The Scope of Research on Transfer and Transition in Young Persons With Chronic Conditions

COCCOS study: Developing a transition program for adolescents with chronic conditions using Experience-Based Co-Design. A study protocol

BACKGROUND

During adolescence, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are expected to transfer their care from the pediatric environment towards an adult-focused setting. To prevent an abrupt transfer of care, it is recommended to provide AYAs with chronic conditions an adequate transition program. The aim of this paper is to describe the study protocol for the development of a transition program for AYAs with common chronic conditions (COCCOS study), using the Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) methodology.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A qualitative, participatory study is conducted in Flanders (Belgium). Study participants are AYAs (n≥15, 14-25 years old, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, asthma, or obesity), their families, and healthcare providers (n≥15). The study is composed of eight EBCD stages: clinical site observations, in-depth interviews, trigger film, healthcare providers' feedback event, AYAs' feedback event, joint event, co-design workshops, and a celebration event. Photovoice will take place as a starting point of EBCD. Data will be analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Data collection has started in January 2023 and is expected to be completed in May 2024. As of August 2023, over 15 clinical site observations have been conducted. A total of 18 AYAs, two parents, six healthcare providers have been enrolled and a total of 20 interviews have been conducted.

CONCLUSION

Advancing transitional care is essential for tackling negative health outcomes. Applying the innovative participatory EBCD methodology will reveal key elements of transitional care for AYAs with common chronic conditions in the development of a person-centered transition program.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Study findings will apply key elements of transitional care of AYAs with chronic conditions in the development of an adequate transition program.

Clinics dedicated to transition preparation for adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions: Factors influencing their use

To pool resources and reduce inequalities in access to transition preparation for patients, transition clinics were created in France. They are places in hospitals, independent of the usual care departments, offering multiple resources and services for adolescents and their parents. Of the 24 physicians from care departments who were surveyed, half of them do not use transition clinics. The implementation of transition clinics in hospitals did not lead to their adoption by the care departments that needed the most support for transition preparation of their patients. A strategy improving adoption is needed to allow transition clinics to reduce inequalities.

Development of quality indicators of transfer and transition in adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND

Quality indicators are crucial in evaluating and comparing the quality of healthcare services. In the case of congenital heart disease, transition programmes for adolescents have been recommended to ensure uninterrupted healthcare and lifelong care. It is necessary to establish quality indicators in order to facilitate the evaluation of programme quality and to allow comparison between different centres. The objective of this study is therefore to develop a set of quality indicators for the transition of adolescents with congenital heart disease.

METHODS

The RAND/UCLA appropriateness method was employed in a four-step process to develop a set of quality indicators. First, a literature search was conducted on the dimensions of transitional care, based on which a preliminary set of quality indicators was developed. Second, experts were contacted, and an expert panel was established. Third, the panel members were asked to rate the appropriateness of the quality indicators in a two-round process. Finally, in the fourth step, we evaluated the data by measuring the median and Disagreement Index.

RESULTS

The expert panel consisted of 16 members, congenital cardiologists, nurses, transition experts, patients and research experts. The preliminary set of quality indicators comprised 16 items, categorized in process and structure criteria. Based on the panel's feedback, the set was refined to 12 quality indicators, which were rated as relevant and feasible.

CONCLUSIONS

This study represents the first attempt to develop quality indicators for transitional care services for adolescents with congenital heart disease. The set of 12 quality indicators was developed based on existing evidence and expert opinion. Further testing is needed to assess the feasibility of these quality indicators in daily practice. If successfully implemented, these quality indicators could allow comparison and facilitate benchmarking of transitional care services for adolescents with congenital heart disease.

Effectiveness of the STEPSTONES Transition Program for Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease-A Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

Adolescents with congenital heart disease transition from childhood to adulthood and transfer from pediatric-oriented to adult-oriented care. High-level empirical evidence on the effectiveness of transitional care is scarce. This study investigated the empowering effect (primary outcome) of a structured person-centered transition program for adolescents with congenital heart disease and studied its effectiveness on transition readiness, patient-reported health, quality of life, health behaviors, disease-related knowledge, and parental outcomes e.g., parental uncertainty, readiness for transition as perceived by the parents (secondary outcomes).

