Integrative and complementary practices in health, nurses' profile and care provided to people with hypertension: a mixed study design.
Daiana Cristina Wickert, Daniela Dallegrave, Diéssica Roggia Piexak and 3 others
PMID 37194812WHAT IT FOUND
Nurses in Brazil who treat hypertension report using integrative practices like auriculotherapy and Reiki to support patient autonomy and adherence.
They face stigma and lack of management support, often paying for their own training. The study describes their experience, not the clinical effectiveness of these treatments.
Key findings
01Among 386 nurses surveyed, 14.2% reported incorporating integrative and complementary practices into the care of people with hypertension.
02Auriculotherapy was the most frequently used practice (28.2%), followed by acupuncture (8.5%) and Reiki (7.7%).
03Nurses described challenges including stigma, lack of management support, and the need to self-finance training, while viewing these practices as tools for patient autonomy and health promotion.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study is restricted to nurses in one Brazilian state, so findings may not apply elsewhere. The data relies on self-reported practices and perceptions, not objective clinical outcomes like blood pressure changes. The qualitative sample was small (18 interviews), which limits the depth of understanding of the barriers nurses face.
Declared interests
The study was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and CAPES in Brazil. No conflicts of interest related to commercial products were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this paper as evidence that integrative practices like auriculotherapy or Reiki effectively lower blood pressure. The study reports nurses' perceptions and usage patterns, not clinical outcomes. It describes how nurses incorporate these practices into care, but does not test their efficacy.