The transition from pediatric to adult healthcare

However, the transition from the pediatric and family-centred health care to the adult, individually focused treatment often results in a loss of follow-up for young adults with chronic diseases and poor patient and parent satisfaction. Further, it is often associated with deterioration in the health of adolescents with chronic conditions which indicate a need for alternative ways to deliver health care for this group of patients and their parents.

Epilepsy in children and young people can be associated with comorbidities, including learning difficulties, mental health issues, behavioural problems and motor impairments. The needs for young epileptics include peer relationships, compliance, alcohol, autonomy, detachment from parents, self-esteem, lovers, loneliness, social isolation, restrictions versus opportunities, driver’s license, educational and business choices.

AIM

This study aims at developing new pathways to involve young people with epilepsy in the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare services. The pathway should promote and support patients’ needs and wishes for self-care, empowerment and quality of life supported by telehealth in order to base the transition on the special needs and wishes that characterise young epileptics.

The aim is to create conditions and framework for the young adults to live a normal everyday life thus avoiding unnecessary visits to their own doctor and hospital.

PARTNERS

The project is a PhD project by Ole Abildgaard Hansen.

The Hans Christian Andersen Hospital for Children and Adolescents and the Department of Neurology at Odense University Hospital are partners on the project.

EXTERNAL FUNDING

The project is anchored at the Department of Neurology.