Outcome Evidence for Structured Pediatric to Adult Health Care Transition Interventions: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To identify statistically significant positive outcomes in pediatric-to-adult transition studies using the triple aim framework of population health, consumer experience, and utilization and costs of care.

STUDY DESIGN

Studies published between January 1995 and April 2016 were identified using the CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Included studies evaluated pre-evaluation and postevaluation data, intervention and comparison groups, and randomized clinic trials. The methodological strength of each study was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 3844 articles, 43 met our inclusion criteria. Statistically significant positive outcomes were found in 28 studies, most often related to population health (20 studies), followed by consumer experience (8 studies), and service utilization (9 studies). Among studies with moderate to strong quality assessment ratings, the most common positive outcomes were adherence to care and utilization of ambulatory care in adult settings.

CONCLUSIONS

Structured transition interventions often resulted in positive outcomes. Future evaluations should consider aligning with professional transition guidance; incorporating detailed intervention descriptions about transition planning, transfer, and integration into adult care; and measuring the triple aims of population health, experience, and costs of care.

Transition care for children with special health care needs

BACKGROUND

Approximately 750,000 children in the United States with special health care needs will transition from pediatric to adult care annually. Fewer than half receive adequate transition care.

METHODS

We had conversations with key informants representing clinicians who provide transition care, pediatric and adult providers of services for individuals with special health care needs, policy experts, and researchers; searched online sources for information about currently available programs and resources; and conducted a literature search to identify research on the effectiveness of transition programs.

RESULTS

We identified 25 studies evaluating transition care programs. Most (n = 8) were conducted in populations with diabetes, with a smaller literature (n = 5) on transplant patients. We identified an additional 12 studies on a range of conditions, with no more than 2 studies on the same condition. Common components of care included use of a transition coordinator, a special clinic for young adults in transition, and provision of educational materials.

CONCLUSIONS

The issue of how to provide transition care for children with special health care needs warrants further attention. Research needs are wide ranging, including both substantive and methodologic concerns. Although there is widespread agreement on the need for adequate transition programs, there is no accepted way to measure transition success. It will be essential to establish consistent goals to build an adequate body of literature to affect practice.

Measuring the "triple aim" in transition care: a systematic review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Without adequate support, adolescents transitioning from the pediatric to the adult health care system are at increased risk for poor health outcomes. Numerous interventions attempt to improve this transition, yet few comprehensively evaluate efficacy. To advance evaluation methods and ultimately the quality of transition services, it is necessary to understand the current state of health care transition measurement. This study examines and categorizes transition measures by using the "Triple Aim" framework of experience of care, population health, and cost of care.

METHODS

Ovid Medline and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched for articles published between 1995 and 2013. Two reviewers independently screened studies and included those that evaluated the impact of a health care transition intervention. Measures were subsequently classified according to population health, experience of care, and costs of care.

RESULTS

Of the 2282 studies initially identified, 33 met inclusion criteria. Population health measures were used in 27 studies, with disease-specific measures collected most frequently. Fifteen studies measured cost, most often service utilization. Eight studies measured experience of care, with satisfaction assessed most commonly. Only 3 studies examined all 3 domains of the "Triple Aim." Transition interventions described in the gray literature were not reviewed.

CONCLUSIONS

Transition programs are inconsistently evaluated in terms of their impact on population health, patient experience, and cost. To demonstrate improvement in the transition from pediatric to adult health care, a more robust and consistent set of measures is needed.

Transfer from pediatric to adult health care: effects on diabetes outcomes

The transfer from pediatric to adult diabetes health care for emerging adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) has received increasing attention in the literature. This review analyzes the effect of this health care transfer on the outcomes of diabetes care visit attendance, glycemic control, and acute diabetes-related complications, and assesses the methodological strength of the studies reporting observational and interventional data. Observational studies, often limited by incomplete data, report a decline in diabetes care visits but an improvement or no change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) after transfer to adult care. Results from studies reporting a transition intervention are restricted by lack of appropriate control groups and the collection of data both before and after transfer of care. Very few methodologically strong studies are available to guide clinicians with the transition from pediatric to adult care, and these shortcomings should be addressed in future studies designed to facilitate and improve the care of emerging adults with T1D.

