Teens Reaching Adulthood: Needs and Support for Improved Transitional care In ONtario (TRANSITION)
The journey from childhood to adult life involves reaching milestones, as well as assuming new roles and responsibilities. For the rapidly growing population of youth with chronic health conditions/disabilities, transition into the adult healthcare system is an important part of this journey. Sadly patients and families often describe the transfer of care as 'falling off a cliff' due to the lack of preparation, information, supports, and skills to assist with the process.
Although most providers encourage youth with chronic health conditions to assume responsibility for their own health, few discuss transfer to an adult provider or offer help with the process. Moreover, our current health care system is not designed to prevent complications in chronic conditions in youth. Health care providers also lack the knowledge and information to assure effective clinical management, and to eliminate health disparities. When youth transitions are met with barriers/challenges, transitioning adolescents are at increased risk for poor health outcomes, most of which are preventable, and financial costs are often incurred by the patient/family and the healthcare system.
Objectives:
The main objective of the TRANSITION Project is to measure “transition readiness” in adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12-25 with a range of different chronic or complex health conditions. We also aim to further validate the TRANSITION-Q self-management questionnaire across 6 paediatric healthcare centres in Ontario, and to triangulate the “transition readiness” responses of the participant, the patent/caregiver, and the healthcare provider.
Research Team
Principal investigator
Dr. Jan Willem Gorter – McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton
Co-Investigators
Dr. Khush Amaria – Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Dr. Caitlin Cassidy – St. Joseph’s Healthcare London, University of Western Ontario, London
Dr. Briano DiRezze – McMaster University, Hamilton
Dr. Christina Grant – McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton
Dr. Karen Grewal – Kingston General Hospital, Kingston
Dr. Beverly Guttman – Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Dr. Shauna Kingsnorth – Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto
Dr. Anne Klassen – McMaster University, Hamilton
Chantal Krantz – Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa
Dayle McCauley – McMaster University, Hamilton
Dr. Kathy Speechley – University of Western Ontario, London
Cynthia Weaver – Ontario Shores, Whitby
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Hopmans, Research Assistant