Phytotherapy in the Family and Community Medicine Residency Program in Paraná, Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Phytotherapy, as a therapeutic method, uses medicinal plants and their derivatives for the treatment of diseases. The aim of this study is to know how Phytotherapy is conceived as a medical practice among Family and Community Medicine residents in training.
 Materials and Methods: This research is exploratory and descriptive. The study was conducted in quantitative and qualitative phases, starting with a cross-sectional research design based on an online questionnaire, followed by a qualitative phase, based on Social Representations, using Free Lexical Evocation. This study sample consisted of 46 Family and Community Medicine residents. They were invited to participate in the research through groups in message applications.
 Results and Discussion: The gap between acceptance and knowledge can be reduced with the insertion of phytotherapy in the current medical curriculum, so that future physicians can better communicate with their patients about this therapeutic modality. Educational interventions, through continuing education programs, are also indicated to give physicians the opportunity to update their knowledge in this area. Equipping public health institutions with products from the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia, as well as the availability of electronic databases to answer questions that may arise in the course of clinical practice, may be steps towards access to information.
 Conclusion: Phytotherapy can and should be used as a transformative tool, allowing university-community interaction. However, more studies should be carried out to discuss the use of phytotherapy drugs as treatment and to demystify the use of these compounds to treat various diseases.