Facilitating the transition from paediatric to adult care in endocrinology: a focus on growth disorders

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Adolescent Medicine
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Childhood-onset growth disorders (COGD) often require lifelong management, necessitating a critical transition from pediatric to adult healthcare systems.
• The transition period poses a significant risk for care discontinuity, potentially leading to adverse health outcomes in young adults.

Approach:

• This review synthesizes current research on best practices for healthcare transition (HCT).
• It details a three-stage model for HCT: preparation in pediatrics, transfer to adult care, and integration into adult services.
• The approach includes disease-specific considerations for endocrinologists and resources for assessing transition readiness.

Key Points:

• Stage 1 involves early adolescent preparation, focusing on medical knowledge and self-management skills.
• Stage 2 emphasizes facilitated transfer through warm hand-offs and joint visits.
• Stage 3 focuses on sustained care within the adult setting, ideally with multidisciplinary support.

Conclusions:

• Implementing a structured, multi-stage HCT process is essential for young adults with COGD.
• Effective transition planning mitigates risks of care interruption and improves long-term health outcomes.
• Collaboration between pediatric and adult care providers, alongside patient education, is key to successful HCT.