RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Despite an increase in use of pediatric complementary and integrative health (PCIH), many healthcare professionals still have an inadequate understanding of such practices and consider their use inappropriate, which might thwart implementation processes. In a qualitative interview study we examined the feedback of conventional healthcare professionals about the integrative practices provided to pediatric patients by an integrative team in a pediatric oncological hospital. METHODS: Fifteen semi-structured interviews were carried out with various conventional healthcare professionals in an university pediatric hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and pseudonymized. DSCsoft® and MAXQDA® software assisted in a profound qualitative analysis using the collective subject discourse and thematic analysis method in order to display participants' perspectives on PCIH and the project in their hospital. RESULTS: Interviewees acknowledged their lack of knowledge about PCIH practices and reflected on the limits of their care as well as on new possibilities PCIH could offer. PCIH was perceived by interviewees as an effective supportive tool of care to promote patients' wellbeing, assist overall compliance, strengthen cooperation between professionals, children and their relatives and hence facilitated general patient care. Since PCIH was implemented in their clinic, perceptions led interviewees to wish for increased PCIH offering and a more profound integration of its therapists into the standard of care. DISCUSSION: The coexistence of integrative and conventional practices in the conventional healthcare setting is important to give visibility to the possibilities offered by the integrative pediatrics field. Regular and constant encounters with integrative practices, as well as information access seem crucial to reach a wider openness for PCIH and subsequently a broader application and dissemination of it.
Asunto(s)
Terapias Complementarias , Medicina Integrativa , Humanos , Niño , Terapias Complementarias/métodos , Brasil , Hospitales Pediátricos , Universidades , Medicina Integrativa/métodos , Investigación CualitativaRESUMEN
Introduction: This article examines the feedback of health care providers within the implementation of an integrative care project in a clinic for pediatric oncology in São Paulo, Brazil. Since 2017, the project has implemented external anthroposophic therapies in the activities of daily nursing. The objective is to evaluate how the project evolved and what impact it had on the daily operation of the hospital. A special focus emphasizes the perspective of study nurses. Materials and Methods: Twelve qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted. Audio files were transcribed, translated to German, and underwent a MAXQDA software-assisted analysis. Using a thematic approach, coherent cross-case topics were defined. Results: Three main topics emerged from analysis of the data. (1) The implementation and its effects on daily patient care demonstrated positive outcomes in patients and were well accepted with minimal changes in daily activities. (2) The perspective of study nurses showed a large motivation due to beneficial and stress-relieving effects of the application and a growing patient-health care provider relationship. (3) Problems and aspirations for improvement were the lack of time and the urge to make the project grow in the future. Conclusion: Not only patients but also health care providers seem to benefit from integrative methods. They have the potential to improve the working atmosphere and to strengthen relations between patients, caregivers, and family members. General feedback was positive and acceptance in the team arose over time when beneficial effects became visible.