TERAPIAS ALTERNATIVAS DE SAÚDE X ALOPATIA: TENDÊNCIAS ENTRE ACADÊMICOS DE MEDICINA

Abstract

Abstract: ALTERNATIVE HEALTH THERAPIES VERSUS ALLOPATHY: TENDENCIES AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS. Influenced by the Cartesian-Newtonian paradigm, medical theories are based on the biomedical pattern of health assistance, where the individual is not seen as being part of the cosmos. However, by the end of the XIX century the great holistic paradigm emerged to reveal a universe which is holistic, alive, systematized, dynamic and all inter-linked. The Alternative Therapies arise in this context and, in general, they focus on the individual in a global manner (mind, body, behavior and environment). The present work is an exploratory-descriptive study in which medical students participated for the purpose of identifying the influence of the present paradigm on professional academic training and the students’ perception of Alternative Therapies, with regard to their concepts, criticism, beliefs and acceptance. It was observed that the influence of the Cartesian-Newtonian paradigm on the professional development of medical students is evident, and that the majority has a preference for allopatic therapy and also that the Alternative Therapies are seldom treated during the undergraduate period. It was also observed that there is great concern about the scientific value of Alternative Therapies. However, there are some medical students worried and unhappy about the compartmentalization of the individual. We conclude that due to the influences of the biomedical model on undergraduate teaching there is preference for the allopatic therapy, despite the increasing number of people who use and believe in Alternative Health Therapies. Furthermore, there is evidence of the existence of various scientific works that prove their efficiency, or treat this theme, which reinforces our conviction that the Cartesian-Newtonian paradigm is being surpassed. KEY WORDS: Alternative therapies; biomedical model, Holism.