In 2006, the Ministry of Health created the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Therapies in the Unified Health System. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and acceptance of complementary and integrative therapies and pharmaceutical care by SUS users. The study was conducted in the pharmacy of a primary healthcare unit in São João da Mata city , Minas Gerais state, Brazil. A cross sectional study was performed qualitatively and quantitatively with three doctors and 35 service users. Of these, 100% did not know the complementary and integrative therapies. After clear and simple explanation by the researcher, 31.42% said they would accept the use of herbal medicine, 51.42% accepted acupuncture, 37.14% would use homeopathy and none would use crenotherapy. When asked about the pharmaceutical care, 45.71% said they had heard of this matter, 22.85% know what it is and 31.42% had never heard of it. When the three doctors who at the clinic were questioned, there was indifference, non-acceptance and acceptance, respectively. In conclusion, this study showed that the vast majority of respondents would accept the complementary and integrative therapies if they were offered by the health unit. In addition, users find important a greater role of the pharmacist. One need to implement outreach programs for patients and especially for prescribers of complementary and integrative practices.
pharmaceutical care; complementary and alternative medicines; acceptance
