The knowledge of physiotherapists about palliative care in pediatrics in a maternal and child hospital

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The lack of management in dealing with children in the terminal period of life can become a barrier between the professional and the family. Studies on the understanding of health professionals, especially physiotherapists regarding palliation in pediatrics, are meaningful to establish comfort strategies. OBJECTIVE: to describe the knowledge of physiotherapists on palliation in pediatrics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, where the adaptation of the pre-structured questionnaire was applied: Bonn Palliative Care Knowledge Test-BPW and a socioprofessional questionnaire, in the physiotherapists of the maternal children's hospital. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 44 physiotherapists, of both sexes, with ages varying between 20-50 years, with training time between 1-15 years. The analysis of the percentage of correct answers in the knowledge questionnaire in the BPW, with regard to the item of the philosophy of the CP 27.3% answered correctly, in relation to the priority of the medical treatment in CP 38.7% correct the answer. CONCLUSION: The understanding about PC is still superficial, most educational institutions are training professionals in need of knowledge about the premises of PC.