The Invisibility of Integrative and Complementary Practices in Primary Healthcare

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Integrative and Complementary Practices (ICPs) are under-recognized in Primary Care settings.
• The implementation of ICPs within the Unified Health System faces challenges, leading to their oversight.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factors contributing to the public invisibility of Integrative and Complementary Practices in Primary Care.
• To understand the impact of this invisibility on healthcare professionals and service delivery.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, exploratory, qualitative research design was employed.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 healthcare professionals in the Metropolitan Region of Goiânia.
• Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the interview data.

Main Results:

• Key factors contributing to invisibility include infrequent team meeting discussions, inconsistent documentation in user records, and low implementation priority.
• Healthcare professionals experience social humiliation, overload, and lack of resources due to the public invisibility of ICPs.
• Lack of dedicated physical space further hinders the provision of these practices.

Conclusions:

• Integrative and Complementary Practices are frequently overlooked within the Primary Care setting.
• Addressing the public invisibility of ICPs is crucial for effective healthcare delivery and professional well-being.