NASF’s tools and practices in health of physical therapists

Abstract

Introduction: With the creation of the Support Center for Family Health (NASF) and the high insertion of physiotherapists in this, it is necessary to have a better knowledge on this category’s current work. Objective: To analyze the process of work of physiotherapists at NASF and their education, and the technological tools usage. Methods: Transversal study, descriptive, analytic, enforced by online semi-structured questionnaires to NASF’s physiotherapists in Mato Grosso do Sul. The results were analyzed through descriptive statistics and chi-square test (significant level of 5%). Results: 37 physiotherapists (21 cities) participated. Among them, 27% Family-Health/Primary-Health-Care post graduates, and 51.4% in other clinical areas. Most (91,9%) did not receive enough capacitation when joining NASF, and 94.6% consider that did not have enough knowledge to do their activities. The articulation NASF and Family-Health-Strategy team is considered unsatisfactory to 51.3%. Individual rehabilitation is the most carried activity on a daily basis (59.5%), and NASF’s tools are used by less than half, except the Amplified Clinic, which is used by 54,1% of physiotherapists. There was a significant association between capacitation to NASF’s work and the tools usage of Singular-Therapeutic Project, Territorial Health Project and Support Pact. There was no association between the tools usage and the specialization in Family Health. Conclusion: The assistive and rehabilitator model has been the conductor of physiotherapists’ actions. NASF’s tools are little used. These results are explained due to the limited knowledge about NASF’s attributions, resulting from the small capacitation offer to these activities and the traditional rehabilitator education.