Understanding barriers to transition from pediatric to adult care among young adults with sickle cell disease to develop a transition mentor program
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Young adults with sickle cell disease need better support during care transitions. A mentoring program involving medical students can improve self-advocacy and provider communication, enhancing health maintenance.
Area Of Science
- Hematology
- Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine
- Health Services Research
Background
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) necessitates lifelong comprehensive care, including appointments, medications, and health maintenance.
- Transitioning from pediatric to adult care poses risks for SCD patients, potentially leading to significant health complications.
- The transition period is a critical juncture for young adults with SCD, requiring targeted interventions to ensure continuity of care.
Purpose Of The Study
- To identify key targets for a mentoring intervention aimed at improving transition outcomes for young adults with sickle cell disease.
- To explore patient perspectives on essential components for a successful transition from pediatric to adult healthcare settings.
- To inform the development of a supportive program addressing the unique needs of SCD patients during care transitions.
Main Methods
- Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 young adults (ages 18-30) with SCD, encompassing those preparing for and recently transitioned to adult care.
- Interviews were analyzed using template thematic analysis, guided by the Social-ecological Model of Adolescent and Young Adult Readiness to Transition (SMART) framework.
- The SMART framework provided a structured approach to identify recurring themes related to the transition process.
Main Results
- Interview themes aligned with the SMART framework, highlighting self-advocacy, provider communication, and disease knowledge as crucial intervention targets.
- Participants expressed openness to mentorship from medical students, viewing it as a valuable resource for navigating their healthcare.
- Patients perceived the mentoring relationship as a dual opportunity for personal support and for educating future healthcare professionals.
Conclusions
- The SMART framework and insights from patient interviews effectively guided the design of a transition mentor program for SCD patients.
- The developed program aims to address identified patient needs and enhance the transition experience.
- Future research will focus on evaluating the feasibility and impact of this novel transition mentoring program.
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