Integrative and complementary practices: interest of the academic community and challenges of medical education

Abstract

Introduction: Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) encompass therapeutic resources of complex medical systems from different medical rationalities. This field of practice has gained greater visibility in recent times, with the increase in demand for health care that prioritizes a more comprehensive approach of human beings, encouraging the health professionals themselves to seek better training. Objective: To evaluate the interest, the degree of knowledge and the attitude of students and teachers of the medical course towards the TCAM and the challenges for their effective teaching. Method: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach, which was carried out with 214 individuals, 21 of which were teachers and 193 students attending the first to the twelfth semesters of the medical course at a health education institution in Recife-PE. An online survey was used to assess the study participants regarding their learning sources and the level of interest on this topic, as well as the Portuguese version of the Integrative Medicine Attitude Questionnaire (IMAQ). The data were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis (frequency and percentage), using software R, version 3.4.3. and LibreOffice. Result: Among the study participants, 57.14% of teachers and 35.42% of students were aware of the Nacional TCAM Policy (PNPIC, Política Nacional de Práticas Integrativas e Complementares), 85.71% of the teachers and 91.7% of students considered TCAM to be crucial for Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Most considered the teaching of TCAM an important subject for the undergraduate medical course (90.48% of teachers and 89.58% of students). The best known practices were yoga, phytotherapy and TCM/acupuncture and there was greater interest to learn yoga and TCM/acupuncture. Conclusion: A large number of students and teachers have never had contact with TCAM. However, most are willing to recommend them to patients and family members and are willing to learn about the topic. Thus, it is recommended that more studies be performed on this topic and that it can corroborate for their inclusion in health courses’ curriculum.