Itinerários terapêuticos: a busca pelo cuidado por pessoas adultas que vivem com doenças crônicas

Abstract

The term therapeutic itinerary is here used as synonymous with seeking care and seeks to describe the paths taken by individuals in an attempt to solve their health problems. Studies about therapeutic itinerary originated in anthropology. This study aims to understand the therapeutic itineraries of adults living chronic diseases. This is a systematic review and data were collected on the basis of VHL and SCIELO. Articles published between 2003 and 2013, written in Portuguese, fully available in electronic media were included. Data were analyzed after sorting based on reading the titles and abstracts of their selection of articles framed on the defined criteria. Among the twenty-five selected studies, it was found that most of them were produced in the South, in the years 2010 and 2012, and has a qualitative approach. The behavior of chronically ill before the disease and treatment, is related to his conditions due to disorganization in his sense of identity and for the organic changes resulting from the disease. Among the main difficulties in the path of the search for care stood out their relationship with health professionals, the conditions to meet, social and financial change, implications for the care, transport and access to networks health, and difficulty studying. It is described in articles as therapeutic itinerary to network of relationships; self-medication associated to popular therapy; religiosity; seeking for health services. We conclude that the search for care is drawn by necessity that pervades the scene in which one lives.