Integrative practices outpatient clinic as a tool for health promotion and quality of work life: an experience toward the sustainable development goals
1
School of Medicine, Universidade Regional do Cariri (URCA), Crato, Brazil
2
School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Cariri (UFCA), Barbalha, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1968
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), in 2019, at least 2.9 million people died from work-related causes1. In Brazil, the Ministry of Health reported 390,000 cases of work-related illnesses in 20232. These conditions resulted in a loss of up to 5.8% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product in 20193. The adoption of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (ICHP) can contribute to health promotion and the prevention of work-related illnesses4. However, data on this type of intervention and its impacts remain limited. Therefore, the objective was to analyze the impact of implementing a Quality of Life Clinic (QoL) focused on offering ICHP in a tertiary hospital in the Cariri region.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative study was based on data collected after the implementation of the QoL Clinic between 2021 and 2023, using simple descriptive statistics.
RESULTS:
During the analyzed period, 844 ICHP services were provided, with almost half (423/844, 50.1%) delivered by direct care professionals. The most sought-after services for musculoskeletal pain were acupuncture (22.75%), massage therapy (15.7%), combined cupping therapy and massage therapy (13.6%), isolated cupping therapy (13.4%), chiropractic (11.5%), auriculotherapy (2.6%), myofascial release (1.2%), and physiotherapy (2.8%). A 31.1% reduction in sick leave days related to International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) code “M” was observed, dropping from 938 to 292 days.
CONCLUSIONS:
The implementation of a QoL Clinic offering ICHP proved to be an effective and sustainable strategy for promoting occupational health, improving quality of life at work, and reducing absenteeism. This experience reinforces the importance of institutional actions focused on comprehensive worker health, aligned with the guidelines of Regulatory Standard number 1, occupational health policies, and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goals number 3 and 8.
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), in 2019, at least 2.9 million people died from work-related causes1. In Brazil, the Ministry of Health reported 390,000 cases of work-related illnesses in 20232. These conditions resulted in a loss of up to 5.8% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product in 20193. The adoption of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (ICHP) can contribute to health promotion and the prevention of work-related illnesses4. However, data on this type of intervention and its impacts remain limited. Therefore, the objective was to analyze the impact of implementing a Quality of Life Clinic (QoL) focused on offering ICHP in a tertiary hospital in the Cariri region.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative study was based on data collected after the implementation of the QoL Clinic between 2021 and 2023, using simple descriptive statistics.
RESULTS:
During the analyzed period, 844 ICHP services were provided, with almost half (423/844, 50.1%) delivered by direct care professionals. The most sought-after services for musculoskeletal pain were acupuncture (22.75%), massage therapy (15.7%), combined cupping therapy and massage therapy (13.6%), isolated cupping therapy (13.4%), chiropractic (11.5%), auriculotherapy (2.6%), myofascial release (1.2%), and physiotherapy (2.8%). A 31.1% reduction in sick leave days related to International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) code “M” was observed, dropping from 938 to 292 days.
CONCLUSIONS:
The implementation of a QoL Clinic offering ICHP proved to be an effective and sustainable strategy for promoting occupational health, improving quality of life at work, and reducing absenteeism. This experience reinforces the importance of institutional actions focused on comprehensive worker health, aligned with the guidelines of Regulatory Standard number 1, occupational health policies, and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goals number 3 and 8.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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