Training of primary health care professionals: a path for promoting phytotherapy

• Autor(a) principal: Zeni, Ana Lúcia Bertarello
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Galvão, Tereza Cristina Léo, Sasse, Otto Rodolfo
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Baiana de Saúde Pública (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://rbsp.sesab.ba.gov.br/index.php/rbsp/article/view/3424
• topic: Fitoterapia; Plantas medicinais; Terapias complementares; Atenção primária à saúde; Fitoterapia; Plantas medicinales; Terapias complementarias; Atención primaria de salud; Phytotherapy; Medicinal plants; Complementary therapies; Primary health care

Use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines is a practice contemplated in the National Policy of Integrative and Complementary Practices (PNPIC), launched by the Ministry of Health (MS). Hence, this study sought to implement integrative and complementary practices involving medicinal plants and herbal medicines at a Primary Care (PC) unit in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil. A quantitative and qualitative action research involving educational actions was conducted with 27 professionals from different categories. A training was held on the topic with theoretical/practical content, matrix support, and project workshop. Additionally, participants answered three questionnaires and participated in an interview. Photographic records were taken. Professionals reported making use of medicinal plants (69%), prescribing or suggesting their use in PC (72.4%), and knowing the PNPIC prior to training (65.9%). A total of 76% knew about the National Policy of Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicines (PNPMF) and 90% reported that patients are interested in this practice. However, of 29 reference drugs mentioned for difficult-to-treat illnesses, only two were herbal medicines, devil’s claw and valerian. The project workshop allowed to implement this practice in PC daily routine. This experience highlighted difficulties such as high service demand, complexity of this practice, need for financial support, and revision of the Municipal List of Essential Medicines (REMUME). In turn, management support, medicinal gardens, and community participation were identified as facilitators. Intersectoral training should continue and involve managers and the community through projects. Medicinal plants and herbal medicines used to manage difficult-to-treat illnesses, depression, anxiety, diabetes and hypertension should be the guiding theme.