Quality Indicators for Youth Transitioning to Adult Care: A Systematic Review

Transitions in tracheostomy care: from childhood to adulthood

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to explore the evidence around children and young people who require a tracheostomy and transition into adult services, reflecting on the challenges and considerations for clinical practice as these needs increase.

RECENT FINDINGS

There are a lack of data on the incidence and prevalence of children and young people with a tracheostomy transitioning to adult services for ongoing care. There are significant variations in care needs, technology and previous experiences that demand more than a simple handover process. Examples of service models that support the transition of care exist, however these lack specificity for children and young people with a tracheostomy.

SUMMARY

Further exploration of the needs of children and young people requiring airway technology is indicated, particularly considering the short and long-term education, health, and social care needs.

Patient, caregiver and other knowledge user engagement in consensus-building healthcare initiatives: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Patient engagement and integrated knowledge translation (iKT) processes improve health outcomes and care experiences through meaningful partnerships in consensus-building initiatives and research. Consensus-building is essential for engaging a diverse group of experienced knowledge users in co-developing and supporting a solution where none readily exists or is less optimal. Patients and caregivers provide invaluable insights for building consensus in decision-making around healthcare, policy and research. However, despite emerging evidence, patient engagement remains sparse within consensus-building initiatives. Specifically, our research has identified a lack of opportunity for youth living with chronic health conditions and their caregivers to participate in developing consensus on indicators/benchmarks for transition into adult care. To bridge this gap and inform our consensus-building approach with youth/caregivers, this scoping review will synthesise the extent of the literature on patient and other knowledge user engagement in consensus-building healthcare initiatives.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Following the scoping review methodology from Joanna Briggs Institute, published literature will be searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases from inception to July 2023. Grey literature will be hand-searched. Two independent reviewers will determine the eligibility of articles in a two-stage process, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Included studies must be consensus-building studies within the healthcare context that involve patient engagement strategies. Data from eligible studies will be extracted and charted on a standardised form. Abstracted data will be analysed quantitatively and descriptively, according to specific consensus methodologies, and patient engagement models and/or strategies.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval is not required for this scoping review protocol. The review process and findings will be shared with and informed by relevant knowledge users. Dissemination of findings will also include peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. The results will offer new insights for supporting patient engagement in consensus-building healthcare initiatives.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

https://osf.io/beqjr.

Value-Based Payment to Support Health Care Transition for Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Feasibility Study

INTRODUCTION

Only 20% of youth with intellectual and developmental disability (ID/DD) receive health care transition (HCT) preparation from their health care providers (HCPs). To address HCT system gaps, the first-of-its-kind HCT value-based payment (VBP) pilot was conducted for young adults (YA) with ID/DD.

METHODS

This feasibility study examined the acceptability, implementation, and potential for expansion of the pilot, which was conducted within a specialty Medicaid managed care organization (HSCSN) in Washington, DC. With local pediatric and adult HCPs, the HCT intervention included a final pediatric visit, medical summary, joint HCT visit, and initial adult visit. The VBP was a mix of fee-for-service and pay-for-performance incentives. Feasibility was assessed via YA feedback surveys and interviews with HSCSN, participating HCPs, and selected state Medicaid officials.

RESULTS

Regarding acceptability, HSCSN and HCPs found the HCT intervention represented a more organized approach and addressed an unmet need. YA with ID/DD and caregivers reported high satisfaction. Regarding implementation, nine YA with ID/DD participated. Benefits were reported in patient engagement, exchange of health information, and care management and financial support. Challenges included care management support needs, previous patient gaps in care, and scheduling difficulties. Regarding expansion, HSCSN and HCPs agreed that having streamlined care management support, medical summary preparation, and payment for HCT services are critical.

DISCUSSION

This study examined the benefits and challenges of a HCT VBP approach and considerations for future expansion, including payer/HCP collaboration, HCT care management support, and updated system technology and interoperability.

Disparities in pediatric hospital use during transition to adult healthcare for young adults with childhood-onset chronic conditions

BACKGROUND

Young adults (YA) with childhood-onset chronic conditions-particularly YA with cystic fibrosis (CF), congenital heart disease (CHD), and sickle cell disease (SCD)-continue to have pediatric hospital admissions. Factors associated with this continued pediatric hospital use remain underexplored.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if pediatric hospital use by YA differed (1) across condition and (2) within each condition by sociodemographic factors.