Barriers and facilitators to successful transition from pediatric to adult inflammatory bowel disease care from the perspectives of providers

BACKGROUND

For adolescents and young adults (AYA) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the transition from pediatric to adult care is often challenging and associated with gaps in care. Our study objectives were to (1) identify outcomes for evaluating transition success and (2) elicit the major barriers and facilitators of successful transition.

METHODS

We interviewed pediatric and adult IBD providers from across the United States with experience caring for AYAs with IBD until thematic saturation was reached after 12 interviews. We elicited the participants' backgrounds, examples of successful and unsuccessful transition of AYAs for whom they cared, and recommendations for improving transition using the Social-Ecological Model of Adolescent and Young Adult Readiness to Transition framework. We coded interview transcripts using the constant comparative method and identified major themes.

RESULTS

Participants reported evaluating transition success and failure using health care utilization outcomes (e.g., maintaining continuity with adult providers), health outcomes (e.g., stable symptoms), and quality of life outcomes (e.g., attending school). The patients' level of developmental maturity (i.e., ownership of care) was the most prominent determinant of transition outcomes. The style of parental involvement (i.e., helicopter parent versus optimally involved parent) and the degree of support by providers (e.g., care coordination) also influenced outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

IBD transition success is influenced by a complex interplay of patient developmental maturity, parenting style, and provider support. Multidisciplinary IBD care teams should aim to optimize these factors for each patient to increase the likelihood of a smooth transfer to adult care.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of a post-discharge program to support emerging adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus transition from pediatric to adult care

AIMS

There is a paucity of randomized controlled trials (RCT) examining transition from pediatric to adult care in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This study aimed to determine if transition in T1DM is more effective with a comprehensive transition program (CTP) compared with standard clinical practice (SCP).

METHODS

This RCT recruited as young people left pediatric diabetes services. The trial co-ordinator provided CTP participants with standardized telephone communication support at week 1, and 3, 6, and 12 months post-discharge from pediatric care. SCP participants were briefly contacted at 6 and 12 months post-discharge to confirm transfer status; they received no other post-discharge contact as per usual practice. At 12 months, the primary outcomes were engagement and retention in the adult service and secondary outcomes included hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), diabetes-related hospitalizations, microvascular complication appearance, and global self-worth.

RESULTS

Most CTP participants (11/14) and all SCP (12/12) participants (P = 0.2) transferred to an adult diabetes service; the median time to transfer was 14-15 wk. Overall, participants' frequency of adult diabetes service visits was sub-optimal but their retention in adult care was high. The only group difference was a higher HbA1c at baseline and follow-up in the CTP group. However, a general linear model found that follow-up HbA1c increased by 1.2% for each percentage increase in baseline HbA1c [95% confidence interval (0.4, 1.9; P = 0.01)], independent of treatment group.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the challenges in recruiting adequate numbers, these findings provide valuable insights for future T1DM transition RCTs that are needed to build a more solid evidence-base in this field.

Glycemic control and complications in patients with type 1 diabetes - a registry-based longitudinal study of adolescents and young adults

OBJECTIVE

The main aims of this study were to assess longitudinal glycemic control and the prevalence of retinopathy and nephropathy in young people (aged 14-30 yr) with type 1 diabetes in Norway.

METHOD

Data on 874 patients were obtained by linking two nationwide, population-based medical quality registries: The Norwegian Diabetes Register for Adults and The Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Registry.

RESULTS

Median age was 23 yr, median diabetes duration 9 yr and 51% were male. Median HbA_1c increased through adolescence to peak at ages of 17 yr for females and 19 yr for males, females had higher HbA_1c than males: 9.3% (78 mmol/mol) vs. 9.1% (76 mmol/mol). Subsequently, median HbA_1c declined but was still >8% (>64 mmol/mol) for patients approaching 30 yr. Half of the patients aged 14-17 yr and 40% of patients aged 18-25 yr had HbA_1c >9% (75 mmol/mol). Retinopathy was found in 16% and nephropathy in 13% of the population. Patients transferring from the pediatric department to adult care between the ages of 14 and 17 yr had higher median HbA_1c and prevalence of late complications than those transferring at ages 18-22 yr. Less than 40% of patients with albuminuria were treated with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blocker.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that treatment of adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes in Norway is not optimal, especially for patients in their late teens. We suggest that pediatricians and endocrinologists should critically assess the care offered to this group and consider new approaches to help them improve glycemic control.

