Spirituality and Integrative and Complementary Health Practices in Brazil: A Scope Review

Abstract

This study aims to know the Brazilian medical literature scientific production on spirituality as a health care practice, as well as to identify the principal interventions-executed by these professionals-that have been characterized as Integrative and Complementary Health Practices. A scope methodology proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute was used in the following phases: identification of research questions; identification of relevant studies; selection of studies; data mapping; grouping, synthesis of results. Two researchers alone carried out the searches, and a third researcher responded to the doubts of inclusion and exclusion of the identified articles. PubMed was the database, with the descriptors in Portuguese and English. Among the 71 articles identified, 27 were analyzed. The largest number of studies is concentrated in 2016 (44.44%). Concerning the type of study, the clinical trial prevails (77.77%). It was through meditation (29.63%) and Yoga (25.92%) that the discussion of spirituality-as Integrative and Complementary Practices in Health-materialized. Both had positive implications on the health of the groups participating in the studies. Based on the articles synthesis and on the regulations by the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization, it is plausible to assert that spirituality is ingrained in Integrative and Complementary Health Practices and that the concern in these practices has been enhancing.

Keywords

• Religiosity
• Spirituality
• Complementary Therapies
• Medicine