Abstract
This study was carried out using a questionnaire to identify the knowledge of and belief in integrative and complementary practices and the National Integrative and Complementary Practices Policy. Taking part were 118 health professionals, all college graduates and working in the Health System in three Brazilian municipalities, in 2014. Descriptive and two-step cluster analyses followed. Most professionals have partial knowledge on complementary and integrative practices; they consider acupuncture and herbal medicine more efficient; they do not know anthroposophy and hydrotherapy; they believe less in homeopathy; they are unaware of the national policy on complementary and integrative practices; they consider that they did not get their knowledge during their undergraduate course, rather mainly by reading and family experience; they believe that these practices should be included in the undergraduate course, and that they are important for the profession and for the service. The cluster analysis allowed for identifying two groups that stood out insofar as knowledge and beliefs are concerned. We conclude that there is little knowledge about and little credibility in complementary and integrative practices, as well as little knowledge of the National Policy on Complementary and Integrative Practices.
Keywords
complementary and integrative practices; health professionals; knowledge; credibility