Experiences of health care transition voiced by young adults with type 1 diabetes: a qualitative study

Objective

This qualitative study aimed to explore the experience of transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care reported by posttransition emerging adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D), with a focus on preparation for the actual transfer in care.

Methods

Twenty-six T1D emerging adults (mean age 26.2±2.5 years) receiving adult diabetes care at a single center participated in five focus groups stratified by two levels of current glycemic control. A multidisciplinary team coded transcripts and conducted thematic analysis.

Results

Four key themes on the process of transfer to adult care emerged from a thematic analysis: 1) nonpurposeful transition (patients reported a lack of transition preparation by pediatric providers for the transfer to adult diabetes care); 2) vulnerability in the college years (patients conveyed periods of loss to follow-up during college and described health risks and diabetes management challenges specific to the college years that were inadequately addressed by pediatric or adult providers); 3) unexpected differences between pediatric and adult health care systems (patients were surprised by the different feel of adult diabetes care, especially with regards to an increased focus on diabetes complications); and 4) patients’ wish list for improving the transition process (patients recommended enhanced pediatric transition counseling, implementation of adult clinic orientation programs, and peer support for transitioning patients).

Conclusion

Our findings identify modifiable deficiencies in the T1D transition process and underscore the importance of a planned transition with enhanced preparation by pediatric clinics as well as developmentally tailored patient orientation in the adult clinic setting.

Health outcomes associated with transition from pediatric to adult cystic fibrosis care

BACKGROUND

Almost half of individuals who have cystic fibrosis (CF) are over 18 years old, thus safely transferring patients from pediatric to adult care is a priority. The purpose of this study is to compare youth transferred from pediatric to adult CF care versus those remaining in pediatric CF care and quantify the relationship between transfer status and health outcomes.

METHODS

Patients who transferred from pediatric to adult CF care were identified from the CF Foundation Patient Registry from 1997 to 2007. Transferred patients were compared with individuals who have similar baseline characteristics who remained in pediatric care throughout the same time period. The main outcome measures include pulmonary function, nutritional status, care use, and home intravenous antibiotic events per year. A propensity-matched analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight percent of patients remained in pediatric programs throughout the study period. The mean age at transfer to adult care was 21.2 (1.3) years. In the 2 years after transfer there was a less rapid decline in percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 0.78 percentage points per year among transfer-positive patients compared with transfer-negative ones (95% confidence interval; 0.06-1.51); there were no other significant health related changes.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study contradicts reports of other chronic childhood conditions, in which transfer between the pediatric and adult health system was associated with adverse health outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the long-term relationship between transition practices and health status outcomes to establish a systematic, evidence-based transition process.

Mobile and Web-Based Apps That Support Self-Management and Transition in Young People With Chronic Illness: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

More adolescents with chronic physical illness are living into adulthood, and they require the development of proficient self-management skills to maintain optimal physical health as they transition into adult care services. It is often during this vulnerable transition period that deterioration in illness control is seen as a result of inadequate self-management skills and understanding of their chronic illness. Mobile technology has been proposed as an innovative opportunity to assist in improving the management of chronic conditions as young people transition to adult care services. Over the past 5 years, there has been a significant increase in research into the use of health-related apps.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the utility and effectiveness of mobile and Web-based health apps that support self-management and transition in young people with chronic physical health illnesses.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature in 5 bibliographic databases, using key search terms, considering only articles published from 2013, as we were extending the data from 2 previous systematic reviews. Abstracts were screened for possible inclusion by 2 reviewers. Data extraction and quality assessment tools were used for the evaluation of included studies.

