The rehabilitation plan can support clients’ active engagement and facilitate the process of change – experiences from people with late effects of polio participating in a rehabilitation programme

Abstract

Purpose: To explore how the rehabilitation plan influences the rehabilitation process and its outcome in people with late effects of polio participating in an individualised goal-oriented interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Methods: Four women and two men with late effects of polio were interviewed before rehabilitation, at discharge, and at follow-up. Data were analysed according to the constant comparative method of grounded theory. Findings: The participants’ experiences formed one core category: “The same starting point but different rehabilitation processes”. Before rehabilitation, all participants experienced a similar starting point: Naïve understanding of rehabilitation. During rehabilitation, two separate processes followed. Four participants experienced their rehabilitation as being a mutually shared process that led to a process of change. They were actively engaged, using the rehabilitation plan, and working towards goals targeting a broad perspective of daily activities. The remaining two participants experienced their rehabilitation as a staff-directed process, with limited use of the rehabilitation plan, focusing on goals mainly related to body functions and self-care, not leading to any substantial changes. Conclusion: When clients experience that they develop a mutually shared rehabilitation process, based on a rehabilitation plan, they became more engaged in their rehabilitation and gained a better understanding of their participation during the process. Knowledge of the differences in how clients use the rehabilitation plan during the rehabilitation process can support their active engagement during rehabilitation. This, in turn, can promote a more holistic view among clients and professionals during the rehabilitation for people with late effects of polio.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Clients who experience a rehabilitation that is mutually shared with professionals, have a better understanding of their engagement during the rehabilitation process.

• When clients and professionals use the rehabilitation plan as a mutual tool, clients become more actively engaged in their rehabilitation process.

• A structured rehabilitation plan can serve as a map, and support clients’ process of change during the rehabilitation process, also after the rehabilitation period is completed.

• Adaptation
• international classification of functioning
• disability and health
• patient care planning
• post-poliomyelitis syndrome
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participants who willingly shared their experiences. This work was accomplished within the context of the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund-Malmö, Sweden, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden, and within the context of the Centre for Ageing and Supportive Environments (CASE), Lund University, Sweden, funded by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare.

Declaration of interest

This work was funded by Skåne University Hospital, Sweden and Norrbacka-Eugenia Foundation, Sweden. The authors report no other declaration of interest.