Training physiotherapists in primary care: reflections on teaching-service integration

Abstract

Introduction: Teaching-service integration contributes to the quality training of healthcare professionals. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between practicing physiotherapists, teachers and students in physiotherapy training in primary care, from the perspective of the professionals. Method: This is a qualitative study that used a semi-structured interview for data collection and discourse analysis as a methodological framework to analyze the interviews. Interviewees were nineteen physiotherapists who work at basic health units (BHUs) in a large municipality in Paraná state, Brazil. Results: Only six of the nineteen physiotherapists receive or have received students in the workplace. Higher education institutions that offer degrees in physical therapy have yet to harness the full potential of practical physiotherapy training in primary care in the municipality studied. The professionals who received or have received students in the workplace highlighted shortcomings in teaching-service integration, such as the lack of collaboration with teachers in terms of planning and student assessment. Conclusion: There is a need for closer ties between managers, health care professionals, teachers and students in order to improve teaching-service integration and provide physiotherapy training that complies with curriculum guidelines and the principles and policies of the National Health System (SUS).