Transitional Care for Young People with Movement Disorders: Consensus-Based Recommendations from the MDS Task Force...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatric Medicine
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Childhood-onset movement disorders require specialized care transition.
• The International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society (MDS) established a task force for pediatric movement disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate evidence-based recommendations for the transition of care from pediatric to adult health systems for patients with childhood-onset movement disorders.

Main Methods:

• A formal consensus development process was employed, utilizing a multi-round, web-based Delphi survey.
• The survey incorporated findings from a literature scoping review and a survey of MDS members' transition practices.
• The MDS Task Force on Pediatrics, comprising 23 global experts in movement disorders, served as voting members.

Main Results:

• Fifteen consensus-based recommendations were established across four key areas: team composition/structure, planning/readiness, goals of care, and administration/research.
• All recommendations achieved a median consensus score of 7 or greater, indicating strong agreement among experts.

Conclusions:

• The study provides crucial recommendations for transitional care in childhood-onset movement disorders.
• Challenges in implementation include health infrastructure, resource distribution, and practitioner availability.
• Further research is essential to evaluate the impact of transitional care programs on patient outcomes.