Domingos Daniela Filipa Dos Santos, Querido Ana, Pedrosa Vanda Varela
School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal.
School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), 2414-016 Leiria, Portugal.
Cancers (Basel). 2025 Jun 27;17(13):2167. doi: 10.3390/cancers17132167.
: Population aging and the rise in chronic diseases challenge healthcare systems to adopt person-centered approaches, especially in palliative care (PC), where symptom management remains limited. Physiotherapy plays a key role in alleviating discomfort but faces inconsistent integration in Portugal due to lack of recognition. Variations in intervention methods hinder uniform care delivery, limiting timely patient access to comfort-focused treatments and knowledge. This study aims to deepen the understanding of physiotherapy's role in Portuguese PC to improve its integration into teams and enhance patient access to comfort care. : This study used a descriptive qualitative approach with online focus groups (FG), guided by Krueger and Casey's methodology and adhering to the COREQ checklist. A non-probabilistic convenience sample of physiotherapists working in palliative care across mainland Portugal and the islands was selected based on inclusion criteria. Three FGs were planned with up to ten participants each. However, due to availability and attendance issues, only 15 physiotherapists participated: 5 in FG1 (in-hospital PC units), 6 in FG2 (inpatient units), and 4 in FG3, the minimum appropriate number from community-based units. : Physiotherapy plays a crucial yet underrecognized role in PC, emphasizing the need for its full integration into care teams rather than reliance on late, on-call referrals. Techniques such as positioning, mobilization, pain and dyspnea relief, adapted exercises, massage, music therapy, and emotional support are employed. Conventional physiotherapy tools are used and personalized according to the patient's context, duration, setting, dosage, and individual needs. : Physiotherapy should be recognized as a fundamental part of PC, contributing not only to the prolongation of life but also to ensuring comfort and dignity for patients and their families. To achieve this, its role within multidisciplinary teams must be strengthened and supported by regulations that guarantee access and the formal integration of physiotherapists. However, a significant gap remains in patients' regular access to comfort-focused interventions at the appropriate time, perhaps due to the considerable variation in physiotherapy practices depending on the patient and care setting, which presents a challenge for knowledge development both in Portugal and globally.
人口老龄化和慢性病的增加对医疗保健系统提出了挑战，要求其采用以患者为中心的方法，尤其是在姑息治疗（PC）中，因为症状管理仍然有限。物理治疗在缓解不适方面发挥着关键作用，但在葡萄牙，由于缺乏认可，其整合情况并不一致。干预方法的差异阻碍了统一的护理提供，限制了患者及时获得以舒适为重点的治疗和知识。本研究旨在加深对物理治疗在葡萄牙姑息治疗中作用的理解，以改善其融入团队的情况，并增加患者获得舒适护理的机会。：本研究采用描述性定性方法，通过在线焦点小组（FG）进行，以克鲁格和凯西的方法为指导，并遵循COREQ清单。根据纳入标准，从葡萄牙大陆和各岛屿从事姑息治疗的物理治疗师中选取了一个非概率便利样本。计划进行三个焦点小组，每个小组最多有十名参与者。然而，由于可用性和参与问题，只有15名物理治疗师参与：焦点小组1（医院姑息治疗病房）有5人，焦点小组2（住院病房）有6人，焦点小组3有4人，这是来自社区单位的最低合适人数。：物理治疗在姑息治疗中起着至关重要但未得到充分认可的作用，强调需要将其全面融入护理团队，而不是依赖后期的随叫随到转诊。采用了诸如体位摆放、活动、缓解疼痛和呼吸困难、适应性锻炼、按摩、音乐治疗和情感支持等技术。使用传统的物理治疗工具，并根据患者的情况、病程、环境、剂量和个人需求进行个性化调整。：物理治疗应被视为姑息治疗的一个基本组成部分，不仅有助于延长生命，还能确保患者及其家人的舒适和尊严。要实现这一点，必须加强其在多学科团队中的作用，并通过法规予以支持，这些法规要保证物理治疗师的准入和正式整合。然而，患者在适当时间定期获得以舒适为重点的干预措施方面仍存在很大差距，这可能是由于物理治疗实践因患者和护理环境的不同而存在很大差异，这对葡萄牙乃至全球的知识发展都构成了挑战。