METHODS

Conducted a cross-sectional analysis of admissions for YA 22-35 years with CF, CHD, and SCD from 2016 to 2020 in the National Inpatient Sample. Admissions for YA with CF, CHD, and SCD were identified by international classification of diseases, 10th revision-clinical modification diagnosis codes. To determine if conditions or sociodemographic factors were associated with YA pediatric hospital use, we used multivariable logistic regression with separate models for the different objectives.

RESULTS

YA with SCD had lower odds of pediatric hospital use compared to YA with CF. Relationships between sociodemographic factors and pediatric hospital use varied. Black YA with both CF and CHD had lower odds of pediatric hospital use than white YA with CF and CHD. For YA with SCD, despite 17,810 (6.5%) having rural residence, zero (0) had pediatric hospital use; whereas YA with CF living in a rural area had greater odds of pediatric hospital use compared to urban residents.

CONCLUSION

YA with SCD used pediatric hospitals less than YA with either CF or CHD. Coupled with our findings that Black YA with CF and CHD had less pediatric hospital use, these data may reflect systematic racial differences within pediatric to adult healthcare transition programs.

A Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Health Care Transition Planning at Adolescent Well Visits

OBJECTIVE

Health care transition (HCT) planning supports adolescents as they move from pediatric to adult health care and is recommended for all youth. HCT planning uptake remains low, with little known about HCT in the adolescent well child check (WCC) setting. We sought to increase rates of HCT planning at WCCs by adapting best practices for HCT from specialty and chronic care.

METHODS

This quality improvement initiative at 12 to 17-year-old WCCs at four Internal Medicine-Pediatrics primary care clinics, was based on the first three of the "Six Core Elements" of HCT framework and integrated into the electronic health record. Two uptake measures were assessed via chart review after three plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles, with two provider surveys and an implementation science analysis further informing interpretation.

RESULTS

By the final PDSA cycle, the percentage of 14 to 17-year-old WCCs at which HCT planning was discussed and a screening tool completed increased from 5% to 31%, and the percentage of 12 to 13-year-old WCCs at which the HCT policy was discussed increased from 6% to 47%. Provider survey results revealed endorsement of HCT goals, but time and technological barriers, which were further elucidated in the implementation science analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

This quality improvement initiative increased rates of HCT planning during adolescent WCCs. While limited to three Core Elements and Internal Medicine-Pediatrics clinics, strengths include measures capturing all WCCs, contextualized by provider surveys and an implementation science framework. Lessons from this effort can inform future tailored HCT initiatives at adolescent WCCs.

Developing and Psychometric Testing a Health Care Transition Service Measure in the National Survey of Children's Health

OBJECTIVE

Access to health care transition (HCT) services has been included in national surveys for 20 years. While dozens of studies have assessed HCT, no study has examined the model fit of the HCT questions or psychometric properties of the measure. We utilized National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) data to develop and test a comprehensive HCT measure.

METHODS

We utilized NSCH data (2016-19) to examine the model fit of 9 HCT questions. The new measure's psychometric properties were assessed by comparing it to theoretically similar and divergent variables including receiving care coordination/help, shared-decision making, satisfaction with communication, preventative dental care, and volunteer experience.

RESULTS

An exploratory factor analysis and item culling yielded 8 items addressing 3 subscales. A confirmatory factor analysis on separate data confirmed the identified subscales. A dichotomous and continuous scale was created with subscales including Guidance Toward Independence, Adequate Clinic Visit, and Continuity of Care Discussions. Model fit was excellent with an Eigenvalue of 1.08% and 89% variance explained in exploratory factor analysis and a Goodness of Fit index of 0.97 in confirmatory factor analysis. Examination of initial reliability and content and criterion validity indicated high reliability and validity for the scale and subscales.

CONCLUSIONS

This was the first study to examine the psychometric properties of the HCT measure in the NSCH. The HCT measure identified in this study assesses providers' use of care plans, promotion of independence, clinic visit quality, and transfer assistance. This measure will be a useful tool in clinics, intervention development, and research for adolescents with and without special health care needs.retain-->.

