Transition between paediatric and adult diabetes healthcare services: An online global survey of healthcare professionals’ experiences and perceptions

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice Vol. 214; p. 111768
• Main Authors: James, Steven, Cudizio, Laura, Ng, Sze May, Lyons, Sarah, Maruthur, Nisa M., Araszkiewicz, Aleksandra, Gomber, Apoorva, Snoek, Frank, Toft, Eva, Weissberg-Benchell, Jill, de Beaufort, Carine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01-08-2024
• Subjects: Guidelines; Low and middle-income; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Technology; Transition; Type 1 diabetes; Youth; Transition; Youth; Technology; Type 1 diabetes; Low and middle-income; Guidelines
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111768

Youth with diabetes should transition from paediatric to adult diabetes services in a deliberate, organized and cooperative way. We sought to identify healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) experiences and perceptions around transition readiness planning, policies and procedures, and the actual transfer to adult services.
Data were collected via an online global survey (seven language options), broadly advertised by the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), team members and partners, via newsletters, websites, e-mails and social media.
Respondents (n = 372) were mainly physicians (74.5 %), practicing in government funded (59.4 %), paediatric (54.0 %), metropolitan settings (85.8 %) in Europe (44.9 %); 37.1 % in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Few centers used a transition readiness checklist (32.8 %), provided written transition information (29.6 %), or had a dedicated staff member (23.7 %). Similarly, few involved a psychologist (25.8 %), had combined (35.2 %) or transition/young person-only clinics (34.9 %), or a structured transition education program (22.6 %); 49.8 % advised youth to use technology to assist the transfer.
Most (91.9 %) respondents reported barriers in offering a good transition experience. Proportionally, more respondents from LMICs prioritised more funding (p = 0.01), a structured protocol (p < 0.001) and education (p < 0.001).
HCPs’ experiences and perceptions related to transition vary widely. There is a pressing need for an international consensus transition guideline.