Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
International and Interdisciplinary Identification of Health Care Transition Outcomes
Cynthia Fair1, Jessica Cuttance2, Niraj Sharma3
1Department of Human Service Studies, Elon University, Elon, North Carolina.
Importance:
There is a lack of agreement on what constitutes successful outcomes for the process of health care transition (HCT) among adolescent and young adults with special health care needs.
Objective:
To present HCT outcomes identified by a Delphi process with an interdisciplinary group of participants.
Design, Setting, And Participants:
A Delphi method involving 3 stages was deployed to refine a list of HCT outcomes. This 18-month study (from January 5, 2013, of stage 1 to July 3, 2014, of stage 3) included an initial literature search, expert interviews, and then 2 waves of a web-based survey. On this survey, 93 participants from outpatient, community-based, and primary care clinics rated the importance of the top HCT outcomes identified by the Delphi process. Analyses were performed from July 5, 2014, to December 5, 2014.
Exposures:
Health care transition outcomes of adolescents and young adults with special health care needs.
Main Outcomes And Measures:
Importance ratings of identified HCT outcomes rated on a Likert scale from 1 (not important) to 9 (very important).
Results:
The 2 waves of surveys included 117 and 93 participants as the list of outcomes was refined. Transition outcomes were refined by the 3 waves of the Delphi process, with quality of life being the highest-rated outcome with broad agreement. The 10 final outcomes identified included individual outcomes (quality of life, understanding the characteristics of conditions and complications, knowledge of medication, self-management, adherence to medication, and understanding health insurance), health services outcomes (attending medical appointments, having a medical home, and avoidance of unnecessary hospitalization), and a social outcome (having a social network). Participants indicated that different outcomes were likely needed for individuals with cognitive disabilities.
Conclusions And Relevance:
Quality of life is an important construct relevant to HCT. Future research should identify valid measures associated with each outcome and further explore the role that quality of life plays in the HCT process. Achieving consensus is a critical step toward the development of reliable and objective comparisons of HCT outcomes across clinical conditions and care delivery locations.
Related Concept Videos
Discharge Summary Forms
Here's a detailed look at the key components and guidelines for preparing a discharge summary:
Guidelines for Writing Outcome
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process III: Evaluation and Documentation
Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
Types of Reports I: Hand-off Report
Following are the key components and categories of hand-off reports:
Purpose and Process:
Nursing Evaluation