Behind the Scenes: A Pilot Study on the Evaluation of Healthcare Professionals’ Approaches to Transitional Care in Adolescents With Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders

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BACKGROUND: Due to recent advances in healthcare, more and more teenagers with chronic diseases emerge into adulthood, posing challenges for both pediatric and adult healthcare systems. The transition from pediatric to adult healthcare settings presents a complex and pivotal phase for adolescents managing chronic conditions. This process necessitates collaboration among adolescents, parents, pediatric specialists, and adult healthcare providers. AIMS: This study aims to assess the current practices of doctors caring for teenagers with chronic digestive diseases and to identify the needs and barriers experienced by professionals during the transition of their patients. METHODS: In order to achieve the aims of this study, we employed a cross-sectional survey study. Pediatric gastroenterologists (PG), general pediatricians (GP), adult gastroenterologists (AG), and primary care physicians (PCP) applied a 20-closed multiple-choice questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 70 responders; 90% did not follow a transition program. The ideal age for beginning the transition was considered 16-17 (51.4%), and the transfer was recommended at 19-20 years of age by 42.9% and at 18 by 45.7%. Regarding the resources, 78.55% required an online platform, 58.55% solicited transition readiness assessments, 51.41% identified online forms distributed through social media, 48.55% selected brochures for patients and families, and a guideline for medical practitioners. Both GPs and PGs (0.836, p<0.05) requested higher numbers of resources. Identified barriers were the absence of a transition expert (65.7%), lack of time for individualized transition programs (61.41%), patients' psycho-emotional attachment to the pediatric team (52.84%), and adolescents' lack of disease knowledge (57.13%). CONCLUSIONS: Investigating the roles and challenges faced by healthcare professionals during the transitional period is crucial for optimizing continuity of care, enhancing patient outcomes, and addressing systemic gaps in healthcare delivery. We identified valuable tools that could be used in transition programs applicable to all institutions caring for adolescents with chronic diseases.

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