nurses' perceptions and experiences of transition for adolescents with solid organ transplants

Nurses' Perceptions and Experiences of Transition for Adolescents with

Solid Organ Transplants

Angie Lim

ful transition

We may have images of this…

But in reality…

Transplantation

Issue?

Transition

Principles of Transition

• Collaboration among patients, families and health care practitioners

• Based in theories of anticipatory guidance

• Dependent on acquisition of self-management skills

Goals• Facilitate uninterrupted, coordinated, developmentally appropriate,

comprehensive care

• Encourage patient/family to promote independence and self-responsibility

• Provide opportunities to develop problem solving, goal-setting and self-advocacy skills

• Establish a sense of personal identity with less dependence on parents or other care providers

• Anticipatory guidance

Challenges• Medical, social, physical & psychological implications

compounded by concurrent transfer of care

• Different models of care in pediatric and adult centres

• Significant importance placed on the healthcare provider relationship by adolescents/families

• Perceive negative difference in the overall quality of care/atmosphere at adult centres

Current Consensus

• Pediatric and adult health care teams both play essential roles in the transition experience for adolescent transplant recipients

• There is need for a formalized transition program

…However

• Although widely agreed that transition interventions are needed - little evidence to support what types of interventions make a difference in the successful transition of youth

• Nurses are in a pivotal position to initiate and continue education from the time of diagnosis through to successful transfer

Implications for Research

Other Considerations

• Health literacy – how do adolescents interpret and understand the information?

• Knowledge translation – what is the best way to communicate with adolescents about self-management and preparing for transition?

• Anything else?

Next Step…

• Decide on a methodology!