Non-pharmacological therapies for cancer patients in Portugal and Brazil: an experience report

In Plain Language: cancer pain, explained

To describe the experience of nurses from a center in Portugal and two in Brazil regarding the use of non-pharmacological therapies in cancer patients. This is a professional experience report. In the Portuguese institution, a group of nurses has been performing massage therapy, reflexology, postural teaching, thermotherapy, relaxation, guided imagery, Reiki, music therapy, aromatherapy, among others, for 17 years, with significant results in pain and vital signs with satisfactory perceptions. In Brazil, the clinical application is incipient, clinical studies with auriculotherapy, relaxation with guided imagery and floral therapy are taking place, with significant results for physical symptoms, anxiety, and quality of life improvement. In both countries, nurses have made efforts to implement non-pharmacological therapies. While in the Portuguese reality they have been formally institutionalized in care, in Brazil the therapies take place with voluntary work and through intervention research. This report can encourage the translation of autonomous practice to clinical studies for proposing evidence of therapies in Integrative Oncology. Descrever a experiência dos enfermeiros de um centro em Portugal e dois no Brasil sobre o uso das terapias não farmacológicas em pacientes com câncer. Trata-se de um relato de experiência profissional. Na instituição portuguesa, há 17 anos um grupo de enfermeiros vem realizando massagem terapêutica, reflexologia, ensinos posturais, termoterapia, relaxamento, imaginação guiada, Reiki, musicoterapia, aromaterapia, entre outras, com resultados significativos na dor, nos sinais vitais e com percepções satisfatórias. Na brasileira, a aplicação clínica é incipiente, ocorrem estudos clínicos com auriculoterapia, relaxamento com imagem guiada e terapia floral, com resultados significativos para sintomas físicos, ansiedade e qualidade de vi