METHODS

The STEPSTONES-trial comprised a hybrid experimental design whereby a randomized controlled trial was embedded in a longitudinal observational study. The trial was conducted in seven centers in Sweden. Two centers were allocated to the randomized controlled trial-arm, randomizing participants to intervention or control group. The other five centers were intervention-naïve centers and served as contamination check control group. Outcomes were measured at the age of 16 years (baseline), 17 years, and 18.5 years.

RESULTS

The change in empowerment from 16 years to 18.5 years differed significantly between the intervention group and control group (mean difference = 3.44; 95% confidence interval = 0.27-6.65; p = .036) in favor of intervention group. For the secondary outcomes, significant differences in change over time were found in parental involvement (p = .008), disease-related knowledge (p = .0002), and satisfaction with physical appearance (p = .039). No differences in primary or secondary outcomes were detected between the control group and contamination check control group, indicating that there was no contamination in the control group.

DISCUSSION

The STEPSTONES transition program was effective in increasing patient empowerment, reducing parental involvement, improving satisfaction with physical appearance, and increasing disease-related knowledge.

Transition from paediatric to adult care in young people with diabetes; A structured programme from a regional diabetes service, Auckland, New Zealand

AIM

To assess participation with a structured transition programme for adolescents with diabetes.

METHODS

Data from a regional cohort aged less than 16 years of age with type 1 (T1) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Auckland, New Zealand (2006-2016). Participation was defined as opting into a structured transition programme.

RESULTS

Five hundrend and twelve adolescents who were to be transferred to adult care (476 type 1 (T1D) and 36 type 2 (T2D)), overall participation rate of 83%, 86% (408/476) with T1D compared to 47% (17/36) with T2D. Within the cohort of T1D, participation rates for Māori and Pacific were lower (74% and 77%, respectively) than New Zealand Europeans (88%, p = 0.020 and p = 0.039, respectively). Lower socio-economic status was associated with reduced participation (77%) compared to higher socio-economic status (90%, p = 0.002). Of the 476 T1D who participated, 408 (96%) subsequently attended at least one adult service clinic ("capture"). 42% attended an adult clinic within the planned 3 months, 87% at 6 months and retention in adult clinics over 5 years of follow-up was 78%. By contrast, the 68 young people with T1D who did not participate in the structured transition had a capture rate of 78% (p < 0.001) and retention of 63% (p = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

In adolescents with diabetes, a formal transition from a paediatric service was associated with high rates of adult capture and subsequent retention in adult care over a 5-year follow-up period. Low socio-economic status, Māori or Pacific ethnicity and T2D were associated with reduced participation in the structured transition programme.

The role and the composition of a liaison team to facilitate the transition of adolescents and young adults: an umbrella review

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) benefit from healthcare transition (HCT) programs. Despite the well-established literature reviewing HCT, a considerable heterogeneity exists on the involved healthcare professionals. This review aims to explore systematic reviews on the practices and recommendations on which disciplines of professionals should be involved in HCT. An umbrella review was performed using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. To be eligible, systematic reviews had to report on the composition and/or the rationale of members of a transition team. Seventeen reviews were included in this systematic review. A healthcare professional that coordinates HCT was identified as a key caregiver in all reviews. Other reported members of a HCT team were nurses (75% of the reviews), social workers (44%), and peers/mentors (35%). The reported key responsibilities of a HCT team were to (i) manage communication, (ii) ensure continuity of care, and (iii) maintain contact with community services.  Conclusions: A team responsible for HCT should be active on the organizational, medical, and social levels. Key members of a HCT team vary little between diseases and included a coordinator, social worker, and nurse. A coordinating physician could facilitate transition in complex conditions. At all times, the condition and needs of the AYA should determine who should be involved as caregiver. What is Known: • The psychosocial needs of adolescents and young adults during healthcare transition are largely similar between chronic diseases. What is New: • Coordinators, nurses and social workers were the most involved, independent of the condition. • A liaison team should be active on organizational-, medical- and social-levels.

