title: [From anthropocentrism to ecocentrism: educating for ecological care in health].
abstract: The focus of the paper is the meaning of ecological care as understood by students and educators and how this issue is addressed in programs in the fields of health sciences and health care in a federal public institution in southern Brazil. Our goal is to discuss the central category. The methodology adopted was Grounded Theory. Ten interviews were carried out among two sample groups between September, 2008, and April, 2009. The results led to the design of the theory: considering ecological care as broad and complex phenomenon, and the core category: the ecological care that results from relations, interactions and associations within the global environment. We concluded that rejecting anthropocentrism is not enough for the survival of all forms of life in the planet. This survival demands educating for ecocentrism and for systemic-functional interactivity and adaptability. We must go beyond speeches and world conferences and redo the web of interdependence of all beings and elements of nature.
authors: Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors: Marli Terezinha Stein
authors: MT
authors: Backes
authors: Dirce Stein
authors: DS
authors: Backes
authors: Lívia Crespo
authors: LC
authors: Drago
authors: Magda Santos
authors: MS
authors: Koerich
authors: Alacoque Lorenzini
authors: AL
authors: Erdmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001938:Brazil; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000941:ethics*; D004463:Ecology; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000379:methods*; D005178:Faculty; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education*; D006808:Humanism; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010684:Philosophy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012941:Social Responsibility; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities