A relevância da assistência humanizada na atenção a indivíduos em longa permanência hospitalar

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The hospital environment is often marked by the mechanization of care, where patients can be reduced to medical record numbers. Long-term patients face physical and emotional vulnerabilities, making humanized care essential, valuing empathy, active listening, and clear communication to minimize their suffering and anxiety and ensure quality of care. Objective: To analyze the importance of humanized care for long-term patients, identifying improvements in the quality of care. METHODOLOGY: A narrative literature review was conducted in the electronic databases SciELO and BVS, using the descriptors: "humanization of care" and "nursing care," following the PICO strategy. Studies in Portuguese, published between 2015 and 2025, with a qualitative or mixed approach, were selected, resulting in a final sample of 15 articles. RESULTS: 795 articles were identified, of which 15 were analyzed. The review showed that humanized care during long-term stays is associated with greater patient satisfaction and better quality of care, including relief from distress and strengthening of the therapeutic bond. DISCUSSION: The findings reinforce that humanizing nursing care requires ethical sensitivity and attention to the patient's emotional dimensions. Significant barriers were identified, such as work overload, excessive emphasis on technology, and lack of continuing education. Conversely, facilitating practices such as welcoming, clear communication, family integration, and therapeutic interventions such as music therapy were highlighted. Traditional nursing values and the active participation of the family are fundamental for welcoming care. However, the full practice of humanization demands training and management policies that balance technology and human care. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the humanization of care in prolonged hospitalizations is crucial, and its effectiveness depends on institutional support, such as continuous training, to break with the current mechanistic model and ensure more dignified and patient-centered care.