Meanings of use of medicinal plants for nursing teachers in Catalonia

Abstract

This study aims to learn the meanings for teachers of the Nursing course in Catalonia about the use of medicinal plants as complementary therapy in health care. This is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research, conducted through semi-structured interviews, with four professors of the Nursing course at a Spanish University located in the region of Catalonia, in May 2016. For the interpretation of the content analysis proposed by Bardin was used. In the content analysis, two themes emerged: Knowledge and use of complementary therapies and Family culture influencing the use of medicinal plants. In the first category, it was emphasized that, in addition to knowing, teachers also used plants frequently. In the second, it is emphasized how the family influence was present and was important to perpetuate the knowledge and forms of use during the generations. The popularization of complementary therapies became evident and, therefore, the articulation of the practice by health professionals is essential, since the training process, especially in nursing, considering the comprehensive care offered to the user.