Background/Objectives: Population aging and the rise in chronic diseases challenge healthcare systems to adopt person-centered approaches, especially in palliative care (PC), where symptom management remains limited. Physiotherapy plays a key role in alleviating discomfort but faces inconsistent integration in Portugal due to lack of recognition. Variations in intervention methods hinder uniform care delivery, limiting timely patient access to comfort-focused treatments and knowledge. This study aims to deepen the understanding of physiotherapy’s role in Portuguese PC to improve its integration into teams and enhance patient access to comfort care.Methods: This study used a descriptive qualitative approach with online focus groups (FG), guided by Krueger and Casey’s methodology and adhering to the COREQ checklist. A non-probabilistic convenience sample of physiotherapists working in palliative care across mainland Portugal and the islands was selected based on inclusion criteria. Three FGs were planned with up to ten participants each. However, due to availability and attendance issues, only 15 physiotherapists participated: 5 in FG1 (in-hospital PC units), 6 in FG2 (inpatient units), and 4 in FG3, the minimum appropriate number from community-based units.Results: Physiotherapy plays a crucial yet underrecognized role in PC, emphasizing the need for its full integration into care teams rather than reliance on late, on-call referrals. Techniques such as positioning, mobilization, pain and dyspnea relief, adapted exercises, massage, music therapy, and emotional support are employed. Conventional physiotherapy tools are used and personalized according to the patient’s context, duration, setting, dosage, and individual needs.Conclusions: Physiotherapy should be recognized as a fundamental part of PC, contributing not only to the prolongation of life but also to ensuring comfort and dignity for patients and their families. To achieve this, its role within multidisciplinary teams must be strengthened and supported by regulations that guarantee access and the formal integration of physiotherapists. However, a significant gap remains in patients’ regular access to comfort-focused interventions at the appropriate time, perhaps due to the considerable variation in physiotherapy practices depending on the patient and care setting, which presents a challenge for knowledge development both in Portugal and globally.
背景/目的：人口老龄化与慢性病患病率上升促使医疗体系需采用以人为中心的照护模式，这在症状管理手段仍显局限的姑息治疗领域尤为关键。物理治疗在缓解患者不适方面具有重要作用，但在葡萄牙因缺乏认可而面临整合不足的困境。干预方法的差异性阻碍了标准化照护的实施，限制了患者及时获得以舒适为导向的治疗与相关知识。本研究旨在深化对物理治疗在葡萄牙姑息治疗中作用的理解，以促进其融入多学科团队并提升患者获得舒适照护的可及性。 方法：本研究采用描述性定性研究方法，依据Krueger和Casey的方法学指导并遵循COREQ清单规范，通过在线焦点小组开展调查。基于纳入标准，采用非概率便利抽样选取在葡萄牙大陆及岛屿地区从事姑息治疗的物理治疗师作为样本。原计划开展三组焦点小组（每组最多10人），但因参与可行性限制，最终共15名物理治疗师参与：第一组5人（医院姑息治疗单元）、第二组6人（住院单元）、第三组4人（社区单元，达到最低有效样本量）。 结果：物理治疗在姑息治疗中发挥着关键但未被充分认可的作用，研究强调需将其完全整合入照护团队，而非依赖滞后的临时转诊。治疗师运用体位管理、活动训练、疼痛与呼吸困难缓解、适应性运动、按摩、音乐疗法及情感支持等技术。常规物理治疗工具根据患者的具体情境、治疗时长、实施场所、剂量及个体需求进行个性化调整。 结论：物理治疗应被确立为姑息治疗的基础组成部分，其价值不仅在于延长生命，更在于保障患者及其家庭的舒适与尊严。为实现这一目标，必须通过法规保障物理治疗师的可及性与正式整合，强化其在多学科团队中的作用。然而，患者在适当时机规律获得以舒适为导向的干预仍存在显著缺口，这可能源于物理治疗实践因患者个体差异与照护场景不同而产生的巨大差异性，这对葡萄牙乃至全球该领域的知识发展构成了持续挑战。
Physiotherapy Intervention for Promoting Comfort in Palliative Care Patients: A Focus Group Study
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家