A visão dos profissionais de saúde de duas unidades de tratamento intensivo neonatal sobre a atuação do fisioterapeuta nestas equipes

Abstract

Neonatology is a recent subspecialty of pediatrics. From total abandonment in the past to a focus of multiprofessional interest today, neonates who need the technological support of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) face a great challenge, surviving without sequelae. The first NICUs were attached to large universities. In Brazil, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the State University of Rio de Janeiro maintain this tradition, which, in addition to training centers for professionals and care centers, invest physical, human and technological resources in their units. Physiotherapists working in neonatal intensive care consolidate this professional path due to the effectiveness of the results obtained in physiotherapeutic practices with hospitalized neonates. The objective of this research was to know the knowledge of health professionals from two neonatal intensive care units about the role of the physical therapist in the team. Five professionals from the NICU of the Perinatal Nucleus/UERJ, which has the physical therapist in the team and five from the NICU of the Maternity-School/UFRJ, which does not have the professional, were interviewed and their speeches literally transcribed into the body of work. In conclusion, the research revealed that the ten professionals interviewed know the work performed by the physical therapist within the NICUs. The interviewees were unanimous about the need for this professional in the team. As physiotherapy is a well-known and recognized profession and its professionals are necessary in the NICUs, this is how the decision of the Ministry of Health to establish the obligation of the physical therapist within the NICUs is understood.