{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,11]],"date-time":"2026-07-11T06:08:50Z","timestamp":1783750130916,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"13","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,27]],"date-time":"2025-06-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750982400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)","award":["UID\/05704\/2023"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/05704\/2023"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Cancers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019 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.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers17132167","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,27]],"date-time":"2025-06-27T05:29:58Z","timestamp":1751002198000},"page":"2167","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Physiotherapy Intervention for Promoting Comfort in Palliative Care Patients: A Focus Group Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Daniela Filipa dos Santos","family":"Domingos","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5021-773X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Querido","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), 2414-016 Leiria, Portugal"},{"name":"RISE Health Research Group, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3760-2617","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vanda Varela","family":"Pedrosa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), 2414-016 Leiria, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"q2387","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.q2387","article-title":"Palliative care is an overlooked global health priority","volume":"387","author":"Peeler","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"186","DOI":"10.1111\/imj.16011","article-title":"Our dementia challenge: Arise palliative care","volume":"53","author":"Brennan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Intern. 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