ABSTRACT
Justification: Adolescent health is critical to the current and future well- being of the world. Pediatricians need country specific guidelines in accordance with international and national standards to establish comprehensive adolescent friendly health services in clinical practice. Process: Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) in association with Adolescent Health Academy formed a committee of subject experts in June, 2019 to formulate guidelines for adolescent friendly health services. After a review of current scientific literature and drafting guidelines on each topic, a national consultative meeting was organized on 16 August, 2019 for detailed discussions and deliberations. This was followed by discussions over e-mail and refining of draft recommendations. The final guidelines were approved by the IAP Executive Board in December, 2021. Objective: To formulate guidelines to enable pediatricians to establish adolescent friendly health services. Recommendations: Pediatricians should coordinate healthcare for adolescents and plan for transition of care to an adult physician by 18 years of age. Pediatricians should establish respectful, confidential and quality adolescent friendly health services for both out-patient and in-patient care. The healthcare facility should provide preventive, therapeutic, and health promoting services. Pediatricians should partner with the multidisciplinary speciality services, community, and adolescents to expand the scope and reach of adolescent friendly health services.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective: To map the transition process from the perspective of pediatricians and their adolescent patients, and to suggest a transition protocol. Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in a pediatric outpatient clinic of a public tertiary hospital. Pediatricians answered a questionnaire about the transition process, and that was evaluated in a descriptive manner. The Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) on health autonomy was answered by the adolescents and the analysis was performed using the χ2 and Mann-Whitney tests. p<0.05 were considered significant. Results: 31 pediatricians (16 residents, 15 supervisors) were enrolled, with a mean age of 40.1 (±16.9), 87% women, with years working in Pediatrics ranging from 2 to 45 years (median of 5 years). Most doctors agreed that there was no transition plan, but they stimulated the patient's autonomy and talked to the patient and family members about any existing chronic diseases. A total of 102 adolescent patients participated, with a median age of 15; 56% were female. The TRAQ median was 58, with similar scores between females and males, and higher scores in those older than 16 years of age (Mann-Whitney U test, p=0.01). The patients reported ease in face-to-face communication with their doctors, but great difficulty in talking about health issues over the phone. Conclusions: Even without a transition protocol, adolescents developed several self-care skills as they aged. The lack of a transitional protocol led to conflicting opinions, which reinforces the need for improvement. We suggest a flowchart and transition protocol.
Resumo Objetivo: Mapear o processo de transição na perspectiva de pediatras e de seus pacientes adolescentes bem como sugerir um protocolo de transição. Métodos: Estudo descritivo, transversal, realizado em um Ambulatório de Pediatria de um hospital público terciário. Pediatras responderam a um questionário sobre o processo de transição, que foi avaliado de forma qualitativa. O Questionário de Avaliação do Preparo para a Transição (TRACS) foi respondido pelos adolescentes, e a análise foi feita com testes do qui-quadrado e de Mann-Whitney. Valores p<0,05 foram considerados significantes. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 31 pediatras (16 residentes, 15 supervisores), com média de idade de 40,1 (±16,9) anos, 87% do sexo feminino, tempo de atuação na Pediatria variando de dois a 45 anos, com mediana de cinco anos. A maioria dos médicos concordava que não havia um plano de transição, mas eles estimulavam a autonomia do paciente e conversavam com pacientes e familiares sobre qualquer doença crônica presente. Participaram da pesquisa 102 pacientes adolescentes, com mediana de idade de 15 anos, 56% do sexo feminino. A mediana do TRACS foi de 58, com escores semelhantes entre os sexos feminino e masculino, e escores superiores nos maiores de 16 anos (teste U de Mann-Whitney, p=0,01). Os pacientes relataram facilidade na comunicação presencial com seus médicos, mas grande dificuldade para falar sobre questões de saúde por telefone. Conclusões: Mesmo sem protocolo de transição, os adolescentes desenvolveram várias habilidades de autocuidado com o avanço da idade. A falta de protocolo levou a opiniões conflitantes, reforçando a necessidade de melhor estruturação. Os autores sugerem a criação de um fluxograma e um protocolo de transição.
ABSTRACT
The transition from child mental health services to adult mental health services can be challenging for patients. Transition is a critical aspect of continuity of care but little is known of the profile of the patients who makes such transitions and their unique characteristics, which could place special demands on subsequent mental health services. The Adult Neurodevelopmental Service at the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore is the first integrated service for adults with neurodevelopmental disorders and psychiatric co-morbidities in Southeast Asia. This audit aims to analyse the profile and characteristics of patients who have made this transition to ensure that the service addresses their specific needs. Methods: The electronic records of 50 patients who were seen in 2015 were analysed in relation to socio-demographics, diagnosis and psychiatric co morbidities, pharmacotherapy, functioning and illness severity scores. Results: All patients except 3(6%) were seen as outpatients. 41(82%) of whom were male and 9(18%) female with the mean age of 21.1 years (SD±2.68). 32(64%) had autistic spectrum disorder, 28(56%) had intellectual disability and 8(16%) had attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Co morbid psychiatric disorders included anxiety disorders (16%), mood disorders (14%), psychotic disorders(8%), and obsessive-compulsive disorders(8%). Risperidone and fluoxetine were the most commonly used antipsychotics and antidepressants respectively. The mean initial clinical global impression score was 4.05(SD±0.87) ± 0.87), and the mean global assessment scale was 53.78(SD±9.42) in patients who were scored. Conclusion: Patients in transition from a child to adult mental health services are a complex and vulnerable group which requires services adapted to their unique needs. Analysing the profile of these patients is critical in evolving the service to meet the needs of this group of young patients to achieve an ideal level of care. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 18 (1): January – June 2017: XX XX.
ABSTRACT
Abstract The main objective of this work is to describe the formation of the Transition Adolescent Clinic (TAC) and understand the process of transitioning adolescents with HIV/AIDS from pediatric to adult care, from the vantage point of individuals subjected to this process. A qualitative method and an intentional sample selected by criteria were adopted for this investigation, which was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil. An in-depth semi-structured interview was conducted with sixteen HIV-infected adolescents who had been part of a transitioning protocol. Adolescents expressed the need for more time to become adapted in the transition process. Having grown up under the care of a team of health care providers made many participants have reluctance toward transitioning. Concerns in moving away from their pediatricians and feelings of disruption, abandonment, or rejection were mentioned. Participants also expressed confidence in the pediatric team. At the same time they showed interest in the new team and expected to have close relationships with them. They also ask to have previous contacts with the adult health care team before the transition. Their talks suggest that they require slightly more time, not the time measured in days or months, but the time measured by constitutive experiences capable of building an expectation of future. This study examines the way in which the adolescents feel, and help to transform the health care transition model used at a public university. Listening to the adolescents’ voices is crucial to a better understanding of their needs. They are those who can help the professionals reaching alternatives for a smooth and successful health care transition.