Banca de DEFESA: THIAGO DUARTE NOBREGA DE PAIVA

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : THIAGO DUARTE NOBREGA DE PAIVA
DATE: 29/04/2025
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Sala Pedro Germano - 5º Subsolo - HUOL
TITLE:

"Magical herbs from the backyard (to the consulting room): the teaching of phytotherapy in medical education and its applicability in primary health care."

KEY WORDS:

Phytotherapy; Primary Health Care; Residency; Family Practice

PAGES: 124
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Medicina
SUMMARY:

Introduction: Phytotherapy is a therapeutic practice that utilizes medicinal plants for the prevention and treatment of various health conditions. In Brazil, this approach is strongly influenced by traditional Indigenous, African, and European medicine and is widely used in primary healthcare. Due to its rich biodiversity, Brazil has significant potential for developing herbal medicines, which are regulated by ANVISA and are part of the National Policy on Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicines, integrating into the Unified Health System (SUS) as a complementary alternative to conventional treatment. Despite Brazil’s structural inclination towards phytotherapy, as recommended by the United Nations since the 1970s, the formal teaching of phytotherapy is not well developed in medical undergraduate programs or in Family and Community Medicine Residency Programs. This study aims to analyze the training offered in the Family and Community Medicine Residency Program at Onofre Lopes University Hospital (PRMFC/HUOL) regarding knowledge of phytotherapy, as well as to understand the knowledge of resident physicians in Primary Healthcare regarding phytotherapy (its uses, principles, and applicability). Methodology: This is an exploratory, observational, cross-sectional study based on Michel Foucault’s Theory of Power Relations. The study highlights the importance of phytotherapy and its applicability in healthcare practices within Primary Healthcare, emphasizing the need for better medical training in Family and Community Medicine. This qualitative case study was conducted with residents of the Family and Community Medicine Residency Program at Onofre Lopes University Hospital (PRMFC/HUOL) who were enrolled in the residency program in 2024. The choice of this residency program was based on the fact that residents in this specialty have direct contact with populations that most frequently use medicinal herbs and other therapeutic plants. This study represents a new perspective on phytotherapy and medical education. It allows an exploration, through discourse analysis of the residents, of key aspects of phytotherapy, as well as the challenges related to its use in Primary Healthcare and the power dynamics involved. The research corpus consists of 31 minutes and 14 seconds of transcribed discussions from a Focus Group held on April 10, 2024, at the Department of Collective Health at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Central Campus, in Natal/RN. A total of 11 (eleven) residents from the Family and Community Medicine Residency Program at HUOL/UFRN participated. Results and Discussion: Among the participating residents, 07 (seven / 63.64%) were male, and 04 (four / 36.36%) were female. Regarding the Family Health Units (USFs) where the residents are assigned, all units are located in the municipality of Parnamirim/RN, where HUOL/UFRN has implemented the Family and Community Medicine Residency Program. No residents who attended the scheduled residency activity on the study date were excluded. There were no refusals or exclusion criteria. For data analysis, five categories were established, reflecting the main perspectives on medical training and phytotherapy. The study revealed that some Brazilian public policies include the use of medicinal plants in line with the United Nations' recommendations for Primary Healthcare. The findings also indicate that the population in the studied areas, despite economic hardship, demonstrates strong adherence to herbal treatments. However, medical professionals do not receive adequate training on the subject during medical school or residency, creating a gap between the population’s needs and the therapeutic options offered. Conclusions: The use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines in Brazil is deeply rooted in popular culture and traditional medicine. However, current medical education does not adequately prepare professionals to guide patients on phytotherapy in Primary Healthcare. The study identified gaps in phytotherapy education both in medical undergraduate programs and in the Family and Community Medicine Residency Program. Physicians often rely on informal research to compensate for this lack of knowledge. As a result, many professionals choose not to engage in therapeutic practices they are unfamiliar with, limiting treatment opportunities for patients. Incorporating phytotherapy into medical education would contribute to safer and more effective patient care, aligning with national guidelines on integrative and complementary practices and meeting the growing demand from the population.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 2644228 - SIMONE DA NOBREGA TOMAZ MOREIRA
Externo ao Programa - 1576805 - THIAGO GOMES DA TRINDADE - UFRNExterna à Instituição - CAMILA PRISCILA ABDIAS DO NASCIMENTO - UnP