Acupuntura para pacientes oncológicos ambulatoriais: um cuidado espiritual de enfermagem

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer has been considered a global public health care issue. Control strategies have been developed, including palliative care, which endorse spiritual assistance to minimize the spiritual pain commonly experienced by the patients. Acupuncture has been utilized in such context presenting good results in the control of physical and emotional discomfort, although there is no research demonstrating its direct action over the spiritual dimension. This therapy finds accession among nursing professionals and theoretical support by means of the transpersonal care theory by Jean Watson. The author proposes the redemption of caring as a sacred practice and proposes the use of such technology to reach that goal. Influenced by the transpersonal psychology by Ken Wilber, spiritual care in this perspective consists on stimulating the consciential development towards a greater awareness level; the transcendental, as a form of promoting the full realization of the human being, that is, the integral harmony. Objectives: Identifying the development of the spiritual elements in oncologic patients in ambulatory treatment subjected to acupuncture, according to the transpersonal theory by Jean Watson and Ken Wilber and assessing the action of acupuncture over these patients’ spiritual dimension as a complementary practice to conventional treatment, highlighting the nursing care. Methodology: Investigation of qualitative nature, with exploratory approach. The setting was a philanthropic institution specialized in cancer treatment at a municipality in Minas Gerais. Data gathering took place at the radiotherapy ambulatory from August to October of 2013. Thirteen female patients took part in the study, with ages ranging from 41 to 75 years, and diagnostic period from one month to five years. They had ten acupuncture sessions, three times a week and thirty minutes each. Mental and spiritual aspects were toned by means of needle punctures (B42, B44, B47, B49 e B52). The data collected by means of semi structured interview developed before the ten sessions and after they had finished. Data gathering took place after approval by the Ethics Committee of Research with Human Beings – Brazil Platform. Results: The data was analyzed by means of Bardin’s content analysis and divided into three categories. In the first one “Living transformative experiences”, most of the interviewees related moments of profound peace and relaxation, beyond the remission of physical discomforts. In the second category “Rediscovering: a new form of ‘Being’”, the statements pointed to new possibilities of ‘Being’ as acceptance, forgiveness and adaptation. In the third one “Awareness of ‘Self’: magnifying the vision” we identified the immersion of elements like clarity, harmony, discernment, strength and courage. Conclusion: Acupuncture acted over the spiritual dimension by relieving the spiritual pain and presented itself as a possible technology in amplifying care. The results found made it possible to reflect and new considerations which point towards the possibility of the present research be explored and set in motion new perspectives.