Optimising Paediatric Transition to Intensive Care for Adults (OPTICAL): study protocol for a mixed method study.

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Paediatric to Adult Transition

Background:

• Teenagers and young adults (TYA) with chronic conditions face challenges transitioning to adult intensive care units (ICUs).
• Existing adult ICU services are often ill-equipped for TYA, risking compromised care.
• Current UK guidelines for ICU transition lack an evidence base, with limited established pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate evidence for national policy on paediatric to adult ICU transition.
• To improve clinical care and patient experience for TYA in ICUs.
• To address the limitations of current, non-evidence-based transition recommendations.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods study combining UK national data analysis (2017-2024) on ICU admissions and healthcare utilization.
• Semistructured interviews, online forums, and surveys with TYA patients, carers, and health professionals.
• Synthesis of evidence and stakeholder engagement to propose targeted improvements.

Main Results:

• Analysis of UK national data (2017-2024) to identify clinical characteristics and healthcare resource utilization of TYA in ICUs.
• Understanding of TYA and professional experiences of ICU transition through qualitative data collection.
• Development of evidence-based recommendations for improving ICU transition pathways.

Conclusions:

• This research will provide crucial evidence to inform national policy for TYA ICU transitions.
• Findings aim to enhance the quality of care and patient experience during critical care.
• The study addresses an urgent need for evidence-based guidelines in this specialized area of critical care.