<b>The meanings of participating in groups of community therapy for students of a public university</b> - doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v11i3.14967

Abstract

Study developed in the ambit of the matrix research “Extension Project related to the research: Development of community therapists, assistance to healthcare students and action-research”. It aimed to understand the meanings of the participation in Community therapeutic groups (CT) for college students. A field survey as an intervention with an exploratory and descriptive purpose in a qualitative approach was carried out. The intervention took place around a CT group at federal university from the Midwest of Brazil, a moment of action for health promotion, since in these groups it is possible to share daily events having in their own community a space to discuss about them. The study sample consisted of all participants of the groups, where three students were selected for an interview. A direct observation of the groups and a semi-structured interview were used for data collection. The narratives, added to the field diary of observations, generated three empirical categories: Group intervention as CT; The meanings of CT for its participants; and How CT helped in coping with their problems. It was noted that CT is an effective intervention strategy to promote the health of college students, since it promotes the development of self-care actions to cope with adverse situations.