Improving the Pediatric to Adult Care Transition Experience: Recommendations from Young Adults with Complex Care Needs

by Monique Cassidy, Dr. Shelley Doucet and Dr. Alison Luke

Abstract: With advancements in modern medicine, an increasing number of youth with complex care needs (CCN) now survive into adulthood1. As service demands increase for this group, healthcare providers must determine the best way to meet their high resource needs. The process of transition to adult healthcare is a critical time for their overall life course and health outcomes for these youth with chronic conditions (e.g., T1 diabetes and anxiety)2. Following the transition to adult healthcare, youth are vulnerable to deteriorating outcomes (e.g., increased stress and costly ER visits)3. Seeking input from youth on their experiences with health services is a key step towards improving service delivery. This study aims to better understand the experiences of young adults with CCN who have transitioned from pediatric to adult healthcare services in New Brunswick. A qualitative descriptive design was used to describe the experiences of transitioning from pediatric to adult care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 young adults (aged 19-30). Maximum variation sampling was used. Interview questions were designed to identify specific gaps in transition services while providing recommendations to address these gaps. The analysis is ongoing. The following recommendation themes are emerging from the data: (a) proactive and personalized communications on ‘what to expect’ during transition; (b) peer support to facilitate transition; and (c) access to detailed information on health-related resources and services (e.g., insurance). Results from this study will inform policy in NB and lead to the development of necessary service delivery improvement strategies.