Endocrine Abstracts

Background: A key element of the transition process is encouraging young people (YP) to become more independent in their healthcare. However it is not known what skills YP feel they need before being ready for transfer to adult services.

Method: A simple questionnaire was designed for YP to rate out of 5 A. their current status in terms of 5 aspects of independence in healthcare (5 “yes, I do it all of the time” to 1 “no, my family does it for me”); B. how important they are at the time of transfer (5 “totally important”, 1 “not at all important”) and C. their preparedness for transfer (5 “totally prepared” and 1 “not at all prepared”). A signed rank test was performed between their current status and their ideal status at transfer and regression analysis was performed to identify which aspects were associated with feeling more prepared.

Results: The questionnaire was administered to 72 YP (37 male) with long term endocrine conditions. The mean age was 15.5(2.5) years old. 31% of YP were aware that transition or transfer had been discussed, however only 11% were aware of what the plan was. The following aspects of independence in healthcare were felt to be at least fairly important at the time of transfer (rate 3+) were:- organizing and taking medication in 79% of YP (75%); seeing the doctor alone in 72% (21%)*; asking questions in clinic, in 69% (63%); organizing and collecting prescriptions in 63% (29%)* and phoning endocrine service with questions in 43% (14%)* (*P<0.05 significantly different from current status). Using stepwise regression the factors associated with feeling prepared for transfer were confidence to be seen alone and organizing and taking medication.

Conclusion: To prepare for adult services YP have identified a need to increase independence in healthcare. Doctors and nurses should do more to encourage this, particularly by giving YP the opportunity to be seen alone in clinic.