RESULTS

A total of 1737 records were identified from the combined electronic searches, and 854 records were removed as duplicates. A total of 68 full articles were further assessed for eligibility, and 6 articles met our review criteria: 3 pilot studies, 2 randomized controlled trials, and 1 prospective cohort study. Publication years ranged from 2015 to 2018. The apps reported were targeted at type 1 diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, asthma, beta thalassemia major, and sickle cell disease, with a combined sample size of 336. A total of 4 studies included in this review reported being effective in increasing knowledge of the targeted condition and increasing therapy adherence, including increased medication adherence. A total of 2 manuscripts only mentioned the word transition. Participant's satisfaction was reported for all studies. Heterogeneity of the studies prevented meta-analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

There remain limited data on the effectiveness and use of mobile and Web-based apps, which might facilitate the transition of adolescents with chronic illnesses from pediatric to adult health care services. This systematic review provides an updated overview of available apps for adolescents with chronic illnesses. This systematic review has been unable to provide evidence for effectiveness of this approach, but it does provide insights into future study design, with reference to the development, evaluation, and efficacy of apps tailored for adolescents with chronic illnesses, including the involvement of adolescents in such designs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42018104611; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=104611.

Transitioning Adolescents and Young Adults With Sickle Cell Disease From Pediatric to Adult Health Care: Provider Perspectives

The transition from pediatric to adult health care is often challenging for adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). Our study aimed to identify (1) measures of success for the transition to adult health care; and (2) barriers and facilitators to this process. We interviewed 13 SCD experts and asked them about their experiences caring for adolescents and young adults with SCD. Our interview guide was developed based on Social-Ecological Model of Adolescent and Young Adult Readiness to Transition framework, and interviews were coded using the constant comparative method. Our results showed that transition success was measured by health care utilization, quality of life, and continuation on a stable disease trajectory. We also found that barriers to transition include negative experiences in the emergency department, sociodemographic factors, and adolescent skills. Facilitators include a positive relationship with the provider, family support, and developmental maturity. Success in SCD transition is primarily determined by the patients' quality of relationships with their parents and providers and their developmental maturity and skills. Understanding these concepts will aid in the development of future evidence-based transition care models.

Transition from child and adolescent to adult mental health services in the Republic of Ireland: an investigation of process and operational practice

AIM

Ensuring a seamless transition from child to adult mental health services poses challenges for services worldwide. This is an important process in the ongoing care of young people with mental illness; therefore, it is incumbent on all countries to probe their individual structures to assess the quality of mental health service delivery to this vulnerable cohort. To date, there have been no published studies on the transition from Child to Adult Mental Health Services in the Republic of Ireland. To this end, a nationwide survey of transition policies of community mental health teams in both services was conducted in order to compare best practice guidelines for transition with current process and experience in clinical practice.

METHOD

Structured interviews were conducted with 57 consultant psychiatrists (representing 32 CAMHS teams and 25 AMHS teams) to obtain information on annual transition numbers, existing transition policies and operational practice from the professional perspective.

RESULTS

Numbers of young people considered suitable for transfer to adult services (M = 7.73, SD = 9.86, n = 25) were slightly higher than numbers who actually transferred (M = 4.50, SD = 3.33, n = 20). There is a lack of standardized practice nationwide regarding the service transition boundary, an absence of written transition policies and protocols, and minimal formal interaction between child and adult services.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that there are critical gaps between current operational practice and best practice guidelines. Future studies will investigate the impact this has on the transition experiences of young people, their carers and health-care professionals.

Parental experiences transitioning their adolescent with epilepsy and cognitive impairments to adult health care

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to explicate processes that parents of adolescents with epilepsy and cognitive impairments undergo as they help their adolescents transition to adult health care.

METHOD

A qualitative grounded theory methodology was used in this study. Theoretical sampling techniques were used to recruit seven ethnically diverse parents of adolescents 18 years or older with epilepsy and cognitive impairments from the community in a large metropolitan area in the southern United States. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously using coding and constant comparison analysis.

RESULTS

The substantive theory Journey of Advocacy was developed from interviewing the participants. The theory has five categories: crisis sparks transition, parents in turmoil, parents as advocates, web of information, and captive waiting. Parents emerged as strong advocates in the transition process.

