Knowledge and necessities of learning of physiotherapy’s students about Leprosy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The Leprosy constitutes a significant problem of Public Health in Brazil, however its importance and valuation in the preparation of the health professions has been neglected, even in the endemic countries. In the specific case of the physiotherapist, the hansenology teaching in the graduation’s course in Brazil becomes necessary, to deal in the future with the health conditions of the population with the Leprosy’s problematic. OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze the previous knowledge of physiotherapy’s students on leprosy during the professional preparation of the physiotherapist. METHODOLOGY: It is a qualitative study on leprosy knowledge among 51 students of physiotherapy in a Sao Paulo State school, in 2004. For the survey an auto-applied questionnaire with guided questions was used to collect the data. A qualitative analysis was done by categorization. RESULTS: It was identified unfamiliarity and/or inadequate concepts about leprosy and the following aspects must be emphasized in the hansenology teaching: the hansen’s disease; the preconception that the sick people live and how to face it; the health education and the performance of the physiotherapist in leprosy. In relation to the organization of education, it was identified that the Universities/Colleges must construct bigger strategies of motivation, valuing leprosy as a Public Health’s problem. CONCLUSION: It was proven the necessity of the hansenology’s education in the undergraduation courses of physiotherapy, so that the physiotherapists can give adequate assistance to the problematic of leprosy and contribute with the Program of Leprosy Control.