O uso da ocupação como tratamento: desafios e possibilidades a partir de uma perspectiva histórica chamoneana

Abstract

The use of occupation as a therapeutic method in Brazil initially emerged within the realm of mental health. Among the pioneers of the profession was occupational therapist Rui Chamone Jorge (1941-1993), who graduated in 1969 from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Minas Gerais, in the first cohort of the state. Chamone was instrumental in the establishment of the profession in Brazil, and his practice led to theoretical productions that are still utilized in the field of mental health to this day. However, despite being referenced in studies on the history of the profession's establishment in the country, his contribution has not been deeply analyzed. This study examines Chamone's internship report, conducted at the Galba Veloso Hospital (MG) in his final year of undergraduate studies, aiming to unveil how his practice as an intern unfolded and the beginning of his knowledge production. It is a qualitative-historical and documentary research, engaging in a dialogue with both contemporary and current literature, and it integrates a broader research project on Chamone's contributions to the history of Occupational Therapy in the country. The results revealed that Chamone, even in his student practice, already possessed a critical understanding of the reality he experienced in the psychiatric institution where he interned, leading him to propose new approaches to care at that time and place. He advocated for the promotion of social interaction among the female patients and for occupational engagement to be chosen and freely pursued by them. Furthermore, analyzing the report indicated that he operated in a more humanized manner, attentive to the care needs of the patients. It was evident that he sought to ground his practice in other areas of knowledge, such as sociology, anthropology, and psychology, surpassing the biomedical character of the education he received in his program. In conclusion, his pioneering spirit and his commitment to the profession and his patients distinguished him through his practices, reaffirming his importance in the establishment of Occupational Therapy in Brazil