Short report
The transition of adult patients with childhood-onset chronic diseases from pediatric to adult healthcare systems: a survey of the perceptions of Japanese pediatricians and child health nurses
1 Research Group on Promotion of Transition of Care from Pediatric to Adult Health Services for Young Adults with Childhood-onset Chronic Disease
2 Department of Pediatrics, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan
3 Division of International Nursing Development, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
4 Higashino Clinic, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka, Japan
5 Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
6 Department of Pediatrics, Kansai Medical University, Fumizonocho 10-15, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8506, Japan
BioPsychoSocial Medicine 2012, 6:8 doi:10.1186/1751-0759-6-8
Published: 20 March 2012Abstract
Background
Advances in medical science have enabled many children with chronic diseases to survive to adulthood. The transition of adult patients with childhood-onset chronic diseases from pediatric to adult healthcare systems has received attention in Europe and the United States. We conducted a questionnaire survey among 41 pediatricians at pediatric hospitals and 24 nurses specializing in adolescent care to compare the perception of transition of care from pediatric to adult healthcare services for such patients.
Findings
Three-fourths of the pediatricians and all of the nurses reported that transition programs were necessary. A higher proportion of the nurses realized the necessity of transition and had already developed such programs. Both pediatricians and nurses reported that a network covering the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare services has not been established to date.
Conclusions
It has been suggested that spreading the importance of a transition program among pediatricians and developing a pediatric-adult healthcare network would contribute to the biopsychosocial well-being of adult patients with childhood-onset chronic disease.
