Adult pediatric patients

Transitioning From Pediatric to Adult Health Care: Dropping Off the Face of the Earth

The challenges faced by the young adults transitioning from pediatric to adult health care services are numerous and often daunting. They include characteristics of the patient and their family, pediatric and adult treatment teams, and institutional and health care systems policies. Although recognition of the issues and problems of transition has increased during the past decade, meaningful systematic changes have not occurred. Herein, the authors provide the background and general information necessary to better understand the difficulties associated with transition that affect many young adults. The challenges of transition are systematically presented and organized by patient, family, pediatric treatment team, adult treatment team, and institutional and system issues. Recommendations are provided for each of these areas, beginning with an emphasis on institutional and health care systems policy revisions that are a foundational and necessary element to build meaningful change. In addition, recommendations are provided that are specific to pediatric and adult health care teams, as well as patients and families. Suggestions are presented for needed research, and finally, conclusions and practical and applicable recommendations for pediatricians or adult health care providers are proposed.

[Juvenile diabetes: the family's experience with diabetic adolescents and pre-adolescents]

This study aimed at investigating the experience of taking care of adolescents and pre-adolescents with type 1 diabetes from the standpoint of their family members. A phenomenological approach, i.e. a type of qualitative analysis aimed at understanding the meaning of life experiences, was used. Ten parents (9 mothers and 1 father) were interviewed at a teaching hospital in the interior of São Paulo state. The experience of taking care of a child with diabetes emerged from the converging points reported under 3 main themes: the universe of the disease; personal relationships; reflections on the experience. The participants described their difficulties and the strategies they use for keeping the family together besides providing support to the children. They believe they have to accept and face the challenges, besides motivating their children in order to ensure their safety and quality of life. The data obtained show the need for professional support as well as for a space for discussing themes of interest, both for the children with diabetes and for their families.

What Do We Really Know About the Transition to Adult-Centered Health Care? A Focus on Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida

OBJECTIVES

To address the lack of synthesis regarding the factors, processes, and outcomes specific to the transition from child-centered to adult-centered health care for people with cerebral palsy (CP) and spina bifida (SB); more specifically, to identify barriers, to outline key elements, to review empirical studies, and to make clinical and research recommendations.

DATA SOURCES

We searched Medline and CINAHL databases from 1990 to 2006 using the key words: transition, health care transition, pediatric health care, adult health care, health care access, health care use, chronic illness, special health care needs, and physical disability. The resulting studies were reviewed with a specific focus on clinical transition for persons with CP and SB, and were supplemented with key information from other diagnostic groups.

STUDY SELECTION

All studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included.

DATA EXTRACTION

Each article classified according to 5 criteria: methodology, diagnostic group, country of study, age group, and sample size.

DATA SYNTHESIS

We identified 149 articles: 54 discussion, 21 case series, 28 database or register, 25 qualitative, and 34 survey articles (some included multiple methods). We identified 5 key elements that support a positive transition to adult-centered health care: preparation, flexible timing, care coordination, transition clinic visits, and interested adult-centered health care providers. There was, however, limited empirical evidence to support the impact of these elements.

CONCLUSIONS

This review summarizes key factors that must be considered to support this critical clinical transition and sets the foundation for future research. It is time to apply prospective study designs to evaluate transition interventions and determine long-term health outcomes.

Support network of adolescents with chronic disease: adolescents' perspective

The purpose of this study was to describe the support network of adolescents with a chronic disease from their own perspective. Data were collected by interviewing adolescents with asthma, epilepsy, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The sample consisted of 40 adolescents aged between 13 and 17 years. Interview data were examined using content analysis. Six main categories were established to describe the support network of adolescents with a chronic disease: parents, peers, school, health care providers, technology and pets. Peers were divided into two groups: fellow sufferers and peers without a chronic disease. At school, teachers, school nurses and classmates were part of the support network. Health care providers included nurses, physicians and physiotherapists. Technology was also part of the support network and included four techniques that may be used to communicate: computers, mobile telephones, television and videos. The results provided a useful insight into the social network of adolescents with chronic disease and serve to raise awareness of the problems and opinions experienced by adolescents with this condition.

