Alterações nos processos de trabalho de profissionais de Educação Física nos CAPS no contexto da pandemia de COVID-19

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze changes in the work processes of Physical Education professionals working in Psychosocial Care Centers (Centros de Atenção Psicossocial - CAPS) in a city in the extreme south of Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is qualitative research in which three Physical Education professionals were interviewed between March and April 2023. The data was produced through in-person interviews based on a semi-structured script. Thematic Analysis was used to analyze the data, identifying codes and two main themes that discussed the work: “Performance Profile of Professionals in CAPS” and “Effects of the Pandemic”. Some similarities were observed in the professionals' actions - such as the preference for group devices and careful listening as part of the work routine. Changes in the work routines of professionals in services and the need for adaptation were also observed, with an increase in individual assistance and a pause in the provision of group work - such as workshops and therapeutic groups. Respondents also indicated increased demand for services, especially in the post-pandemic period, and a possible impact on the users who arrived at the service. Finally, greater attention to Physical Education professionals in CAPS was suggested for the managers, and the academic community itself, understanding the possibility of expanding knowledge and the very presence of Physical Education in mental health.