Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes de fisioterapia domiciliar do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This study investigated the epidemiological profile of patients attended at the Home-Based Physiotherapy Center in Rio de Janeiro. The study sample was made up of all the patients attended between January 1, 1999, and January 1, 2009, totaling 1,203 individuals of both sexes. In accordance with the methodology adopted, descriptive statistics were used to reach the study objectives. The data collected from the study subjects medical files were organized into the following categories: age group, sex and district (area where the patients lived). The following were analyzed in relation to chronic diseases: different types of chronic disease, duration of the pathological condition at the start of treatment and level of dependence. Regarding the home-based physiotherapy, the following were analyzed: type of treatment applied, treatment objective, duration of the treatment and degree of improvement attained by the patients. The comparative analysis used the Pearson chi-square test and the linear test on the study trends. All the calculations were made using the SPSS 16.0 statistical software. The results showed that the epidemiological profile of the patients attended at the Home-Based Physiotherapy Center in Rio de Janeiro was as follows: elderly, with a mean age of 75.8 years; female; presenting sequelae from a stroke that occurred up to one year before the start of treatment; bedridden; and dependent on third parties to walk around. The home-based physiotherapy treatment used had a profile of motor type, with the aim of gait and balance training. The mean duration of the treatment was 5.8 months, resulting in a good improvement that corresponded to achievement of half or more of the objectives proposed at the initial assessment. It was confirmed that there was an association between age and the patients level of dependence , and that the greater their age was, the more often a totally bedridden condition was found. It was concluded that the home-based physiotherapy was predominantly geriatric and that it was viable to structure a more inclusive and free-of-charge home-based physiotherapy model, with probable rotation of places according to discharge, of around 17% per month.