The teaching of psychoactive substances at nursing degree courses at the Federal University of Espírito Santo

Abstract

The phenomenon of drug abuse is a public health problem in Brazil. It has been detected an outstanding reluctance by nurses to incorporate this matter in their heath-care activities. Consequently this study aims to analyze the assessment of professors of the School of Nursing of the UFES on the importance of the insertion of the subject of psychoactive substances (SPAs) in the curriculum of undergraduates in Nursing. These are quantitative and qualitative transversal studies. The sample comprised 36 (67.9%) professors of the Nursing Degree Course at UFES. Regarding the training of Nurses in SPAs: 97.2% value the prevention, 94.4% value the treatment and 83.3% social reintegration of the user. It was noted that 94.5% are favorable to the development of research on drugs, 58.3% answered positively to the question about the insertion of the SPAs content in the curriculum and 27.8% agree with the need for its inclusion. 86% claim to have knowledge about this subject and 50% are interested in being trained in this issue. The study concluded that there is an urgent need for adjusting the teaching to the reality of the widespread abuse of the SPAs. Therefore it is of fundamental importance the involvement of the various aspects that go beyond the biological side of the professional practice, and this will contribute effectively in the training of nurses