Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: ILTON WELLINGTON DE SOUSA FERREIRA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : ILTON WELLINGTON DE SOUSA FERREIRA
DATE: 18/12/2025
TIME: 15:30
LOCAL: Remoto
TITLE:

Occupational Health Training in Physiotherapy Courses at Public Higher Education Institutions in Brazil

KEY WORDS:

Occupational Health

Teaching

Universities

Brazil

PAGES: 113
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Saúde Coletiva
SUMMARY:

Introduction: There is a notable scarcity of studies examining the current landscape of specialised Workers’ Health training in physiotherapy programs. This gap limits understanding of how professionals are being prepared to address challenges in workers’ health. While Brazilian legislation and academic literature emphasise the relevance of such training since the profession's emergence, the lack of research constrains comprehensive curricular analysis. Objective: To assess the Brazilian panorama of workers ’ health education in physiotherapy programs offered by public higher education institutions. Method: This is a qualitative study structured in two stages. The first consisted of a documentary analysis in which pedagogical projects and course syllabi were examined to understand how workers’ health is incorporated into the curriculum. The second stage involved field research, with semi-structured interviews conducted with professors directly involved in Workers’ Health education. Data analysis was performed using Bardin’s content analysis method with support from Iramuteq, enabling a deeper discussion of the findings in light of the existing literature. Results: Significant gaps persist in curricular coverage of Workers’ Health. Although 87.7% of programs include the topic, only 31.6% provide essential content, with most focusing on biomechanical and ergonomic aspects. Workstation analysis and prevention of RSI/WMSDs predominate, while Public Health, public policies, and psychosocial dimensions are limited or absent. Interviews confirmed these limitations: despite professors recognising the value of a broader perspective, barriers—such as restricted course hours, a technicist tradition, and low student interest—impede more comprehensive pedagogical approaches. Final Considerations: There is a clear mismatch between the prescribed curriculum and actual teaching practices, resulting in fragmented and insufficient training. The study highlights the need for greater integration of sociopolitical content throughout undergraduate education and for institutional support to strengthen a critical approach to Workers’ Health within physiotherapy.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1674532 - DIMITRI TAURINO GUEDES
Interno - 1297190 - ELEAZAR MARINHO DE FREITAS LUCENA
Externo à Instituição - LUIZ CARLOS FADEL DE VASCONCELLOS - Fiocruz - RJ