Análise da demanda para fisioterapia proveniente da atenção primária à saúde: um estudo transversal realizado no município de Santa Cruz-RN

Abstract

Basic Care (PC) is the main gateway for users to health services, intermediated by the Family Health Strategy (ESF) and carried out in Basic Health Units (UBS). Musculoskeletal conditions have considerably increased their incidence and prevalence in the world population. Consequently, there is a demand for rehabilitation services, including physiotherapy. However, the physiotherapist who was previously part of AB through the Expanded Family Health Center (NASF-AB) has had this job position reduced in recent years. Thus, an access barrier was opened as to where users in need of this service could seek it at this level of care. The objective of this study was to carry out a survey on the demand for physiotherapy from Primary Care in the city of Santa Cruz-RN. This is a cross-sectional and observational study, carried out between April and July 2023, based on secondary data collected from referrals for physiotherapy at UBS. The sample consisted of a total of 208 referrals with the following characteristics: average age of users was 51 years old, with the majority being female. The main health conditions referred to were musculoskeletal disorders and with an average waiting time for physiotherapy of two and a half years. It was possible to observe that there is a high demand for people referred by the UBS who need physiotherapy services and that the waiting time to obtain it is also high, which highlights gaps in assistance in this service in primary health care.