Physiotherapists’ experiences from collaborating with parents in the treatment of children with congenital clubfoot - a qualitative study

• Main Authors: Hanna Schultze Toverød, Silje Pernille Pollen, Runa Kalleson, Kirsti Riiser
• Format: Article
• Language: Danish
• Published: Norwegian Physiotherapist Association 2020-10-01
• Series: Fysioterapeuten
• Subjects: clubfoot; parent-therapist collaboration; capacity-building; family-centered practice
• Online Access: https://fysioterapeuten.no/barnefysioterapi-fagfellevurdert-kalleson/fysioterapeuters-erfaringer-fra-samarbeid-med-foreldre-i-behandlingen-av-barn-med-medfodt-klumpfot---en-kvalitativ-studie/127345
• ISSN: 0016-3384; 0807-9277

Aim: There is extensive research on orthopedic interventions for children with clubfoot, but far less on experiences from collaborative processes of importance for the follow-up. The aim of this study was to explore physiotherapists´ experiences of collaboration with parents in the follow-up of children with clubfoot and discuss the results in light of a capacity-building model of family-centered practice. Method: The study has a qualitative design and includes semi-structured interviews. Three physiotherapists with extensive experience from treating children with clubfoot participated in the interviews. The data material was analyzed with systematic text condensation. Findings: In the interviews, both challenges in the follow-up and episodes of successful parent-therapist collaboration were communicated by the participants. The analysis resulted the following main themes: Routines, knowledge and understanding, and collaboration. Based on the physiotherapists´ experiences, a good relation, a common understanding of the child´s condition and adaptions to the family´s preconditions are needed in order to establish a beneficial partnership with parents. Conclusions: The physiotherapists were united in their characteristics of a successful collaboration. They consciously tried to individualize their approach to each single family and build upon the family´s strengths. The follow-up was largely in line with a capacity-building and family-centered service approach; however, some discrepancies were also revealed.