Journal Article

Landscape of healthcare transition services in Canada: a multi-method environmental scan

Soper, Alice Kelen, Li, Lin, Greenaway, Jon, McCauley, Dayle, Luke, Alison, Gorter, Jan Willem, Doucet, Shelley

2024

Overview

Background Poorly supported transitions from pediatric to adult healthcare can lead to negative health outcomes for youth and their families. To better understand the current landscape of healthcare transition care across Canada, the Canadian Health Hub in Transition (the “Transition Hub”, established in 2019) identified a need to: (1) describe programs and services supporting the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare across Canada; and (2) identify strengths, barriers, and gaps affecting the provision of transition services. Methods Our project included two iterative steps: a national survey followed by a qualitative descriptive study. Service providers were recruited from the Transition Hub and invited to complete the survey and participate in the qualitative study. The survey was used to collect program information (e.g., setting, clinical population, program components), and semi-structured interviews were used to explore providers’ perspectives on strengths, barriers, and gaps in transition services. Qualitative data were analyzed using the Framework Method. Results Fifty-one surveys were completed, describing 48 programs (22 pediatric, 19 bridging, and 7 adult) across 9 provinces. Almost half of the surveyed programs were in Ontario (44%) and most programs were based in hospital (65%) and outpatient settings (73%). There was wide variation in the ages served, with most programs focused on specific diagnostic groups. Qualitative findings from 23 interviews with service providers were organized into five topics: (1) measuring transition success; (2) program strengths; (3) barriers and gaps; (4) strategies for improvement; and (5) drivers for change. Conclusions While national transition guidelines exist in Canada, there is wide variation in the way young people and their families are supported. A national strategy, backed by local leadership, is essential for instigating system change toward sustainable and universally accessible support for healthcare transition in Canada.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Analysis / Canada / Caregivers / Central service department / Child / Children / Chronic illnesses / Continuity of care / Data analysis / Data collection / Environmental scan / Ethics / Evidence-based medicine / Families & family life / Female / Health Administration / Health aspects / Health care industry / Health care policy / Health Informatics / Health Services Accessibility / Healthcare transition / Hospitals / Humans / Interviews / Male / Medical care / Medical ethics / Medical research / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Nursing Research / Pediatrics / Public Health / Qualitative / Qualitative Research / Quality management / Surveys / Surveys and Questionnaires / Teenagers / Transition to adult care / Transition to Adult Care - organization & administration / Transitional care / Young Adult / Young adults / Youth