Cristina Dutra Ribeiro

Desafios para a inserção do fisioterapeuta na atenção básica: o olhar dos gestores

Objective Study aimed to identify how physical therapists are included in primary care (PC), the perspectives of health managers, and the role that the inclusion of this professional in the health team plays. Methods Qualitative study involving health secretaries of 22 municipalities in southern Brazil. Results 45 physiotherapists in the region were included in PC. One of these was in the Family Health Strategy (FHS), and two were in the Nuclei of Support to Family Health (NSFH). 13 administrators cited the physiotherapists as professionals solely for rehabilitation; others think that they have formation at a technical level. However, in municipalities that have included the professionals in the FHS / NSFH, they were identified as important members of the team. Among the difficulties of inclusion, the lack of financial resources for hiring was the most commonly reported factor. Discussion There is a limited understanding from health managers regarding the role of physiotherapists in PC, especially from the majority who do not have access to this professional in their family health teams. This is because the lack of prioritization in the allocation of budget funds is not conducive to the effective inclusion of professionals who are not considered by the law as part of the minimum team. The insertion of the physiotherapist PC is further limited; a magnification of the look of the managers of the possibilities of action of this professional is required, including as a health promoter.

Desafíos para la inclusión del fisioterapeuta en atención primaria: la mirada de los administradores

Objective Study aimed to identify how physical therapists are included in primary care (PC), the perspectives of health managers, and the role that the inclusion of this professional in the health team plays. Methods Qualitative study involving health secretaries of 22 municipalities in southern Brazil. Results 45 physiotherapists in the region were included in PC. One of these was in the Family Health Strategy (FHS), and two were in the Nuclei of Support to Family Health (NSFH). 13 administrators cited the physiotherapists as professionals solely for rehabilitation; others think that they have formation at a technical level. However, in municipalities that have included the professionals in the FHS / NSFH, they were identified as important members of the team. Among the difficulties of inclusion, the lack of financial resources for hiring was the most commonly reported factor. Discussion There is a limited understanding from health managers regarding the role of physiotherapists in PC, especially from the majority who do not have access to this professional in their family health teams. This is because the lack of prioritization in the allocation of budget funds is not conducive to the effective inclusion of professionals who are not considered by the law as part of the minimum team. The insertion of the physiotherapist PC is further limited; a magnification of the look of the managers of the possibilities of action of this professional is required, including as a health promoter.

Challenges for physical therapist's inclusion in primary care: the administrators' perspective

Objective Study aimed to identify how physical therapists are included in primary care (PC), the perspectives of health managers, and the role that the inclusion of this professional in the health team plays. Methods Qualitative study involving health secretaries of 22 municipalities in southern Brazil. Results 45 physiotherapists in the region were included in PC. One of these was in the Family Health Strategy (FHS), and two were in the Nuclei of Support to Family Health (NSFH). 13 administrators cited the physiotherapists as professionals solely for rehabilitation; others think that they have formation at a technical level. However, in municipalities that have included the professionals in the FHS / NSFH, they were identified as important members of the team. Among the difficulties of inclusion, the lack of financial resources for hiring was the most commonly reported factor. Discussion There is a limited understanding from health managers regarding the role of physiotherapists in PC, especially from the majority who do not have access to this professional in their family health teams. This is because the lack of prioritization in the allocation of budget funds is not conducive to the effective inclusion of professionals who are not considered by the law as part of the minimum team. The insertion of the physiotherapist PC is further limited; a magnification of the look of the managers of the possibilities of action of this professional is required, including as a health promoter.

Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and its association with inadequate school furniture

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Inadequate school furniture is a factor contributing to musculoskeletal pain onset in students. This study aimed at estimating the adequacy of school desks and chairs with regard to students’ anthropometric characteristics and its possible association with musculoskeletal pain in different parts of the body. METHODS: A survey was carried out with 625 students and the furniture of 69 classrooms. The simplified Nordic Questionnaire for Analysis of Osteomuscular Symptoms was used for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms, and parameters recommended by standard NBR 14006 (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards) were used to analyze furniture. RESULTS: This study has shown that 87.2% of chairs and 45.6% of desks were totally inadequate. There has been significant association between inadequate desks and neck/cervical (12.6%; p=0.05) and dorsal (15.1%; p=0.00) musculoskeletal pain. Similar result was found with regard to inadequate chairs (neck/cervical: 17.5%; p=0.02; dorsal: 23.8%; p=0.00). CONCLUSION: The high levels of inadequate school chairs and desks demand a review of these items of furniture which are used by students for long periods of time every day. It is recommended that public authorities be informed of this situation and request that school furniture be urgently brought into line with prevailing legislation. Our results stress the need for futher care to be taken with regard to school students’ health.