DISCUSSION

Transitioning this group of adolescents to adult health care was an unplanned, complex, multisystem process. This study affirms the need to develop a transition program that acknowledges the unique challenges of transitioning adolescents with cognitive impairments and the interrelationship between these parents and other systems.

Transition to adult care in sickle cell disease: A longitudinal study of clinical characteristics and disease severity

BACKGROUND

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic blood disorder in which mortality has increased for adolescents and young adults (AYA).

PROCEDURE

A longitudinal analysis of medical records was conducted to describe the clinical course among AYAs (ages 12-27 years) during transition to adult care. Measures included sociodemographic, complications, SCD severity (modified pediatric SCD severity index), comorbidities, and transfer. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) to identify subgroups with distinct severity trajectories and chi-square and unpaired Student t test to explore subgroup differences were used.

RESULTS

Overall, 339 AYAs (97% black, 56% male, 69% hemoglobin SS) had 10 848 clinic, 3840 hospital, and 3152 emergency department visits. Complications included vaso-occlusive crises (80%) and acute chest syndrome (41%). Comorbidities included depression (19%) and anxiety (14%). Most AYAs transferred to adult care (n = 220) at 19 years. Fourteen AYAs died, 10 within seven years from transfer. GBTM identified both stable and increasing severity trajectory groups: stable-low (n = 31, 23%), stable-medium (n = 61, 46%), stable-high (n = 6, 4.5%), low-increasing (n = 13, 10%), and medium-increasing (n = 22, 17%). AYAs with increasing severity (25%) were older, lived closer to the clinic, and had higher risk for SCD complications and comorbidities. They had fewer pediatric clinic visits; however, they were more likely to transfer and remain longer in adult SCD care.

CONCLUSIONS

Whereas most AYAs had stable severity, nearly a quarter had increasing severity, over time. AYAs with increasing severity had more complications, were more likely to transfer to adult care, and demonstrated higher and longer adult SCD care utilization compared with AYAs with stable severity.

Improving the transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care: the pediatric care provider's perspective in Quebec, Canada

OBJECTIVES

The transition from pediatric to adult care is a high-risk period for the emerging adult with diabetes. We aimed to determine adequacy of pediatric transition care structures and explore the pediatric diabetes care provider's perceptions of transition care.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In-depth interviews with pediatric diabetes care providers from 12 diabetes centers in Quebec were conducted. We queried alignment with Got Transition's six core elements of healthcare transition, experiences, and barriers to transition care. Interview transcripts were reviewed for themes.

RESULTS

Three centers (25%) reported having any elements of formal and structured transition care preparation and planning. When referrals were within center (n=8), pediatric providers perceived that transition was smoother; information sharing relied heavily on verbal communication rather than documented medical summaries. Barriers included lack of adult providers, less flexibility in adult care scheduling, patient struggles with multiple new adult responsibilities, and insufficient understanding by adult providers of these challenges. There was a perception that the quality of pediatric care was better than adult care. Moving out of the pediatric care geographical region appeared to increase risk for poor follow-up. Patient satisfaction and regular follow-up in adult care were thought to be good measures of transition success. Programs that included overlap between pediatric and adult care were perceived as ideal.

CONCLUSIONS

Important gaps in transition care practices persist. Efforts should focus on improving education in transition practices for pediatric care providers and establishing formal transition policies and structures at the institutional level.

Advances in Managing Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease: A Practical Approach to Transition Program Design: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

It is now expected that most individuals with congenital heart disease will survive to adulthood, including those with complex heart conditions. Maintaining lifelong medical care requires those with congenital heart disease to eventually transfer from pediatric to adult-oriented health care systems. Developing health care transition skills and gaining independence in managing one's own health care is imperative to this process and to ongoing medical and psychosocial success. This scientific statement reviews the recent evidence regarding transition and provides resources, components, and suggestions for development of congenital heart disease transition programs with the goals of improving patient knowledge, self-management, and self-efficacy skills to the level they are capable to eventually integrate smoothly into adult-oriented health care. Specifically, the scientific statement updates 3 sections relevant to transition programming. First, there is a review of specific factors to consider, including social determinants of health, psychosocial well-being, and neurocognitive status. The second section reviews costs of inadequate transition including the public health burden and the impairment in individual quality of life. Finally, the last section discusses considerations and suggestions for transition program design including communication platforms, a family-centered approach, and individual models. Although this scientific statement reviews recent literature surrounding transitions of care for individuals with congenital heart disease there remain significant knowledge gaps. As a field, we have yet to determine ideal timing and methods of transition, and barriers to transition and transfer remain, particularly for the underserved populations. The consequences of poor health care transition are great and garnering outcomes and information through organized, multifaceted, collaborative approaches to transition is critical to improving the lifelong care of individuals with congenital heart disease.