Nurses' and Doctors' Experiences of Transferring Adolescents or Young Adults With Long-Term Health Conditions From Pediatric to Adult Care: A Metasynthesis

The transfer of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with long-term health conditions from pediatric to adult care is a multidisciplinary enterprise where nurses and doctors play an important role. This review aimed to identify and synthesize evidence from qualitative primary reports on how nurses and doctors experience the transfer of AYA aged 13 to 24 years with long-term health conditions to an adult hospital setting. We systematically searched seven electronic databases for reports published between January 2005 and November 2021 and reporting nurses' and doctors' experiences. We meta-summarized data from 13 reports derived from 11 studies published worldwide. Using qualitative content analysis, we metasynthesized nurses' and doctors' experiences into the theme "being boosters." Boosting AYA's transfer was characterized by supporting AYA's and their parents' changing roles, smoothening AYA's transition from pediatric to adult care, and handling AYA's encounters with a different care culture.

Co-designing resources to support the transition from child to adult health services for young people with cerebral palsy: A design thinking approach

Introduction

Design thinking is a human-centred process that aims to identify the needs of end-users and iteratively develop solutions. Involving end-users in the development and design of solutions may enhance effectiveness by increasing focus on the needs of the target population. This paper describes the process of co-designing resources to support the transition from child-centred to adult-orientated health services using a design thinking approach.

Methods

Five co-design workshops were conducted remotely with a young person advisory group and parent advisory group. A design thinking process guided by the Stanford D.School approach was used to understand the transition needs of young people and their parents and iteratively develop solutions to improve end-user experience.

Results

Eight resource prototypes were generated: (1) designated transition coordinator, (2) digital stories of transition experience (3) written informational support (4) transition website, (5) transition checklists and worksheets (6) transition app, (7) transition programme or course and (8) educational programme for health professionals.

Conclusion

Design thinking is a feasible approach to identify, characterise and prioritise resources collaboratively with end-user partners.

Co-designed healthcare transition interventions for adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions: a scoping review

PURPOSE

To determine the scope of published literature on healthcare transition (HCT) interventions that have been co-designed with adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions, and to undertake feasibility assessments.

METHODS

Using Scopus, CINAHL, Medline-Ovid, Cochrane and PsycINFO databases, publications that included a HCT intervention to support paediatric to adult healthcare transition were included. Study location, design, population, description of the intervention, co-design methods, feasibility evidenced using Bowen and colleagues' framework, and outcome measures were extracted for review.

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies were included, relating to 17 co-designed HCT interventions that ranged across multiple medical specialties. There was no standard HCT intervention; characteristics, format and delivery mode varied. Only three studies reported a detailed description of the co-design method(s) used and none reported on the facilitators or barriers. Among the studies, five of Bowen and colleagues' eight dimensions of feasibility were measured.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the co-design process being neither described or evaluated extensively, all co-designed HCT interventions included in this review were considered to be feasible. Nevertheless, HCT interventions varied in their format and delivery method making it difficult to compare between them. Furthermore, interventions were often condition-specific and not representative of the extensive range of chronic conditions.Implications for RehabilitationHealthcare transition interventions can improve adherence to care, health outcomes, ongoing rehabilitation, and quality of life of adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions.Healthcare transition interventions should maximise long-term functioning and prioritise rehabilitation aimed at enhancing independence and self-management skills, while reducing hospitalisations.The engagement of individuals with lived experience in the co-design of interventions has been strongly advocated as it brings unique knowledge and experience to the research process.Minimal attention has been given to the involvement of adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions in the development of healthcare transition interventions, however, healthcare transition interventions co-designed with adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions are both feasible and acceptable.

Transitioning between paediatric and adult healthcare services: a qualitative study of the experiences of young people with spinal cord injuries and parents/caregivers

OBJECTIVES

Healthcare transition (HCT) interventions are pivotal to paediatric rehabilitation. However, there has been limited research focusing on HCT in young people with spinal cord injury (SCI). To date, little has been reported on key factors that may contribute to a positive or negative transition experience and what, if any, are the gaps in the transition process. This study explored the experiences of transition from paediatric to adult healthcare for young people with SCI and parents/caregivers in pursuit of co-designing and developing an intervention to support transition.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This qualitative study forms part of the planning phase of a larger participatory action research project. It supports obtaining a rich understanding of the phenomenon and the issues and actions necessary to achieve change. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted online between April and June 2021 with young people with SCI and parents/caregivers who had transitioned or were preparing for the transition from paediatric to adult healthcare in NSW, Australia. The interviews were analysed using an inductive reflexive thematic analysis approach.

