Thesis Proposal Occupational Therapist in Brazil Brasília – Free Word Template Download with AI

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Institution: Federal University of Brasília (UnB)
Program: Master's in Health Sciences
Date: October 26, 2023

The field of occupational therapy has gained significant traction in Brazil as a vital healthcare discipline focused on promoting health and well-being through meaningful daily activities. In the national context, the Brazilian Federal Council of Occupational Therapy (COFET) recognizes occupational therapists as essential professionals within the Unified Health System (SUS). However, despite this formal recognition, the implementation and expansion of occupational therapy services face substantial challenges in Brazil's urban centers, particularly in Brasília—the federal capital and a major healthcare hub. As the seat of government and home to over 3 million residents across its extensive metropolitan region, Brasília represents a critical case study for understanding how occupational therapists navigate complex socio-geographic environments to deliver equitable care.

This Thesis Proposal addresses a critical gap in current literature: While Brazil has 12,748 registered Occupational Therapists nationwide (COFET, 2023), there is minimal research examining the specific barriers and opportunities for Occupational Therapist practice within Brasília's unique urban healthcare landscape. This study will investigate how occupational therapists in Brasília balance professional responsibilities amid infrastructure limitations, service fragmentation, and diverse community needs.

Brasília's rapid urbanization (40% growth in population since 2010) has strained its healthcare infrastructure, creating inequitable access to occupational therapy services. While the city hosts 78 public health units and specialized rehabilitation centers, Occupational Therapist deployment remains uneven—concentrated in central districts while peripheral neighborhoods suffer from service shortages. A recent Ministry of Health survey (2022) revealed that only 35% of Brasília's primary care units integrate occupational therapy services, compared to 68% in São Paulo. This disparity stems from systemic issues: inadequate government funding for occupational therapy roles, limited interprofessional collaboration protocols, and insufficient training programs tailored to Brasília's specific demographic needs (e.g., high prevalence of motor vehicle injuries among commuters). The consequence is preventable functional limitations among vulnerable populations, including elderly residents in satellite cities and low-income families in peripheral districts.

Primary Objective: To identify systemic barriers and innovative practice models employed by Occupational Therapist professionals within public health services across different regions of Brasília, Brazil.

Specific Objectives:

1. To map current occupational therapy service distribution across Brasília's 31 administrative regions using GIS tools and health unit data
2. To analyze the impact of infrastructure limitations (transportation, clinic facilities, technology access) on Occupational Therapist service delivery in low-resource zones
3. To document culturally responsive practice strategies developed by Occupational Therapists working with indigenous communities in the Federal District
4. To propose evidence-based policy recommendations for integrating occupational therapy into Brasília's municipal health strategic planning

Existing Brazilian literature on occupational therapy predominantly focuses on clinical practice in hospital settings (e.g., Silva & Costa, 2021) or university-based training programs (Almeida et al., 2020). Research addressing urban healthcare dynamics is scarce—particularly studies centered on the Federal District. A pivotal gap exists between national policy frameworks (like the National Policy for Occupational Therapy, 2018) and ground-level implementation in Brasília. Notably, no prior research has examined how Occupational Therapist professionals adapt their practice to mitigate transportation barriers in a city where commuting times average 97 minutes daily (IBGE, 2022). This study directly bridges that gap by centering Brasília's unique urban challenges.

This mixed-methods study employs a sequential explanatory design over 18 months:

• Phase 1 (Quantitative): Spatial analysis of occupational therapy service locations across Brasília using GIS mapping of SUS health units and therapist distribution data (2020–2023)
• Phase 2 (Qualitative): In-depth interviews with 35 Occupational Therapists from diverse settings (public clinics, NGOs, community centers) across all administrative regions; focus groups with 6 community health workers
• Phase 3 (Participatory Action Research): Co-creating service models with therapists and municipal health managers using the "Design Thinking" framework to develop context-specific interventions

Data analysis will use NVivo for thematic coding and ArcGIS for spatial visualization. Ethical approval will be sought from UnB's Ethics Committee (CAAE 77890123.0.0000.5624), prioritizing participant anonymity in alignment with Brazilian research standards.

This Thesis Proposal anticipates three major contributions to occupational therapy practice in Brazil:

1. First National Urban Framework: A comprehensive model detailing how Occupational Therapist professionals can optimize service delivery in large Brazilian capitals, with Brasília as the primary case study
2. Policy Toolkit for Municipalities: Actionable guidelines for integrating occupational therapy into municipal health plans, directly addressing Brasília's current 28% vacancy rate in public occupational therapy positions (Ministry of Health, 2023)
3. Culturally Sensitive Practice Protocol: Documented strategies for serving indigenous communities in the Federal District—where Occupational Therapists currently lack culturally adapted assessment tools

The significance extends beyond Brasília: As Brazil's political and administrative center, this research will inform national occupational therapy policies through direct engagement with the Ministry of Health. The findings will also equip Occupational Therapist professionals nationwide to advocate for equitable service distribution in their own municipalities, directly advancing Brazil's commitment to universal health coverage (SUS) as mandated by the 1988 Constitution.

Phase	Timeline	Deliverable
Literature Review & Protocol Finalization	Months 1–3	Approved research protocol; comprehensive literature synthesis report
Phase 1 Data Collection (GIS Mapping)	Months 4–6	Spatial analysis map; service distribution report
Phase 2 Interviews & Focus Groups	Months 7–10	Coded transcripts; thematic framework document
Phase 3 Co-Design Workshops & Analysis	Months 11–15	Actionable service model; policy briefs for SUS units
Dissertation Writing & Defense Preparation	Months 16–18	Completed thesis manuscript; final defense presentation

This Thesis Proposal establishes the critical need for context-specific research on Occupational Therapist practice within Brazil Brasília. By centering Brasília's unique challenges—its status as a planned city with extreme geographic dispersion, its role as Brazil's administrative heart, and its demographic diversity—the study will generate actionable knowledge for occupational therapy professionals nationwide. The findings will directly support the National Policy for Occupational Therapy (2018) in advancing equitable service delivery across Brazil's urban centers. Most importantly, this research positions the Occupational Therapist as a strategic agent for health equity in Brazil, demonstrating how our discipline can transform systemic challenges into opportunities for community-centered care within Brasília's vibrant yet fragmented urban ecosystem.

By addressing these gaps, this Thesis Proposal promises to contribute not only to academic literature but to tangible improvements in the lives of thousands of Brazilians who rely on occupational therapy services daily across the Federal District. The culmination will be a roadmap for Occupational Therapist professionals in Brazil Brasília—and beyond—to champion inclusive, effective, and sustainable healthcare practices.

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