Vivência de familiares de crianças com condições crônicas e o uso de práticas integrativas e complementares em saúde

Abstract

Complex chronic conditions usually have no cure and require permanent specialized care. Children with complex chronic conditions, by law, have the right to a full-time companion. This unpaid task can be quite stressful for the family, affecting their daily functioning and financial situation. Due to work overload, family members suffer physical and mental changes that require attention. In this way, the possibility of using Integrative and Complementary Health Practices to improve the quality of life of these individuals arises. This study aims to reveal experiences with Integrative and Complementary Health Practices of family caregivers of children with complex chronic conditions. This is a descriptive-exploratory study with a qualitative approach. To produce data, a semi-structured interview was carried out, using NVivo software to organize data and analyze data from the perspective of Content Analysis. This study respected ethical aspects and was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. The total number of participants reached 16 family members, mostly women, of black ethnicity and with low education. These participants indicated a lack of prior familiarity with integrative and complementary practices. The application of auriculotherapy, foot reflexology and massage has brought notable benefits, such as reducing stress and relieving physical and emotional pain. These benefits contributed to the well-being of family members, positively influencing the quality of care offered to children. However, it is worth highlighting challenges in the integration of integrative and complementary practices, such as the lack of knowledge on the topic, cultural resistance, lack of professional training and inadequacies in financing in the hospital context. The beneficial impact of integrative and complementary practices on family caregivers during the hospitalization period stands out, highlighting the importance of these approaches as a valuable complement to conventional care. This comprehensive vision can guide future health actions and policies, aiming to improve the quality of family-centered care.