INTRODUCTION: The study of the relations between therapists and patients contributes to the understanding of the issues involved in adherence phenomenon to physiotherapy. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relation between the phenomenon of adherence in physiotherapy and the characteristics of the established relationship between therapists and patients. METHODOLOGY: Of qualitative and exploratory nature, based on the semiotic-phenomenological criteria of analysis. Took part in this study 11 patients, from 25 to 73 years old with varied clinical diagnoses, in addition to four physiotherapists active in a team that treated these patients. The participants answered a semi-structured interview containing topics about the adhesion process in physiotherapy and the role of therapist-patient relationship. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Data analysis followed the three steps of semiotic phenomenology: description, reduction and interpretation. The patient reports have suggested an organized structure of the phenomenon in two areas: a) the physiotherapy and the good professional and b) treatment adherence and non-adherence. The physiotherapists' description indicated a structure organized in three thematic areas: a) skills and abilities of the good therapist, b) adherence to physiotherapy, c) the physiotherapist and patient relationship. The phenomenological reduction suggests that the phenomenon of adherence to treatment in physiotherapy is structured around three aspects: comprehensive care, communication, and the contingencies of socio economic conditions of each patient. CONCLUSION: The adhesion process in physical therapy was characterized as multifactorial, and the interpersonal relationship between therapist and patient perceived as essential to successful rehabilitation and subsequent adherence to the Physiotherapy.
Treatment adherence; Communication; Relationship; Physiotherapy; Rehabilitation