Medicinal plants in the treatment of insomnia: an active teaching methodological model for medical training in Primary Health Care

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to train primary healthcare physicians in the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of insomnia and to evaluate the impact of this intervention on participants’ knowledge. Methodology: A workshop was conducted in two primary care units in the city of Rio de Janeiro, with the participation of 17 physicians, most of whom were residents in family and community medicine. The intervention included an initial discussion with prompting questions, an evidence-based presentation, and a sensory activity involving medicinal plants. Knowledge assessment was carried out through pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, measuring the frequency of prescriptions and familiarity with medicinal plants. Results: Prior to the workshop, only 23.5% of participants occasionally prescribed medicinal plants, increasing to 43.8% after the intervention. Additionally, 76.5% of the physicians were unaware of bibliographic materials on the topic before the workshop, but this number significantly decreased afterward. Participants reported an increasing interest in incorporating the use of medicinal plants into their clinical practice. Conclusion: The workshop was effective in enhancing knowledge and clinical application of medicinal plants for insomnia, highlighting the importance of brief interventions in medical training. The experience suggests that this approach can be replicated in other primary care settings, contributing to the clinical and cultural education of healthcare professionals.