Assessing allocation of responsibility for health management in pediatric liver transplant recipients

Given the increased risk for non-adherence and poor health outcomes in late adolescence, there is a need for better methods to evaluate and improve the transition process as adolescent patients are prepared to be independent adults. This study assessed the psychometrics and concurrent validity of a newly developed measure of AoR for health management in pediatric liver transplant patients. A total of 48 patients and 37 parents completed a 13-item measure of AoR. We performed an exploratory PCA on survey results and used component scores to assess the relationship between AoR and age, age at transplant, adherence, and health outcomes. Two primary components were identified: communication with the healthcare system and self-management tasks. Parent perception of adolescent responsibility for tasks related to communicating with the healthcare system was correlated, in younger patients, with increased non-adherence while responsibility for tasks related to self-management was correlated, in older patients, with decreased non-adherence. These results support AoR as a two-domain construct, and they provide targets for monitoring and intervention as adolescent patients advance toward transfer.

Transition experiences and health care utilization among young adults with type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to describe the current status of adult diabetes care in young adults with type 1 diabetes and examine associations between health care transition experiences and care utilization.

METHODS

We developed a survey to assess transition characteristics and current care in young adults with type 1 diabetes. We mailed the survey to the last known address of young adults who had previously received diabetes care at a tertiary pediatric center.

RESULTS

Of 291 surveys sent, 83 (29%) were undeliverable and three (1%) were ineligible. Of 205 surveys delivered, 65 were returned (response rate 32%). Respondents (mean age 26.6 ± 3.0 years, 54% male, 91% Caucasian) transitioned to adult diabetes care at a mean age of 19.2 ± 2.8 years. Although 71% felt mostly/completely prepared for transition, only half received recommendations for a specific adult provider. Twenty-six percent reported gaps exceeding six months between pediatric and adult diabetes care. Respondents who made fewer than three diabetes visits in the year prior to transition (odds ratio [OR] 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-16.5) or cited moving/relocation as the most important reason for transition (OR 6.3, 95% CI 1.3-31.5) were more likely to report gaps in care exceeding six months. Patients receiving current care from an adult endocrinologist (79%) were more likely to report at least two diabetes visits in the past year (OR 6.0, 95% CI 1.5-24.0) compared with those receiving diabetes care from a general internist/adult primary care doctor (17%). Two-thirds (66%) reported receiving all recommended diabetes screening tests in the previous year, with no difference according to provider type.

CONCLUSION

In this sample, transition preparation was variable and one quarter reported gaps in obtaining adult diabetes care. Nevertheless, the majority endorsed currently receiving regular diabetes care, although visit frequency differed by provider type. Because locating patients after transition was incomplete, our findings suggest the need for standardized methods to track transitioning patients.

Helping Health Services to Meet the Needs of Young People with Chronic Conditions: Towards a Developmental Model for Transition

The transition to adult healthcare has been the subject of increased research and policy attention over many years. However, unmet needs of adolescent and young adults (AYAs) and their families continue to be documented, and universal implementation has yet to be realised. Therefore, it is pertinent to re-examine health transition in light of the principles of adolescent medicine from which it emerged, and consider this particular life transition in terms of a developmental milestone rather than a negotiation of structural boundaries between child and adult services. Health transitions are an integral part of AYA development and as such, occur alongside, and in connection with, a range of other important transitions that affect many other areas of life. In this paper, we discuss the interrelated nature of health transitions and AYA development; outline the underpinnings of a developmentally appropriate approach to transitional care; and consider the outcome measurement of such care based on existing evidence. A developmental approach has the potential to refocus transition on the fundamental principles of adolescent medicine, enabling health transition to be integrated along with other life transitions into routine AYA developmental assessments rather than being limited to the geographies of different healthcare settings and a potential health crisis.

