Table 6 Original quotes as example for the indicator therapy initiation

For example, Theodor reported the importance of initial greeting: “A lot depends just on the way they say hello and the way they say goodbye. It is almost the same as with a job interview. It’s a bit of a funny comparison, but … (laugh)” (Theodor, 48, occupational therapist, 2 y, 2: 216). Another occupational therapist referred to the importance of therapy initiation in the following way: “For instance; if [a patient] pulls a face when I arrive or if as soon as I reach her bedside, she suddenly seems to be asleep, then everything is clear. Then I understand that she is not in the [right] mood” (Heidi, 23, occupational therapist, 1 y, 6: 348). Patients referred to therapy initiation in different ways. Some patients were looking forward to participating in therapy sessions, like Irene, a stroke patient who said: „I’d always look forward to the physiotherapy sessions, as I’d expected to learn something new again every time” (Irene, 75, patient, <  1 y, 4: 322). Whereas other patients stressed the fact, that on some days they are not in the mood for any kind of therapy schedule such as a patient with multiple sclerosis: “Some days I somehow just don’t feel like going to therapy. You know, you get up in the morning and you think ‘Oh God, I’m really not looking forward to that I have to do this and then I have to do that” (Maria, 46, patient, 9 y, 3: 184).