Health care transitions for adolescents with congenital heart disease: patient and family perspectives

Advances in medical management and surgical treatment have improved the longevity and quality of life for patients with CHD. However, meeting the health care needs of this growing population has not kept pace with the advances in technology. Adolescents with CHD are caught between both childhood and adulthood and pediatric and adult cardiology. As health care providers develop strategies to meet the special health care transition needs of this group, patient and family perspectives must be understood and included in the transition plan if one is to develop meaningful interventions. Assessment and recognition of the developmental changes occurring for both adolescents and their families and the impact of chronic illness on these changes are critical if transition is to be successful. Expectations,individual biases, and negative stereotypes need to be recognized and reframed if one is to establish an empathetic, positive, and trusting relationship with patients and their families. Greater sensitivity also needs to be given to the shifting roles, responsibilities, and inherent losses that occur with transition. Nurses have a key role in guiding patients and families toward adult, independent self-care by helping them identify and use their talents and resources as they move toward achieving their goals and dreams for the future.

Improving transition: a qualitative study examining the attitudes of young people with chronic illness transferring to adult care

Transition is a process that attends to the medical, psychosocial and educational needs of young people as they transfer to adult-orientated care. With a growing population of adolescents surviving with chronic illness well into adulthood, it is remarkable that empirical research has paid little attention to transition. This qualitative study examined the attitudes of young people with chronic illness who were facing transition, considering what young people wanted from a transition service and the ways in which provision could be improved from a service-user's perspective. A purposive sample of seven adolescents (aged 14-17) attending a hospital youth club were interviewed. To increase the likelihood of successful transition, strategies need to be informal, flexible, highly individualized and prepare adolescents steadily for adult services.

Patient education: perspective of adolescents with a chronic disease

The purpose of this study was to describe patient education from the perspective of adolescents. Data were collected by interviewing adolescents who had asthma, epilepsy, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The sample consisted of 40 Finnish adolescents aged between 13 and 17 years. The interview data were analysed with methods of content analysis. From the perspective of adolescents with a chronic disease, patient education can be divided into the following categories: routine programmes, problematic planning issues, atmosphere of patient education session and written patient education material. Some features of ideal patient education also emerged. In a routine programme, patient education was based on the professional knowledge of the physicians and nurses rather than the needs of the adolescents. It was provided at a time that was good for the nurses or physicians. The level of education was not compatible with each developmental level of the adolescent. Problematic planning issues included a poorly outlined plan of education and a lack of systematic and continuous education. Educational communication consisted of dialogue between the adolescent and the educator. An encouraging atmosphere developed when the educators motivated the adolescents, respected them and their opinions and encouraged them to express their feelings, to ask questions and to relate experiences. Also, it was important that the adolescents' opinions were respected. In ideal patient education, the sessions had been planned well beforehand based on the adolescents' needs and written patient education material. Ideal patient education helped adolescents to acquire skills to take care of themselves and provided information on how to adjust to different situations and problems. The results provided useful insight into patient education and served to raise awareness of the problems and difficulties experienced by adolescents with a chronic disease.

Transitioning adolescents with congenital heart disease into adult health care

The effort and commitment dedicated to the treatment of children with congenital heart disease over the past 50 years has been astounding. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure these young patients who have survived the varying challenges of their conditions a smooth transition into a new world of adult health care. The key to the long-term management of an increasing number of children surviving congenital heart disease is the effective coordination of care from pediatric to adult health care. Strategies for facilitating the transition of the adolescent with congenital heart disease into adult health care practices are presented in this paper.

Pediatric Kidney Transplantation: Growth, Development, and Nursing Implications

The complex issues related to the growth and development of pediatric kidney transplant recipients are explored in this paper. We divide the pediatric population into 3 age groups—toddlers and preschoolers, school age children, and adolescents—and review the literature describing growth and development in kidney transplant recipients and the normal population briefly for each age group. Planning and delivery of nursing care that is based on the implications of growth and development are discussed, and have relevance for all allied healthcare professionals caring for pediatric kidney transplant recipients and their parents. Allied healthcare professionals in adult settings who provide care to recipients who received a transplant before the age of 18 may also benefit from reviewing this article.