RESULTS

The study recruited nine participants, five young people with SCI and four parents/caregivers. The interviews provided invaluable insight into young people with SCI and their parents'/caregivers' experiences of HCT. As HCT experiences were often less than optimal and needs were not adequately met, some recommendations were offered. These included a coordinated and streamlined handover from paediatric to adult healthcare providers, and a 'one-stop shop' for young people with SCI and their parents/caregivers to access transition information, such as how it occurs, who to call for ongoing support and advice, and tips on how to transition successfully.

CONCLUSION

Providing a coordinated and streamlined handover process as well as access to more context-related information could improve the transition experiences of young people with SCI and parents/caregivers, resulting in improved health outcomes and greater independence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ACTRN12621000500853.

The longitudinal association between patient empowerment and patient-reported outcomes: What is the direction of effect?

Background

Theoretical literature and cross-sectional studies suggest empowerment is associated with other patient-reported outcomes (PROs). However, it is not known if patient empowerment is leading to improvements in other PROs or vice versa.

Aims

The present study aimed to examine the direction of effects between patient empowerment and PROs in young persons with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Methods

As part of the STEPSTONES-CHD trial, adolescents with CHD from seven pediatric cardiology centers in Sweden were included in a longitudinal observational study (n = 132). Data were collected when patients were 16 (T0), 17 (T1) and 18 ½ years old (T2). The Gothenburg Young Persons Empowerment Scale (GYPES) was used to measure patient empowerment. Random intercepts cross-lagged panel models between patient empowerment and PROs (communication skills; patient-reported health; quality of life; and transition readiness) were undertaken.

Results

We found a significant cross-lagged effect of transition readiness over patient empowerment between T1 and T2, signifying that a higher level of transition readiness predicted a higher level of patient empowerment. No other significant cross-lagged relationships were found.

Conclusion

Feeling confident before the transition to adult care is necessary before young persons with CHD can feel in control to manage their health and their lives. Clinicians interested in improving patient empowerment during the transitional period should consider targeting transition readiness.

Developing a Health Care Transition Intervention With Young People With Spinal Cord Injuries: Co-design Approach

Background

Successful transition from pediatric to adult health care settings supports long-term health management and better overall outcomes in all domains. However, young people with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) continue to report challenges and unmet needs during the transition process. Including end users in health care research and intervention design is paramount as interventions designed in this way better meet their specific needs and are often more innovative. Although studies have reported involving young people with chronic conditions in the development of health care transition (HCT) interventions, few details have been provided as to how this was achieved.

Objective

This study outlined the co-design and development of an HCT intervention to support young people with SCIs. It contextualized the co-design process, methods, materials used, and steps implemented from defining the problem to conceiving and designing the solution. This was accomplished by understanding and listening to end users’ needs and recommendations for HCT.

Methods

Using participatory methods, this qualitative study reports the co-design of an HCT intervention to support young people with SCIs and parents or caregivers. Two co-design workshops were conducted: one with young people with SCIs and one with parents and caregivers. Categories were defined through a hybrid deductive and inductive qualitative content analysis process that was informed by the Care Transitions Framework and guided the development of the HCT intervention. Following the creation of a prototype intervention, young people with SCIs, parents and caregivers, and key pediatric SCI stakeholders provided feedback on the intervention content and design in focus groups. Similar to the workshops, the focus groups were analyzed using a hybrid deductive and inductive qualitative content analysis process informed by the Care Transitions Framework. The Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research guidelines for qualitative research (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) were applied.

Results

Overall, 4 young people and 4 parents or caregivers participated in the co-design workshops. Key recommendations for the HCT intervention were that participants wanted a “one-stop shop” for all their transition information needs and an editable portable medical summary to take with them to appointments. On the basis of the analysis of participants’ recommendations from the workshops, it was determined that a website would be an appropriate hosting platform for the interventions. The focus group feedback on the design and content of the prototype website was extremely positive, with minor recommendations for improvement.

