Programa de transición: una intervención para adolescentes con diabetes tipo 1: estudio de casos y controles / Transition program: an intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes: cases and controls study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The transition programs (TP) are planned interventions with specific aims which support type 1 diabetes adolescents in their process to emigrate from a pediatric care system to an adult care system. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a TP in type 1 diabetes adolescents. Subjects and Method: This study was performed in 20 adolescents 10 in TP and 10 controls (no TP) attended in an adult care system in a traditional way. The applied program included coordination of attention dates, administrative supervision of the cases, and integral health team attention physician every three months, psychologist with psychosocial follow-up every three months, nutricionist and university nurse according to the case necessities. After a year of the TP implementation the indicators of adherence were evaluated continuity of care, regular medical appointments, physician/adolescent relationship, psychosocial follow-up, and to maintain or improve the HbA1c. The statistical analysis of variables comparison was performed with Kwallis Test o Mann-Whitney Test, in STATA 12.0 program. Results: At comparing groups, it was found that the intervened adolescents presented a major frequency of continuity of diabetes care, regular medical appointments, physician/adolescent relationship and psychosocial follow-up (p < 0,01); the indicator of maintaining or improving the HbA1c was better in the patients with TP (60 percent vs 30 percent) yet not significant. Conclusion: In type 1 diabetes adolescents, with the applied TP we get better indicators of adherence to the diabetes treatment