Accompaniment in the healthcare sector: a systematic review and concept analysis

Accompaniment is increasingly recognized across professional practices as a key relational process, yet its meaning varies widely. Clarifying this concept is essential for theoretical development and practical application in healthcare and related disciplines. This study aimed to analyze the concept of "accompaniment," distinguishing its everyday use from its scientific meaning, and to establish an operational definition with defining attributes.

A concept analysis was conducted following the eight-step model of Walker and Avant. Everyday uses were identified through dictionary searches and online engines (Google, ChatGPT-4, and Copilot). Professional uses were determined through a systematic literature review performed in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 Statement. Eligible publications presented original definitions or descriptions of accompaniment and were written in English, French, Italian, Spanish, or German. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central. Methodological quality was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool for textual evidence. Attributes were extracted through a triangulated interpretative inductive analysis to derive a concise definition. Model, related, contrary, and borderline cases, as well as empirical referents, were developed.

From 378 records, 19 publications (16 main authors) met the inclusion criteria. The most frequent attributes described as accompaniment is a personal and ethical relationship oriented toward human development through a shared process that fosters a humanized social climate. The resulting definition was Accompaniment is a relational process between two or more people who share a path toward reciprocal development, in which at least one intentionally offers appreciation, presence, acceptance, and support to promote the other's full growth while respecting dignity, freedom, and context.

Accompaniment differs from mentoring, coaching, counseling, motivational interviewing, preceptorship, and shared decision-making. It is a transversal, interdisciplinary concept that can contribute to humanizing healthcare and supports the development of future measurement tools.