Trabalhadores da atenção primária à saúde e as práticas integrativas e complementares – do uso à indicação

Abstract

Introduction: Integrative and Complementary Practices (ICP) are characterized by systems and therapeutic resources that involve approaches that seek to stimulate the natural mechanisms of disease prevention and recovery of health through effective and safe technologies, with an emphasis on welcoming listening, the development of therapeutic relationship and the integration of the human being with the environment and society. The National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices contemplates five ICP: Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy, Homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine -Acupuncture, Thermalisme-Crenotherapy and Anthroposophical Medicine. Objectives: To determine the frequency of use and indication of ICPin Primary Health Care (PHC) by health care professionals and identify the factors associated with their use and indication. Methods: Cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach of descriptive exploratory type. The subjects of this study were all health professionals from the Primary Health Care Units (PHCU) Santos Dumont (N = 85). The inclusion criteria to participate in the surveywere: work in one of the PHCUof the city. Exclusion criteria were workers who were on vacation or leave for the entire period of data collect.To collect data we used semi-structured questionnaire. Four outcome variables were defined for each ICP: 1) Do you know ICP; 2) Use of ICP; 3) Indication of ICPto family and friends; 4) ICPindication to the population served in the PHCU. Descriptive analysis was done through absolute frequencies and percentages of the variables involved in the study. In the bivariate analysis outcomes were associated with sociodemographic variables. It was considered significant association between variables when p <0.05 according to Fisher's exact test. Results: Study composed mainly: by female health professionals (72.9%) with mean age of 37.5 years, married or cohabitating (45.9%), white (51.8%), Catholics (72.9%), with monthly income of one to four minimum salaries (58.8%), with schooling above that required for the position held (78%) belonging to the professional category Community Health Agent (55.3 %). The best known ICP (96.5%), used to own treatment (79.3%),indicated to friends and family (65.9%) and indicated the population served in the UAPS(41.5%) was Medicinal PlantsandPhytotherapy. This being the only accepted practice for deployment in PHCUby all professionals. Medicinal plants and Phytotherapy was also the practice of most interest in learning among participants (69.4%) and the only ICPwhose most professionals indicated to the population at a frequency of threetimes or more in the last six months (64.7%). The indication of ICPfor the population served in the PHCUwas lower compared with the statement to friends and family. Final Thoughts: Our results suggest that there is awareness of the social movement for the appreciation new of some ICP, especially medicinal plants. Suggest an overhaul of the current curriculum in health training that addresses the teaching of the fundamental aspects of these practices, training of professionals already formed and also the new studies that seek to strengthen this research.