Conclusions

This is the first study to co-design and develop an HCT intervention in partnership with young people with SCIs and parents and caregivers. Although the study sample was small, it has shown that it is possible to meaningfully engage and empower young people with SCIs and parents and caregivers in the co-design of an HCT intervention.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053212

Transition to adulthood and transfer to adult care of adolescents with congenital heart disease: a global consensus statement of the ESC Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions (ACNAP), the ESC Working Group on Adult Congenital Heart Disease (WG ACHD), the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC), the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR), the Asia-Pacific Pediatric Cardiac Society (APPCS), the Inter-American Society of Cardiology (IASC), the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ), the International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ISACHD), the World Heart Federation (WHF), the European Congenital Heart Disease Organisation (ECHDO), and the Global Alliance for Rheumatic and Congenital Hearts (Global ARCH)

The vast majority of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) in high-income countries survive into adulthood. Further, paediatric cardiac services have expanded in middle-income countries. Both evolutions have resulted in an increasing number of CHD survivors. Expert care across the life span is necessitated. In adolescence, patients transition from being a dependent child to an independent adult. They are also advised to transfer from paediatrics to adult care. There is no universal consensus regarding how transitional care should be provided and how the transfer should be organized. This is even more challenging in countries with low resources. This consensus document describes issues and practices of transition and transfer of adolescents with CHD, accounting for different possibilities in high-, middle-, and low-income countries. Transitional care ought to be provided to all adolescents with CHD, taking into consideration the available resources. When reaching adulthood, patients ought to be transferred to adult care facilities/providers capable of managing their needs, and systems have to be in place to make sure that continuity of high-quality care is ensured after leaving paediatric cardiology.

The Utility of Self-Determination Theory in Predicting Transition Readiness in Adolescents With Special Healthcare Needs

PURPOSE

Adolescents and young adults with chronic health conditions must learn skills to successfully manage their health as they prepare to transition into adult-based care. Self-determination theory (SDT), an empirically based theory of human motivation, posits that competence (feeling effective), autonomy (volition to perform behaviors), and relatedness (support for autonomy from others) influence behavioral change. This study evaluates the utility of SDT constructs in predicting transition readiness among adolescents and young adults recruited into an intervention to promote successful healthcare transition.

METHODS

Baseline assessments were completed by 137 patients aged 17-23 years recruited from pediatric renal, gastroenterology, or rheumatology clinical services. Surveys measured transition readiness (Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire) as well as SDT constructs, including competence (Patient Activation Measure); provider relatedness and parent autonomy support (Health Care Climate Questionnaire); and health care-related autonomy (Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire). Relationships between SDT constructs and transition readiness were evaluated using linear regression.

RESULTS

Between 44 and 48 participants were recruited from each service. Bivariate correlation coefficients between transition readiness and SDT constructs were competence (r = .44), autonomous autonomy (r = .34), controlled autonomy (r = .27), provider relatedness (r = .46), and parental autonomy support (r = .35) (p < .01). Age positively correlated with transition readiness (r = .47, p < .001). After controlling for age, gender, and clinical service, competence (p < .001) and provider relatedness (p = .008) successfully predicted transition readiness (R² = .423; F change; p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this cross-sectional study support the utility of SDT constructs in promoting transition readiness among adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions, underscoring the importance of building competence and provider support for autonomy during this critical period.

Protocol for developing a healthcare transition intervention for young people with spinal cord injuries using a participatory action research approach

