Acupuncture goes beyond the needle: trajectories of formation and action of acupuncturists

Authors

  • Marcelo Felipe Nunes Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos
  • José Roque Junges Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos
  • Tonantzin Ribeiro Gonçalves Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos
  • Monique Adriane Motta Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-12902017157679

Keywords:

Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Professional Trajectory, Narration

Abstract

The objective of the article was to analyze the trajectories of formation and professional action of acupuncturists. This is a qualitative study, based on the methodological framework of the narratives of life stories. There were eight participants among healthcare professionals, five men and three women, graduated in nursing, physiotherapy, and medicine, who used acupuncture from the perspective of Chinese Medicine and answered structured interviews. The analysis of the narratives implied three main categories: Search for new rationalities in health; Entering in the acupuncture universe; Acupuncture goes beyond the needle. It was observed that the search for acupuncture was motivated by dissatisfaction with the initial training into biomedical paradigm. The trajectory of the education in acupuncture was gradual and involved a deep insertion into TCM, due to the complexity of its treatment plan, which led the participants to realize that the needle insertion represents the confluence of several aspects of the rationality, which cannot be reduced to application of a technique. In this regard, it appoints the need of discuss the education of those healthcare professionals and your work in the Brazilian Unified Health System, as well as the applicability of biomedical research approaches in studies on acupuncture.

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Published

2017-03-01

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Acupuncture goes beyond the needle: trajectories of formation and action of acupuncturists. (2017). Saúde E Sociedade, 26(1), 300-311. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-12902017157679