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Ponte Academic Journal
Oct 2016, Volume 72, Issue 10

INTEGRALITY: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL FOCUS

Author(s): Wilza Carla Spiri ,Suyane de Souza Lemos, Regina Stella Spagnuolo

J. Ponte - Oct 2016 - Volume 72 - Issue 10
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2016.10.22



Abstract:
The term integrality comes with different interpretations. The integrality experiences identify that concepts, definitions and notions are being reconsidered, reconstructed. Integral care comprises curative and preventive, collective and individual actions and services, at different complexity levels, involving multiple specialties. The aim in this integrative review was to elaborate a thematic analysis of knowledge production about integrality, presenting the theoretical and practical focus on this theme. An integrative review was undertaken, using the guiding question: what do health professionals know about integrality? This type of review is a broad method that consists of six phases: identification of the theme, sampling or search in the scientific literature, categorization of the studies, assessment of the studies included in the integrative review, interpretation of the results and knowledge synthesis. The data were collected through a search in health databases. Nineteen papers comprised the study corpus. Content analysis was the methodological framework used to organize the knowledge. Two thematic foci emerged from the results: integrality: knowledge and meanings and integrality: practice of health professionals, emphasizing the role of nursing. The analysis of the articles revealed the plural interpretations of integrality. The theoretical focus demonstrates the need for investments in professional training based on the integrality dimension. There is a clear need to expand forms of executing health actions with a focus on users� needs. Teamwork is a fundamental strategy and the role of nurses as articulating members cooperates with the implementation of integrality.
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