Pediatric healthcare hospital-to-home transition: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Care Transitions
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Pediatric transitions from hospital to home are critical for continuity of care and patient well-being.
• Inadequate transitions can result in hospital readmissions, medication errors, and caregiver distress.
• There is a significant need for evidence-based strategies to improve these transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key challenges in pediatric hospital-to-home transitions.
• To map existing literature gaps and propose research priorities.
• To outline actionable strategies for improving pediatric care transitions.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a scoping review of studies on pediatric transition difficulties and intervention effectiveness.
• Analyzed the role of emerging technologies, including telemedicine.
• Incorporated caregiver perspectives and experiences into the analysis.

Main Results:

• Key challenges include poor treatment adherence, insufficient caregiver understanding of discharge instructions, and inequitable access to follow-up care.
• Significant gaps exist in implementing effective solutions across diverse populations and socioeconomic contexts.
• Telemedicine integration, enhanced caregiver education, and equitable resource access are identified as research priorities.

Conclusions:

• Addressing identified challenges requires adaptable, evidence-based interventions for pediatric care transitions.
• Prioritizing research and implementation efforts can lead to safer, more effective transitions.
• Improved transitions ultimately enhance outcomes for children and their families.