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

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Physical Therapy

Context:

• Primary care settings in southern Brazil.
• Inclusion of physical therapists in multidisciplinary health teams.
• Perspectives of health managers on physical therapy roles.

Purpose:

• To investigate the integration of physical therapists into primary care.
• To understand health managers' perceptions of physical therapists' roles.
• To assess the impact of physical therapists on primary care teams.

Summary:

• A qualitative study in 22 Brazilian municipalities revealed limited physical therapist presence in primary care (PC), with only one in the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and two in Nuclei of Support to Family Health (NSFH).
• Many health managers perceive physical therapists solely for rehabilitation or at a technical level, hindering their broader integration.
• Lack of financial resources for hiring and a limited understanding of their potential, including health promotion, are key barriers to inclusion.

Impact:

• Highlights a significant gap in health managers' understanding of physical therapists' capabilities in primary care.
• Identifies financial constraints and policy limitations as major obstacles to integrating physical therapists into primary care teams.
• Recommends expanding managers' perspectives on physical therapists' roles, emphasizing their potential as health promoters for improved primary care delivery.