Accompanying Persons in Child and Adolescent Rehabilitation – what role do they play? Qualitative interviews with therapeutic staff and carers / Begleitpersonen in der Kinder- und Jugendrehabilitation – welche Rolle nehmen sie ein? Qualitative Interviews mit therapeutischem Personal und Sorgeberechtigten

• Published in: International Journal of Health Professions (Warsaw, Poland) Poland), 2024-01, Vol.11 (1), p.155-165
• Main Authors: Kluepfel, Laura, Fahrenkrog, Sandra, Stanek, Madeleine, Zembic, Anika, Stumm, Judith
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: accompanying person programme; Begleitpersonenprogramm; Caregivers; Children & youth; Children rehabilitation; children with chronic illness; Chronic illnesses; Clinics; Collaboration; Eltern; Families & family life; health care professionals; Home environment; Interviews; Kinder mit chronischer Krankheit; Kinderrehabilitation; medizinisches Fachpersonal; parents; Parents & parenting; Participation; qualitative interviews; Rehabilitation; role conflicts; Rollenkonflikte; Teenagers
• ISSN: 2296-990X; 2296-990X
• DOI: 10.2478/ijhp-2024-0012

NOABSTRACTMedical rehabilitation for children and adolescents in Germany has been strengthened in recent years, including facilitated admission of parents/caregivers, leading to an increase in the number of ‘accompanying persons’ in the rehabilitation setting. The aim of this study was to explore the roles of accompanying persons in rehabilitation, taking into account the perspectives of different stakeholders.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 accompanying persons at the beginning and the end of rehabilitation, as well as 18 healthcare providers with different areas of expertise. Data were analysed deductively and inductively using framework analysis.In addition to the topics of pre-rehabilitation-information and the general conflicting character of accompanying persons, three role categories could be identified within the rehab setting: Accompanying persons as child-caregiver, self-caregiver and clients of care. These roles are associated with different demands, needs and tasks.Our findings suggest that the concept of ‚accompanying person' should be further developed. Both clinical staff and accompanying persons themselves should become more aware of the different role-requirements. Greater consideration of the different needs and resources of accompanying persons is essential to provide sustainable support for both children and caregivers.