INTRODUCTION

While healthcare transition (HCT) interventions are recognised as an important area in paediatric rehabilitation, there has been limited research focusing on young people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). In this study, researchers will collaborate with young people with SCI and their parents/caregivers to develop, implement and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a HCT intervention aimed at supporting young people with SCI during their transition from paediatric to adult healthcare services.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A participatory action research (PAR) approach will be used to co-develop the HCT intervention with young people with SCI aged 14-25 years and their parents/caregivers. Three phases will be conducted to address the five objectives of this study. Phase 1 will use semi-structured interviews to explore young people and parent/caregivers' experiences of HCT. In Phase 2a, both young people and parent/caregivers will be co-researchers. They will be included in the analysis of the interviews and will be asked to participate in co-design workshops to inform the development of a prototype HCT intervention. In Phase 2b, using focus groups, feedback on the prototype HCT intervention will be collected. In Phase 3, the refined prototype HCT intervention will be implemented, and young people with SCI and parent/caregivers will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the HCT intervention in semi-structured interviews. A reference group, including stakeholders and end users, will be consulted at different time points.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has received ethics approval from Western Sydney University Human Research and Ethics Committee (H14029). The researcher will use the results of this study as chapters in a thesis to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The findings will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed journals and will be presented at local, national or international conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12621000500853.

Self-management for youth and young adults with special health needs: protocol for a scoping review of health care transition planning literature

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this scoping review is to explore the extent to which self-management of youth and young adults with special health care needs is reported in the health care transition literature.

INTRODUCTION

It is essential for youth and young adults with special health care needs to learn the self-management skills, to the extent possible, that are essential in maintaining the stability of their chronic condition to seamlessly transfer to adult care and live independently. Acquisition of self-management competencies for chronic care management is an essential component of health care transition preparation.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

The inclusion criteria will be based upon age and condition designation. The age range of participants will include youth and young adults, aged nine to 35 years, who have special health care needs. Inclusion criteria consists of both non-categorical and diagnostic specific terminology for youth and young adults with a childhood acquired chronic condition. Non-categorical terms used include "long-term chronic condition," "special health care needs," "medical complex condition," "complex care needs," "developmental disability," "intellectual disability," "mental health condition," "emotional disabilities," "physical disabilities," "chronic illness," and "chronic condition."

METHODS

The following databases will be accessed for this health care transition scoping review: CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Relevant gray literature will be accessed as well. The Covidence software platform will be used to review citations and full-text articles. Two reviewers will independently review abstracts and full texts of studies, and extract data using the data extraction tool. Any conflicts will be resolved with a third reviewer. Review findings will be presented in tabular format and narrative synthesis based upon the scoping review objective.

Understanding the Phenomenon of Health Care Transition: Theoretical Underpinnings, Exemplars of Nursing Contributions, and Research Implications

This manuscript features exemplars of nursing science that contribute to the development of health care transition practice models and evidence-based care. These research exemplars demonstrate the need for diverse investigative approaches coupled with clinical acumen and expertise in health care transition. The focus of describing nurse-led and nurse-contributory research and quality improvement efforts in this emerging field is offered to foster nursing involvement.Also, research efforts are not limited to the pediatric populations; research is needed for the provision of evidence-based careand monitoring of health and psychosocial outcomes of adults with childhood acquired chronic conditions.

Discontinuity of Cardiac Follow-Up in Young People With Congenital Heart Disease Transitioning to Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background The majority of people born with congenital heart disease require lifelong cardiac follow-up. However, discontinuity of care is a recognized problem and appears to increase around the transition to adulthood. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the proportion of adolescents and emerging adults with congenital heart disease discontinuing cardiac follow-up. In pooled data, we investigated regional differences, disparities by disease complexity, and the impact of transition programs on the discontinuity of care. Methods and Results Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, Cinahl, and Web of Science. We identified 17 studies, which enrolled 6847 patients. A random effects meta-analysis of single proportions was performed according to the DerSimonian-Laird method. Moderator effects were computed to explore sources for heterogeneity. Discontinuity proportions ranged from 3.6% to 62.7%, with a pooled estimated proportion of 26.1% (95% CI, 19.2%-34.6%). A trend toward more discontinuity was observed in simple heart defects (33.7%; 95% CI, 15.6%-58.3%), compared with moderate (25.7%; 95% CI, 15.2%-40.1%) or complex congenital heart disease (22.3%; 95% CI, 16.5%-29.4%) (P=0.2372). Studies from the United States (34.0%; 95% CI, 24.3%-45.4%), Canada (25.7%; 95% CI, 17.0%-36.7%), and Europe (6.5%; 95% CI, 5.3%-7.9%) differed significantly (P=0.0004). Transition programs were shown to have the potential to reduce discontinuity of care (12.7%; 95% CI, 2.8%-42.3%) compared with usual care (36.2%; 95% CI, 22.8%-52.2%) (P=0.1119). Conclusions This meta-analysis showed that there is a high proportion of discontinuity of care in young people with congenital heart disease. The highest discontinuity proportions were observed in studies from the United States and in patients with simple heart defects. It is suggested that transition programs have a protective effect. Registration URL: www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero. Unique identifier: CRD42020182413.

