SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Med.
Sec. Family Medicine and Primary Care
Accompaniment in the healthcare sector: a systematic review and concept analysis
Cristina Antón 1,2
Maleny Medina 1,2
M. Pilar Rodríguez-Gabriel 1,2
Ángel Barahona 3,2
Santiago Alvarez-Montero 2,1
1. Medicine School, Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain
2. Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
3. Humanities Department, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
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Abstract
Abstract Word count: 291 Background: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: Accompaniment differs from mentoring, coaching, counselling, 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.
Summary
Keywords
Accompaniment, Concept analysis, healthcare humanization, Professional relationship, Systematic review
Received
13 October 2025
Accepted
14 January 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Antón, Medina, Rodríguez-Gabriel, Barahona and Alvarez-Montero. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Santiago Alvarez-Montero
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.