USO DE PRÁTICAS INTEGRATIVAS E COMPLEMENTARES EM SAÚDE NO MANEJO DA ANSIEDADE ENTRE ESTUDANTES UNIVERSITÁRIOS

Ana Elisa de Oliveira; Portugues Portugues

doi:10.14450/infarma.e202606

USE OF INTEGRATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH PRACTICES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ANXIETY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Authors

Ana Elisa de Oliveira Univali
Português Portugues https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0350-4929

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14450/infarma.e202606

Keywords:

Complementary therapies, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, anxiety, mental health, students

Abstract

Anxiety is frequently reported among university students and may interfere with well-being and academic performance. In this context, the use of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (ICHP) has been observed as self-care strategies. This study aimed to analyze the use of ICHP in the management of anxiety among university students. This is a cross-sectional, quantitative, and descriptive study conducted with 78 students from a university located on the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil, using a structured online questionnaire. The results showed that aromatherapy, meditation, yoga, and herbal medicine were among the most frequently used practices. Most participants reported benefits associated with the use of ICHP, with improvement in anxiety being the most prominent effect. In addition, the most frequently reported benefits included relaxation, well-being, and improved sleep quality, regardless of the presence of a formal anxiety diagnosis. It was observed that some students used these practices as complementary approaches to pharmacological treatment, while others relied on ICHP without prior clinical follow-up. The main barriers to continued adherence included lack of time, difficulty maintaining a regular routine, and financial constraints. It is concluded that ICHP are used by university students as self-care strategies in the management of anxiety, reinforcing the importance of professional guidance—especially from pharmacists—to ensure the safe, rational, and evidence-based use of these practices.

Author Biographies

Ana Elisa de Oliveira, Univali

Possui graduação em Farmácia pela Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (1999) e mestrado em Ciências Farmacêuticas pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (2005). Atualmente é docente no Curso de Farmácia ministrando a disciplina de Farmacocinética, Estágio em Indústria Farmacêutica e Estágio em Farmácia com ênfase em farmácia hospitalar; docente no Curso de Engenharia de Produção ministrando a disciplina de Química. Tem experiência na área de Farmácia, com ênfase em farmacocinética, garantia da qualidade em indústria farmacêutica e serviço de farmácia hospitalar

Português, Portugues

Pharmacy student at the University of Vale do Itajaí (Univali), enrolled in 2021.

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Published

2026-07-21

How to Cite

de Oliveira, A. E., & Portugues, P. (2026). USE OF INTEGRATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH PRACTICES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ANXIETY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. Infarma - Pharmaceutical Sciences, 38, e202606. https://doi.org/10.14450/infarma.e202606

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Issue

Vol. 38 (2026)

Section

Original article

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