Development, pilot implementation, and preliminary assessment of a transition process for youth living with HIV

To describe the development and pilot implementation of a transition process for youth living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to assess the perceptions of the process among youth living with HIV (YLHIV), their caregivers, and clinical staff.

A multidisciplinary core planning team developed a transition planning framework and process. With the assistance of the appropriate hospital departments, we created educational material for patients and caregivers and a flowsheet for documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR). Staff were trained on implementation of the process and documentation in the EMR. To assess the process, we surveyed staff, YLHIV, and caregivers for feedback.

Our transition process was informed by our goal to provide transition support that could respond to a variety of patient factors. We developed a process focused on four stages: 1. Introduction to Transition, 2. Building Knowledge and Skills, 3. Growing in Independence, and 4. Adult Care Ready. Each stage contains competencies for the patient and tasks for the care team. The pace of proceeding through the stages is determined by completion of competencies rather than patient age. Results from youth and staff showed that the transition process and informational material were helpful.

We developed a transition process for YLHIV and implemented this process in an HIV clinic. Initial survey data shows that youth, caregivers, and staff found this strategy helpful.

This pilot process may serve as a source of guidance to other clinics seeking to establish their own transition process.