[Transitional care for adolescents and young adults]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Adolescent Medicine
• Asthma Management

Background:

• Transitional care for adolescents and young adults presents challenges, including decreased healthcare utilization post-transfer.
• Existing national guidelines for transitional care are often not fully implemented by healthcare professionals.
• Focus tends to be on the logistical transfer rather than on fostering independent adult self-care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the complexities in transitional care for adolescents and young adults with asthma.
• To propose a comprehensive transition program for asthma patients.
• To improve long-term health outcomes by bridging the transitional care gap.

Main Methods:

• A survey of healthcare professionals identified adherence gaps with national guidelines.
• Development of a comprehensive, multi-professional transition program.
• Pilot study implementation in the Stockholm region.

Main Results:

• More than half of surveyed healthcare professionals do not adhere to key national guideline messages.
• The study highlights a need for programs focusing on self-care skills development.
• A pilot program is currently underway to evaluate a new approach.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive, multi-professional transition program is needed for adolescents and young adults with asthma.
• Such programs should focus on gradually strengthening self-care skills for independent adulthood.
• Successful implementation could lead to improved long-term outcomes and national adoption.