Palliative care: dignity, frailty, and functionality in comfort feeding

Authors

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between dignity, frailty, and functionality in palliative care patients
prescribed for comfort feeding. A cross-sectional, exploratory, and quantitative study was conducted with
20 hospitalized patients undergoing comfort feeding. Data collection included the application of the Brazilian
version of the Patient Dignity Inventory, medical records data, and the use of the Palliative Performance
Scale and the Clinical Frailty Scale, both adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. The results indicate that when
symptoms are controlled, the perception of dignity protection increases; conversely, greater symptom
burden and increased dependence lead to elevated existential suffering and diminished perception
of dignity. The assessment of frailty, functionality, and dignity preservation can support the planning
of care focused on patients’ biographical aspects, with comfort feeding being crucial in this process.

Keywords:

Palliative care, Frailty, Functional status, Feeding, Comfort care, Dignity

Author Biographies

Marcia Caetano da Costa, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Assis/SP, Brasil.

Marcia Caetano da Costa – Mestre – caetano.costa@unesp.br
0000-0001-7408-3273

Maria Eliana Madalozzo Schieferdecker, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba/PR, Brasil.

Maria Eliana Madalozzo Schieferdecker – Doutora – meliana@ufpr.br
0000-0002-9400-3717

Mariele Rodrigues Correa, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Assis/SP, Brasil.

Mariele Rodrigues Correa – Doutora – mariele.correa@unesp.br
0000-0002-7050-4971

Marianna Rodrigues Beltrão, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba/PR, Brasil.

Marianna Rodrigues Beltrão – Especialista – beltraomarianna@gmail.com
0000-0003-2347-9109

Carla Corradi-Perini, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba/PR, Brasil.

Carla Corradi-Perini – Doutora – carla.corradi@pucpr.br
0000-0002-9340-8704

Vol. 33 (2025): Continued publication

Published:

2025-12-16

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-803420253986PT

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How to Cite

1.
Caetano da Costa M, Madalozzo Schieferdecker ME, Rodrigues Correa M, Rodrigues Beltrão M, Corradi-Perini C. Palliative care: dignity, frailty, and functionality in comfort feeding. Rev. Bioét. [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 16 [cited 2026 May 8];33. Available from: https://revistabioetica.cfm.org.br/revista_bioetica/article/view/3986

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