Implementing rehabilitation aftercare services in children and adolescents. Perspectives from practice

Backround and objective For long-term and sustainable rehabilitation success of chronically ill children and adolescents, the Flexirentengesetz enabled, among other things, the implementation of rehabilitation aftercare for children and adolescents. For the implementation and use of rehabilitation programmes, it is necessary to overcome various barriers and challenges and to involve the stakeholders involved in a role-specific manner. The aim of the qualitative study was to investigate the perspectives of paediatricians and rehabilitation clinic staff with regard to the level of knowledge, needs and barriers related to aftercare services for children and adolescents.Methods 20 semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with paediatricians in private practice (N=10) and rehabilitation clinic staff (N=10). The data were audio-digitally recorded, anonymously transcribed and content-analytically evaluated.Results Both paediatricians in private practice and staff of rehabilitation clinics have a positive attitude towards the concept of aftercare. Information deficits, communication channels, scarce time resources and unclear responsibilities are reasons for the hesitant use of aftercare services.Conclusion Aftercare services for children and adolescents are an essential complement to medical rehabilitation. Barriers and challenges to access and use should first be explored and considered from the providers' perspective. A purposefully information policy on existing aftercare services, the expansion of a comprehensive range of services and a standardized regulation of responsibilities can promote the implementation and use of aftercare services and relieve the respective actors.

Automated summary

This qualitative study investigated the perspectives of paediatricians and rehabilitation clinic staff on the knowledge, needs, and barriers related to aftercare services for children and adolescents. The study found that both doctors and clinic staff have a positive attitude towards aftercare services, but the usage is relatively low due to information deficits, limited communication channels, scarce time resources, and unclear responsibilities.