Os estudos sobre o perfil de profissionais de saúde são informações relevantes para possibilitar
aos órgãos de saúde, às instituições de ensino e aos órgãos de classe o planejamento de ações assistenciais
e educativas. As ações em saúde e suas avaliações precisam levar em consideração o perfil dos profissionais
disponÃveis e o contexto macroeconômico de determinados grupos, de acordo com a época e a região em que
se encontram, para o sucesso e a qualidade das atividades planejadas. Objetivo: Conhecer o perfil sociodemográfico
e profissional dos fisioterapeutas que atuam na cidade de Santa Maria, RS, e a origem de suas concepções
sobre ética. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal e descritivo, com abordagem
quantitativa. Participaram da pesquisa fisioterapeutas no exercÃcio de atividades assistenciais e/ou educativas
no campo da fisioterapia. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário semiestruturado, construÃdo para
essa finalidade. Para processamento e análise dos dados utilizou-se o banco de dados Microsoft
Studies about the profile of health professionals provide relevant information which allows health
agencies, educational institutions and professional organizations to project educational and assistential actions.
These actions and their evaluation have to take into account the profile of the available professionals, as well
the macroeconomic context of the groups considered, according to the period and the region they are placed, in
order to give success and quality on the planned activities. Objective: To know the sociodemographic and professional
profile of physical therapists who work in the city of Santa Maria, RS, and the origin of their conceptions
of ethics. Materials and methods: A descriptive and transversal study, with quantitative approach. Physical
therapists working with professional and/or educational activities in the physical therapy field participated in
the research. Data were collected through a semi-structured instrument construct for that purpose. The statistical
package SAS (Statistical Analysis System), version 8.02, was used to process and analyze the data. Results:
The sample consisted of 167 physical therapists, most of them young adults, between 22 and 35 years old (60%)
and 83% were women. They are predominantly self-employed, without working contract (52,4%), and also work
in public (23,5%) and private (20,5%) services; they most often provide home care or work in private clinics and
offices. They have competence in distinct levels and fields, being the musculoskeletal the one with higher request
of their professional services. Consequently, this area is the most desired to do specialization. The predominant
clientele are adults, women and the elderly. The origin of knowledge about ethics comes from the family and
from the challenges imposed by the professional practice. Conclusion: Although there are many experienced and
renowned physical therapists, the young ones predominate in the professional practice. Growing professional
process is constant, not only in traditional fields but also in the emergent ones. Ethical issues must be more discussed
not only during the formal academic course but also during the daily professional activities.
