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Background: Professionals in child healthcare increasingly endorse the support of self-management in paediatric rehabilitation services for children with physical disability. Less understood though are their views regarding the role of the children's parents, as well as their own role in supporting parents. This study aimed to investigate the motivation of rehabilitation professionals to support self-management of parents regarding their child with physical disability, professionals' beliefs about parental self-management, and the perceptions underlying their motivation., Methods: A mixed-methods strategy was followed using a survey among rehabilitation professionals (n = 175) and consecutive semi-structured interviews (n = 16). Associations between autonomous (intrinsic) versus controlled (extrinsic) motivation and beliefs on parental self-management were tested. For deeper understanding of their motivation, directed content analysis was used to address key themes in the qualitative data extracts., Results: Professionals reported autonomous motivation for parental self-management support more often than controlled motivation (t[174] = 29.95, p < .001). Autonomous motivation was associated with the beliefs about the importance of parental self-management (r = .29, p < .001). Approximately 90% of the professionals believed that parents should have an active role, though less than 10% considered it important that parents also are independent actors and initiative takers in the rehabilitation process. Interviews revealed that individual professionals struggled with striking a balance between keeping control and 'giving away responsibility' to parents. A 'professional-like' attitude was expected of parents with 'involvement' and 'commitment' as essential preconditions. Furthermore, professionals expressed the need for additional coaching skills to support parental self-management., Conclusion: Professionals were predominantly autonomously motivated to support self-management of parents. However, the dilemmas in giving or taking responsibilities within the partnership with parents may limit their effectiveness in empowering parents. Reflection on the potential gaps between professionals' motivation, beliefs and actual behaviour might be crucial to support parental self-management., (© 2021 The Authors. Child: Care, Health and Development published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: With the growing attention in pediatric rehabilitation services for supporting self-management, the need increases for more shared understanding of the concept. The aim of this study was to explore parent activation, associated factors of- and underlying perceptions on parental self-management of parents of children with chronic conditions. Materials and methods: Using a mixed-methods strategy, first variations in self-management behaviors, motivation and perceived autonomy support were assessed with a cross-sectional survey among parents of children with chronic conditions (N = 239). Statistical analysis involved descriptive statistics and univariate analysis of variance. The survey was followed by 18 in-depth interviews with parents. Thematic analysis was used to recognize relevant topics in the qualitative data. Results: In the survey most parents reported being active self-managers. Nevertheless, only one third persisted in self-management when under stress. Autonomous motivation was strongly associated with parental self-management. In the interviews, parents mentioned attuning with professionals and finding balance as important aspects of self-management. To facilitate self-management, professionals were expected to have expert knowledge, be engaged and empathic. Conclusion: From the perspective of parents, self-management should be viewed as a collaborative effort in which they are supported by professionals, rather than having to manage it "by themselves". To facilitate self-management, parents expect professionals to have expert knowledge and additionally show interpersonal competences as openness, engagement and empathy. Motivating parents may facilitate their level of self-management regarding the care for their child with a chronic disorder. Good communication and collaboration with professionals appear to be key aspects of parental self-management. Parents expect pediatric rehabilitation teams to tune their services to the needs, desires and expectations of parents to support them in "self-managing" the care for their child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]