Auriculoterapia com laser de baixa intensidade no manejo da dor em feridas

Abstract

Introduction: The term “wounds” can be defined as changes that compromise the integrity of the skin, impairing its function. Some wounds, such as those considered difficult to heal, are characterized by acute or chronic pain, which is usually associated with tissue damage and causes prolonged suffering to the individual. Considering pain to be an unpleasant process for the individual and even though pharmacological measures are not always effective in completely relieving pain, non-pharmacological methods are considered a complementary possibility in pain management. Auriculotherapy (AT) is an Integrative and Complementary Health Practice (PICS), based on centuries-old knowledge that stimulates auricular points as a form of treatment, with pain relief being one of the therapeutic possibilities. Objective: To evaluate the effect of low-intensity laser auriculotherapy in individuals with wound pain. Method: This is a case series study conducted at the wound clinic of a public nursing college at a university in the interior of Minas Gerais. It is a quantitative-qualitative study, using a socio-demographic questionnaire and a pain score, in addition to an open, semi-structured question about the therapy used. Auriculotherapy was performed for 5 weeks. The participants were contacted by the researchers during their visits to the clinic, and sociodemographic data related to the wound, quality of life, and weekly pain immediately before and after auriculotherapy were recorded using the Visual Analog Scale. In addition, the researcher used a field diary to record participants' statements and behavioral changes during the sessions. Quantitative data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, using measures of central tendency and dispersion to compare pain levels before and after the auriculotherapy intervention. Qualitative data analysis was performed using the thematic content analysis technique. Results: Four women and two men, aged between 38 and 72 years, participated in the study. All wounds were located on the lower limbs, with venous ulcers being the main etiology found. Most individuals experienced improvement in pain levels, as well as reduced stress and improved sleep quality. Final considerations: This study identified that auriculotherapy can promote a reduction in pain levels and improvements in aspects related to quality of life, such as decreased stress and improved sleep and gait, and has no effect on bowel habits. However, the results were not homogeneous, as some did not notice a difference in pain levels. Thus, due to the sample size and follow-up time, it was not possible to generalize the results found.