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

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• clubfoot
• parent-therapist collaboration
• capacity-building
• family-centered practice