was a descriptive and documental study conducted in 19 health units in a municipality in the countryside of Minas Gerais in Brazil. The Karnofsky performance scale was applied to the medical records of patients in the health sector with the largest number of eligible individuals. Results: We identified 2,715 eligible individuals, representing 3.59% of the registered population and 25.3% of patients in sector seven, which had the highest number of eligible individuals. Diabetes was the most common pathology, followed by cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, 17.2% of these individuals have required palliative care precociously; 9.7%, required exclusive care, and the elderly above 60 years constituted the highest number among those eligible. Discussion: The data confirmed the need for structuring the primary healthcare for early care in palliative care, especially for the elderly. Conclusion: It is necessary to structure a care network that is integrated and ordained by PHC and professional training.
