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Auriculotherapy as an Occupational Health Strategy: Reducing Stress and Pain Among Healthcare Professionals

Felipe SANTOS, Fernanda CROCE, Lorrayne LISBOA, Clesio VENANCIO, Fernanda DILLY and Marcella SEIBERT

Healthcare professionals in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) face high levels of stress, anxiety, and musculoskeletal pain due to demanding environments, leading to significant absenteeism. This project was developed at the São Cristóvão Basic Health Unit in Vitória, Brazil, to address the wellbeing of the unit’s own workforce through Integrative and Complementary Practices (PICS)The intervention targeted the "caregiver" rather than the patient. The process included: 1) Initial diagnosis using validated Visual Analog Scales for stress and pain; 2) A structured protocol conducted by a physician and a pharmacist in a private setting; 3) Systematic sessions of auriculopressure targeting neurophysiological points for pain and anxiety; and 4) Pre- and post-intervention monitoring to measure impact on health status and potential reduction in sick leave.While Auriculotherapy is a common PICS offered to the community, this project is innovative by institutionalizing it as a clinical occupational health intervention within the primary care setting. It treats worker health not just as an administrative requirement, but as a clinical priority, promoting a healthier environment from the inside outThe implementation highlighted that health professionals frequently neglect their own self-care. Auriculotherapy proved to be a low-cost, non-invasive, and highly accepted technology. The intervention effectively reduced acute symptoms of anxiety and pain, which are primary drivers of professional burnout. Future implications include the institutionalization of "Self-Care Intervals" for staff to improve workforce retention and mental health resilience.The project demonstrated that integrating complementary therapies into the workplace increases team cohesion and individual productivity. It challenges the "absenteeism-illness" cycle by providing practical tools for emotional and physical management within the work routine.This practice reinforces the "National Humanization Policy" by valuing workers. A healthy team is essential for high-quality community care. Auriculotherapy is a viable, holistic, and effective strategy to strengthen the primary care workforce.