Adolescents' Perceptions of Transition Importance, Readiness, and Likelihood of Future Success: The Role of Anticipatory Guidance

Expert consensus supports anticipatory guidance around health care transition (HCT), but little is known about its impact on adolescents' perceptions of HCT. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of HCT anticipatory guidance delivery and the effect it had on participants' perceptions of HCT. Adolescents (n = 209) with special health care needs were administered National Survey for Children with Special Health Care Needs transition assessment questions, then reported perceptions of transition importance, readiness, and likely future success. Over half of the participants reported no history of discussion about transition to an adult provider (64%) or insurance needs (67%); just under half (43%) had not discussed their changing health care needs. In participants reporting receipt of anticipatory guidance, ratings of transition readiness and future success were significantly higher than those who received no anticipatory guidance, supporting that HCT anticipatory guidance has a significantly positive impact on adolescents' perceptions of the HCT process.

Barriers in transition from pediatrics to adult medicine in sickle cell anemia

Transition of care from pediatric to adult providers is an essential step in the care of young adults with sickle cell anemia. Transition programs should be developed by individual institutions to systematically enhance the transition process for their patients. Prior to transfer, patients must be educated about their disease and personal medical history and develop skill sets required to navigate the adult health care setting. The objective of this literature review is to identify key concepts associated with transition of care for patients with sickle cell anemia. First, transition programs should be developed so that education about transition can begin at an early age. The readiness of patients and families should be assessed and education tailored to meet individual patient needs. Finally, the emotions and fears about transition should be recognized and addressed prior to transition.

Transition readiness, adolescent responsibility, and executive functioning among pediatric transplant recipients: Caregivers' perspectives

This study aimed both to evaluate caregivers' perspectives of EF and transition readiness among adolescent transplant recipients and to examine the indirect effects of adolescent responsibility and parent involvement across domains of EF. Fifty-seven caregivers of adolescent solid organ transplant recipients participated in this study and completed measures of adolescent EF, transition readiness, responsibility in healthcare behavior, and parent involvement. Bootstrapping procedures were used to test indirect effects. Caregiver report of adolescent EF was significantly related to transition readiness among transplant recipients. Significant indirect effects were found for adolescent responsibility but not parent involvement. No significant differences were found between metacognitive and behavioral regulation domains of EF in the association with transition readiness. Assessment of adolescent EF skills may help guide the development of individualized transition readiness guidelines to promote successful gains in self-management abilities as well as eventual transfer to adult medical services.

Empowering Young Persons with Congenital Heart Disease: Using Intervention Mapping to Develop a Transition Program - The STEPSTONES Project

PURPOSE

Describe the implementation of intervention mapping in the development of a transition program that aims to empower adolescents with congenital heart disease.

DESIGN AND METHODS

To gain a better understanding of the problem, we conducted a literature review, focus group and individual interviews, and a cross-sectional survey. This information helped us decide on the scope of the intervention, relevant theories, determinants, formulate performance and change objectives and identify adequate evidence-based change methods. Once the transition program had been designed, effectiveness and process evaluation studies were planned.

RESULTS

Young persons with congenital heart disease have insufficient disease-related knowledge, self-management skills and high parental involvement. The transition program involves three meetings with a trained transition coordinator over a two-and-a-half-year period and targets young persons with congenital heart disease and their parents. The transition coordinators use change techniques such as goal-setting, modeling and active learning in order to target three personal determinants (knowledge, self-efficacy and self-management).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of intervention mapping may lead to designing interventions tailored to the needs of the targeted population. The transition program described in this paper is currently being evaluated in a hybrid experimental design with simultaneous undertaking of the process evaluation.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

This transition program can lead to the empowerment of young persons with congenital heart disease and help them in the process of becoming more responsible for their care. If proven effective, it can be implemented for other chronic conditions.