Transition From Pediatric to Adult Rheumatology Care: An Exploratory Study From Latin America

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Adequate transition from pediatric to adult care is associated with better adherence to treatment and better outcomes in pediatric patients with chronic diseases. There are little data on transition programs, outcomes, use of transition guidelines, and available tools in pediatric rheumatology centers from Latin America (LATAM). In this study, we described the characteristics of transition programs from 3 pediatric rheumatology centers. We also introduced results of the first survey examining the transition experience in countries from LATAM.

METHODS

The experience and implementation process of transition programs from 3 pediatric rheumatology centers were described. A survey based on a questionnaire created by Chira et al (J Rheumatol. 2014;41:768-779) from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance was also administrated to pediatric rheumatology centers from LATAM.

RESULTS

A total of 49 (68%) pediatric rheumatologists answered the survey. Most centers do not have an official and written transition program and reported a need for more tools and resources in their services to facilitate the transition experience.

CONCLUSIONS

Transition guidelines culturally tailored to developing countries are needed in LATAM.

Transition competence as an indicator of health outcomes related to transition

BACKGROUND

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with chronic conditions face a transfer, defined as an actual shift from paediatric to adult-oriented health care. Transition competence as the self-perceived knowledge, skills and abilities regarding the transition process was considered extremely useful.

AIM

This study was designed to investigate the impact of transition competence before and after the transfer on disease-specific quality of life (QoL) and health care satisfaction of AYAs with diabetes.

RESULTS

In total, a sample of N = 90 AYAs with diabetes self-reported their transition competence, diabetes-specific QoL and satisfaction with care. Multiple linear regressions were used to analyse the impact of transition competence on satisfaction with care and QoL. Transition competence positively influenced the outcomes of satisfaction with care and QoL.

CONCLUSION

Young adults with diabetes showed higher transition competence scores than adolescents with diabetes.

Social and Structural Drivers of Health and Transition to Adult Care

CONTEXT

Youth with chronic health conditions experience challenges during their transition to adult care. Those with marginalized identities likely experience further disparities in care as they navigate structural barriers throughout transition.

OBJECTIVES

This scoping review aims to identify the social and structural drivers of health (SSDOH) associated with outcomes for youth transitioning to adult care, particularly those who experience structural marginalization, including Black, Indigenous, and 2-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and others youth.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched from earliest available date to May 2022.

STUDY SELECTION

Two reviewers screened titles and abstracts, followed by full-text. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Primary research studying the association between SSDOH and transition outcomes were included.

DATA EXTRACTION

SSDOH were subcategorized as social drivers, structural drivers, and demographic characteristics. Transition outcomes were classified into themes. Associations between SSDOH and outcomes were assessed according to their statistical significance and were categorized into significant (P < .05), nonsignificant (P > .05), and unclear significance.

RESULTS

101 studies were included, identifying 12 social drivers (childhood environment, income, education, employment, health literacy, insurance, geographic location, language, immigration, food security, psychosocial stressors, and stigma) and 5 demographic characteristics (race and ethnicity, gender, illness type, illness severity, and comorbidity). No structural drivers were studied. Gender was significantly associated with communication, quality of life, transfer satisfaction, transfer completion, and transfer timing, and race and ethnicity with appointment keeping and transfer completion.

LIMITATIONS

Studies were heterogeneous and a meta-analysis was not possible.

CONCLUSIONS

Gender and race and ethnicity are associated with inequities in transition outcomes. Understanding these associations is crucial in informing transition interventions and mitigating health inequities.

"I can't pose a whole heap of questions that I know I don't have time to follow up"-Exploring perceptions of an adolescent transition program

BACKGROUND

Adolescent transition programs are patient education programs. They are geared towards enabling adolescents with chronic or long-term illnesses to become active partners in their health care and manage their own health. Although there is agreement about their importance, there is not an agreement on content or how they should be delivered. The study reported here was part of the first steps of an action research project.

