Pathways to School Reentry for Children and Young People with a Medical or Mental Health Condition: An International Delphi Study.

Abstract

Prolonged school absences among children and young people hospitalized due to medical or mental health conditions can significantly disrupt their social and academic development. This study addresses the critical process of reintegrating these learners into their school environments and develops a comprehensive, consensus-based model to facilitate successful school reentry. Utilizing the Delphi method, the research collected insights from 56 experts across 18 countries, representing education, healthcare, and academia, over three rounds of consultation between 2022 and 2024. The findings identify key temporal phases and actions crucial for planning and executing reentry strategies. The resulting models (one for physical health conditions and another for mental health conditions) offer structured guidance, emphasizing multidisciplinary collaboration, context-specific adaptations, and the active participation of the students in the process. The study underscores the need for tailored interventions that address the unique challenges faced by each learner, emphasizing the importance of integrating educational, healthcare, and social support systems with the local culture and values of children and their families to foster resilience and successful reintegration.