Hur kan fysioterapeuter i grundskolan påverka barns hälsa? : En kvalitativ intervjustudie som undersöker pediatriskt verksamma fysioterapeuters uppfattningar

Sammanfattning: Background: Primary and secondary school children can carry a variety of different health related problems, whereas inactivity is one of them. In spite of this, the representation of physiotherapists within the school system is low. Research examining how school-based physiotherapists could affect school children’s health is yet to be presented. Since physical therapists within the field of pediatrics meet many children with different causes of ill-health, to examine their view on a school-based physiotherapist is of interest. Primary and secondary school children can carry a variety of different health related problems, whereas inactivity is one of them. In spite of this, the representation of physiotherapists within the school system is low. Research examining how a school-based physiotherapist could affect school children’s health is yet to be presented. En pediatriskt verksam fysioterapeut träffar många barn med olika bakomliggande orsaker till ohälsa, varför deras syn på skolfysioterapeut är av intresse att undersökas. Purpose: To examine physiotherapists’, operating within the field of pediatrics, view on a school-based physiotherapist possibilities to affect children’s health in primary and secondary school. Method: Descriptive, qualitative method realized by individual interviews with an inductive approach. The selected participants were six physical therapists operating within the field of pediatrics.Urvalet bestod av sex pediatriskt verksamma fysioterapeuter. En kvalitativ innehållsanalys utgjorde en grund för resultatet. Result: Five categories were formed. These were pursue informative operations regarding healthy habits, infix preventative measures to increase school children’s activity levels, providing support for children with special needs, working with school children’s physical self-esteem and assisting with professional competency surrounding the construction of school environments.The conducted interviews showed a worsened overall health state amongst school children. The health state is affected by the child’s preconditions and surroundings, but also by the decisions of which the child may choose to take based on these factors. The interviews also showed that a school-based physiotherapist’s occupation can be comprehensive. Conclusion:A school-based physical therapist may be of importance to the school health services by effecting students’ health in different ways. School based physical therapists, amongst other things, have the opportunity to increase general physical activity, operate towards a healthy lifestyle and acknowledge children living with undiagnosed disorders. As the results of this study only represent the views of physiotherapists active within pediatrics, further studies presenting other populations’ opinions of this matter, are needed.There are many elements that play a contributing role in determining a child’s health and activity level. A physiotherapist can be of importance for the work conducted by the school health services but also for the work conducted on a societal level as a school-based physiotherapist has the opportunity to acknowledge children living with undiagnosed disorders, whose needs are not fully met. As the results of this study only represent the views of physiotherapists active within pediatrics, further studies presenting other populations’ opinions of this matter, are needed.