QUALITY OF LIFE PROFILE IN PHYSIOTHERAPISTS: A CONTRAST BETWEEN HOSPITAL AND CLINICAL PRACTICE

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life of physiotherapists working exclusively in hospital settings and exclusively in non-hospital settings in the municipality of Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative study conducted with 30 physical therapists who met the eligibility criteria after inclusion and exclusion screening. Data collection was carried out through an online form containing a sociodemographic questionnaire and the WHOQOL-bref instrument, which evaluates the physical, psychological, social relationships, environment, and self-assessment domains of quality of life. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed a predominance of female participants, and physical therapists working in outpatient settings presented higher scores in the psychological and environment domains, suggesting a more stable routine and better subjective conditions of well-being. In the hospital sector, lower scores were observed in the physical domain, possibly associated with biomechanical overload, longer working hours, and the high demands of the environment. It is concluded that the work setting directly influences the perception of quality of life among physical therapists, suggesting better outcomes in professionals who do not work in hospital environments.