Transition from child-centred to adult-oriented healthcare systems for young people with neurodisability: a scoping review protocol

Background: The transition from child-centred to adult-oriented healthcare is a challenging time for young people with neurodisability. As the prevalence of neurodisability increases, greater numbers of young people will eventually transfer to the adult healthcare system. While there is a growing recognition of the importance of providing quality, transitional care, little is known about how to manage and optimise this process for young people with neurodisability. The objective of this scoping review is to examine and map existing literature related to the transition from child-centred to adult-oriented healthcare systems for young people with neurodisability.

Methods: Systematic literature searches of OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Web of Science will be conducted from inception to present. A structured iterative search of grey literature will be conducted. This review will consider all study designs examining the transition from child to adult health services in neurodisability. Two reviewers will independently screen each retrieved title and abstract and assess full-text articles against the inclusion criteria to determine eligibility. Data will be extracted and synthesised quantitatively and qualitatively. The process and reporting will follow PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Conclusion: This review will provide a broad and systematically mapped synthesis of the extent and nature of the available published and unpublished literature on transition from child-centred to adult-oriented healthcare systems in neurodisability. The results will be used to determine gaps in the current evidence base in order to prioritise areas for future research.

Factors affecting adolescents' participation in randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of healthcare interventions: the case of the STEPSTONES project

Background

Recruitment of adolescents to intervention studies is a known challenge. For randomized controlled trials (RCT) to be generalizable, reach must be assessed, which means ascertaining how many of the intended population actually participated in the trial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reach and representativeness of an RCT evaluating the effectiveness of a complex intervention for adolescents with chronic conditions.

Methods

A mixed methods sequential explanatory design was employed. Firstly, quantitative cross-sectional data from the RCT, patient registries and medical records were collected and analysed regarding baseline differences between participants and non-participants in the trial. Secondly, qualitative data on their reasons for participating or not were collected and analysed with content analysis to explain the quantitative findings.

Results

Participants showed larger differences in effect sizes and a significantly more complex chronic condition than non-participants. No other statistically significant differences were reported, and effect sizes were negligible. Reasons for declining or accepting participation were categorized into three main categories: altruistic reasons, personal reasons and external reasons and factors.

Conclusions

Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings showed that participation in the RCT was affected by disease complexity, the perceived need to give back to healthcare and research and the adolescents’ willingness to engage in their illness. To empower adolescents with chronic conditions and motivate them to participate in research, future intervention studies should consider developing tailored recruitment strategies and communications with sub-groups that are harder to reach.

Randomised controlled trial of a person-centred transition programme for adolescents with type 1 diabetes (STEPSTONES-DIAB): a study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Adolescence is a critical period for youths with chronic conditions, when they are supposed to take over the responsibility for their health. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common chronic conditions in childhood and inadequate self-management increases the risk of short-term and long-term complications. There is a lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of transition programmes. As a part of the Swedish Transition Effects Project Supporting Teenagers with chrONic mEdical conditionS research programme, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and experiences of different transitional care models, including a person-centred transition programme aiming to empower adolescents with T1D to become active partners in their health and care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

In this randomised controlled trial, patients are recruited from two paediatric diabetes clinics at the age of 16 years. Patients are randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=70) where they will receive usual care plus the structured transition programme, or to the control group (n=70) where they will only receive usual care. Data will be collected at 16, 17 and 18.5 years of age. In a later stage, the intervention group will be compared with adolescents in a dedicated youth clinic in a third setting. The primary outcome is patient empowerment. Secondary outcomes include generic, diabetes-specific and transfer-specific variables.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by the Ethical Review Board in Stockholm (Dnr 2018/1725-31). Findings will be reported following the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement and disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03994536.