Published online Aug 6, 2017. doi: 10.4292/wjgpt.v8.i3.186
Peer-review started: February 18, 2017
First decision: March 3, 2017
Revised: March 28, 2017
Accepted: May 9, 2017
Article in press: May 10, 2017
Published online: August 6, 2017
Processing time: 164 Days and 16 Hours
To determine the tools needed and problems encountered during the transition of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients from pediatric to adult gastroenterologists (GIs) in Québec, Canada.
We conducted a needs assessment survey of Quebec health care professionals (HCPs). The survey was handed out to 136 Québec HCPs at a local conference in 2013. Additionally, it was emailed to any other HCPs in Quebec involved in caring for IBD patients. The completed surveys were compiled to derive descriptive data. Further specific subgroup analysis was then conducted.
Among the conference attendees and individuals emailed 77 (28.2%) completed the questionnaire. Respondents included adult GIs (61.3%), pediatric GIs (20.8%) and IBD nurses (18.3%). The majority of respondents believed that a standardized structure is important for a successful transition. Adult and pediatric GIs equally felt that patients were inadequately prepared for the transition (P = 0.6). There were significant differences between adult and pediatric GIs when it came to resource availability (55.6% vs 90.9%, P = 0.002) and perceived need of a formal transition clinic (21.7% vs 68.8%, P = 0.0006). Both transition program and medical summaries were identified as the most valuable tools to improve transition.
As described in previous studies, our survey reinforces the importance of a transition program, education for young adult IBD patients and the need to improve communication between adult and pediatric GIs.
Core tip: Transition care and transfer of care from pediatric to adult realms is a major challenge with a paucity of published work in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) domain. Transition care varies across different health care systems but from other pediatric entities improved objective outcomes have been demonstrated with more effective transfer of care. This is the first published survey on health care professionals (HCPs) opinion on transition care in IBD in Canada. Barriers related to the patients from the HCPs were identified as were tools that if implemented have potential to improve the effectiveness of transition care. Differences between pediatric and adult gastroenterologists were also identified.