Impacts of integrative and complementary practices on the health of chronic patients

ABSTRACT

The inclusion of integrative and complementary practices in public health services has been gradual and slow, about 10 years ago. This study aims to contribute to the expansion of knowledge about integrative practices, with the main objective of presenting the impacts of reiki and foot reflexology on the health of chronic patients attended at a center specialized in endocrinopathies, located in Salvador (BA). This is a cross-sectional retrospective observational study, that used records in medical records. From the data analysis, apparent impacts of complementary therapies on the relief of psychological, emotional and physical symptoms, such as anxiety, stress and body aches, were observed.

KEYWORDS
Complementary therapies; Public health; Endocrine system diseases