Association of hospital and provider types on sickle cell disease outcomes

OBJECTIVES

Adolescents and young adults (A/YA) with sickle cell disease (SCD) are hospitalized in both children's and general hospitals. We determined the effect of hospital type and provider specialty on outcomes of hospitalized A/YA with SCD and acute chest syndrome (ACS).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used the 2007-2009 Premier Database, a large multi-institutional database, to identify 1476 patients ages 16 to 25 years with 2299 admissions with SCD and ACS discharged from 256 US hospitals from 2007 to 2009. Multilevel logistic regression and zero-truncated negative binomial regression were performed after adjustment for patient demographic, clinical, and hospital characteristics to test the association of hospital type and provider specialty on death, endotracheal intubation, simple or exchange transfusion, length of stay (LOS), and 30-day readmission.

RESULTS

Of all admissions, 14 died and 45% were intubated. General hospitals had 13 deaths and were associated with higher intubation rates (predicted probability [PP], 48% [95% confidence interval (CI), 43%-52%]) and longer LOS (predicted mean LOS, 7.6 days [95% CI, 7.2-7.9]) compared with children's hospitals (PP of intubation, 24% [95% CI, 5%-42%]; and predicted mean LOS, 6.8 days [95% CI, 5.6-5.8]). There was no difference by hospital type or provider specialty in PP of simple or exchange transfusion, or 30-day readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

General hospitals carry higher intubation risks for A/YA with SCD and ACS compared with children's hospitals. We need to better understand the drivers of these differences, including the role of staff expertise, hospital volume, and quality of ongoing SCD care.

Use of Technology-Based Tools to Support Adolescents and Young Adults With Chronic Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

With the large amount of material that is readily available on the internet, there are endless opportunities for electronic health–literate patients to obtain and learn new information. Although novel, a Web- or mobile-based program can be a powerful way to engage adolescents and young adults (AYAs). The ongoing engagement of AYAs with chronic disease is vital not only to empower them but also to ensure a smooth transition from pediatric to adult health care.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the current evidence on Web- or mobile-based interventions designed for AYAs.

Methods

This review was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42018096487. A systematic search of MEDLINE Complete, EMBASE, and CINAHL Complete was conducted on April 10, 2019, for studies that examined the perspectives of transition-age patients about technology-based interventions, the process involved in intervention development, or the evaluation of intervention efficacy. For each study, the comprehensiveness of reporting was appraised. The Downs and Black checklist was used for intervention efficacy trials, the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was used for qualitative work, and a 16-item tool developed by Tong et al was used for questionnaire research.

Results

The search uncovered 29 relevant studies, which included qualitative studies (n=14), intervention efficacy studies (n=7), questionnaire studies (n=4), mixed qualitative and questionnaire studies (n=2), and a mixed qualitative and pilot randomized controlled trial study (n=1). The reporting comprehensiveness score of questionnaires was rated considerably lower (n=6, 13%-57% [2/16-8/14]) than the scores of intervention efficacy trials (n=8, 48%-85% [13/27-23/27]) and qualitative research (n=17, 40%-93% [8.5/21-19.5/21]). AYAs were receptive to obtaining information via a website or mobile app. An intervention was more likely to be perceived as useful by AYAs when there was a concerted effort to involve AYAs and subject matter experts in the process of intervention design, as opposed to relying solely on the AYAs or the experts alone. The preferred medium of intervention delivery varied greatly for AYAs, ranging from static text to audiovisual materials. However, AYAs considered being concise was the most important aspect. Across different conditions, AYAs were interested in receiving information on diverse topics, such as anxiety and stress management, dealing with insurance, and having social relationships. Patients also requested for disease-specific information, such as weather forecasts and pollen levels for patients with asthma and information related to the pretransplant period for organ transplant recipients. Meta-analyses showed no significant group differences across time on quality of life, self-efficacy, and self-management.

Conclusions

Owing to the lack of intervention efficacy trials, no conclusion can be drawn if an intervention delivered via a mobile app is better than that delivered via a website. However, through this systematic review, it is confirmed that AYAs were receptive to receiving medical information electronically.