On the back and reverse of the smoking body: conflict lived. A phenomenological study.

Abstract

This is a case study of phenomenological orientation whose objective was to understand the conflict experienced by the smoking body in the face of the desire or the need to discontinue the use of cigarettes and the wish to continue smoking. Seven smoking bodies attending Caixa de Assistência dos Funcionários do Banco do Brasil’s (CASSI’s) “Life without Cigarettes” program in Curitiba were followed. This program was based on three moments of care: the perception, the new knowledge construction and the implementation of the nursing actions, adapted to the Ministry of Health’s assistance model. For the comprehension of the phenomenon, three categories emerged. The passage ritual, affective longing and insecurity and fear of change. The adaptation of the model of assistance proposed by the Ministry of Health to the moments of care reference was found to provide professional growth and enrichment, which in turn, made it possible to help these smoking bodies to experience the conflicting internal moment between the desire to stop and the wish to continue smoking which resulted in a new nursing care practice which combines the incentive for a pro-active change through motivation with the philosophical process of reflexion and interation.