Cuidados paliativos na formação em fisioterapia: uma análise curricular e do conhecimento dos discentes.

Abstract

Palliative care (PC) aims to improve the quality of life of individuals with serious health-related suffering and their families through the prevention and relief of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual distress. Physical therapists play a key role within interdisciplinary PC teams by optimizing functional capacity, managing symptoms, relieving pain, and promoting comfort throughout the disease trajectory. Population aging and the increasing burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases have substantially expanded the demand for PC services worldwide. Despite growing recognition of PC in health policies and clinical practice, its integration into undergraduate physical therapy education remains limited. Objective: To assess PC knowledge among undergraduate physical therapy students from public and private institutions in Goiânia and its metropolitan region, Brazil, and to examine PC inclusion in their curricula. Methods: Two-stage study comprising documentary analysis of on-campus physical therapy curricula and a cross-sectional survey of 235 students using an online questionnaire on exposure to and knowledge of PC. Results: Of the 15 institutions identified, two offered a dedicated PC course, both as electives. Although 78.7% of students had heard of PC and 66.0% reported curricular exposure, 57.4% were unfamiliar with the World Health Organization definition and only 22.1% were satisfied with their training. All participants considered PC education necessary during undergraduate training. Conclusion: Despite previous exposure to PC, important knowledge gaps remained. The cross-sectional design and limited access to Pedagogical Course Projects prevent directly attributing the findings to curricular structure. Expanding and strengthening undergraduate training in PC is imperative. Aligning curricula with public health policies and collective health frameworks will ensure the training of professionals equipped to deliver comprehensive care.