Motivação dos usuários para o uso de auriculoterapia na atenção primária a saúde

Abstract

Integrative and Complementary Practices constitute a set of care practices based on humanized care, widely used in the world, recognizing the need for its regulation and expansion mainly in primary care, as they can contribute to ensuring access to health. Worldwide, there is an increasing increase in the search for alternative health care practices, as opart to the biomedical model, motivated by different factors, which are still little known. Auriculotherapy is one of the integrative practices offered in Brazil, being a technique of Traditional Chinese Medicine little invasive and with good acceptance. This study aimed to know the motivations for the participation and permanence of users in an auriculotherapy group of a Basic Health Unit in the municipality of Fraiburgo-SC. The present study used an initial approach of Community-Based Participatory Research (PPBC), a qualitative research approach, based on the theoretical references of Action Research, by Kurt Lewin and on the foundations of Paulo Freire's liberating education. The method is structured in steps, with a dynamic character, allowing exchanges and mutual collaboration with the community. The first step consisted in presenting the intervention proposal to the participants of the auriculotherapy group during their activities, emphasizing the significance and potentialities of the group. With the advance of the Covid -19 pandemic there were some delays in the research, and the interviews were conducted after the reduction of cases in October 2021. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted in person, with 16 participants, being recorded and respecting the distance between interviewee and interviewer, use of mask and adequate hygiene of the environment with alcohol 70 %. It was approved by the ethics committee under opinion number 4,130,997 and CAAE 32810720.0.0000.5316. Data analysis was of conventional content type. The results were grouped into four categories called: Motives related to physical complaints such as pain; Motives related to emotional complaints; Reasons related to promotion and prevention, generate well-being or prevent diseases, Motives linked to social interaction. It was observed that 14 participants presented motives related to physical complaints related to the presence of pain, mostly osteomyoarticular, followed by emotional complaints, represented by 12 participants, such as anxiety, depression and sleep disorders. Reasons associated with prevention and health promotion, such as reducing the number of medications or referral from third parties to improve their health were reported by 12 participants. It was also observed that 8 of the participants listed reasons related to social interaction, usually associated with motivation to stay in the group. The study suggests that people seek alternative therapies and appropriate them as a care beyond the conventional, to help minimize undesirable effects and improve quality of life.