AIM

Our aim was to explore how health professionals understand the program at our hospital, and their opinions of its implementation. This would advance our knowledge of the practice of the program to support its development.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 18 physicians and nurses. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. In our discussion of the generated data, we use the theory of practice architectures as a lens.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

We generated four themes through the analysis, namely "We are (back) at scratch", "Time is always an issue", "Getting them ready for what is to come-transition as a synonym to transfer" and "Raising topics that go beyond medical issues". Changes to a practice requires changes to the practice architectures. Practice architectures can both enable and constrain a practice. Our analysis suggests a need for a more unified perception of the program goals, the cultural-discursive arrangements. Health professionals see time as a significant barrier to implementation and changes to the material-economic arrangements are particularly called for, i.e., more time, space and staff to practice the program. These also tie into the social-political arrangements of the program.

CONCLUSION

There are arrangements in the practice architecture that currently seem to constrain the practice of the program. The practice is currently fragmented both within and across subspecialties. Efforts should be made to establish a more shared understanding of the program among health professionals. Furthermore, we should investigate how the practice of the program can be better supported.

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.

Improving the use of transition readiness measures in research and clinical care

Measurement of transition readiness is considered a crucial component of effective transition. It is included as one of the Six Core Elements of Transition in national transitional care guidelines. However, the current measures of transition readiness have not been found to correlate with either current or future health outcomes for youth. In addition, there are challenges in measuring transition readiness in youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who may not be expected to achieve skills and knowledge that are considered essential for transition in typically developing youth. These concerns make it difficult to know how best to use transition readiness measures in research and clinical care. This article highlights the appeal of measuring transition readiness in clinical and research contexts, the current barriers that prevent us from fully achieving those benefits, and potential strategies for bridging the gap. IMPACT: Transition readiness measures were developed as an attempt to identify those patients who were ready to successfully navigate the transition from pediatric to adult health care. Thus far, the measures that have been developed do not appear to be related to health outcomes such as disease control or timely attendance of the first adult appointment in adult care. We provide suggestions for how to address the current concerns with the available transition readiness measures.

Growing up with chronic pain: a systematic review of the evidence in transitional care for young people with chronic pain

Objective

Paediatric chronic pain presents a significant individual and societal burden, with an estimated prevalence of 11–38%. A large proportion of adolescents with chronic pain will have unresolved pain that continues into adulthood and thus requires transitional care. The aim of this review was to investigate the current evidence for the core components of effective transitional care interventions designed for young people with chronic pain.

Methods

Studies were identified by searching the Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases. A search strategy using terms such as ‘Adolescent’, ‘Persistent long-term pain’ and ‘Transition’ (or variations of such words) was implemented. Inclusion criteria were sample population age 10–24 years, a confirmed diagnosis of a condition characterized by chronic pain, any healthcare setting, any service provider, published peer reviewed and English language.

Results

Ninety-eight articles were identified by the search and 14 were selected after abstract screening. Two independent reviewers screened the articles, followed by a senior reviewer. Of the 14 articles, full-text review found that none of the articles looked specifically at evidence with respect to core components of effective transitional care designed for young people with chronic pain.

Conclusion

Chronic pain is a feature of many long-term health conditions. It remains unknown as to whether there are any pain-specific aspects of transitional care. How pain management is addressed in existing transitional care provision and the relationship of pain to outcomes needs further research. If effective interventions can be provided during these crucial years, the trajectory of these young people can potentially be improved into adulthood.

But what do we mean by "health"? A critical perspective on the concept of health in the adolescent transition program of a Norwegian university hospital

BACKGROUND

To understand better what influences the practice of our transition program, we wanted to explore the underlying theory of health.

METHODS

We performed a qualitative content analysis of the written material that guides the program, comprising a quality system guideline, two checklists, a guide to health professionals and managers, and three patient brochures.

RESULTS

The analysis resulted in the formulation of three themes; "Being on top of medical management", "Ability to promote own health" and "Awareness of own goals and expectations".

CONCLUSION

Our analysis indicates that the program content revolves mainly around medical management and that other dimensions of health are not emphasised. We question what the goals of the program are and if these goals are explicit and shared among the program stakeholders. An explicit program theory is vital and needs to be evident in material supporting transition programs.