Práticas integrativas e complementares em saúde no cotidiano de crianças com câncer

The objective of this research was to investigate the use of integrative and complementary practices in health in the daily of children with cancer. This is a quantitative-qualitative study realized in a referral hospital in the city of Mossoro-RN, whose population was the parents of children who underwent cancer treatment (n = 21). A form was used for data collect. The quantitative data were organized into frequency distribution tables, expressed in simple frequency and percentage values ​​through the statistical program SPSS version 23.0, while qualitative information was evaluated through content analysis. The research was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Faculty of Nursing and Medicine Nova Esperanca under CAAE 88535118.5.0000.5179. It was observed that 23.80% of children with cancer use integrative and complementary practices during treatment, but 80.0% of these practices are not indicated by health professionals. However, 60% tell their doctor about its use. Parents refer to alternative practices as a tool for successful treatment; for the comfort and relief of worries and stress and, as a mechanism to avoid the side effects. Children use PICs with complementary character to conventional treatment.