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15th Annual Conference of the British HIV Association1-3 April 2009, Liverpool, UK |
CROSSING THE DIVIDE: TRANSITIONAL CARE FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH HIV – THEIR VIEWS
HIV Med 2009 Apr 1-3; 10(Suppl. 1):16 (abstract no. P7)
H Bundock1, G Tudor-Williams1, S Fidler1, S McDonald2 and C Foster2
1Imperial College London, London, UK, 2Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
BACKGROUND: Children with perinatally acquired HIV infection are surviving into adolescence and transitioning to adult services. Transfer in other chronic diseases of childhood has been associated with poorer attendance and increased morbidity. We explore transitional and current healthcare experiences of young adults who transfer from paediatric to specialized adult services.
METHODS: Perinatally infected adults attending a dedicated young persons’ service over a 2-month period rated transitional, inpatient and outpatient care characteristics and service provision using a piloted Likert scale questionnaire.
RESULTS: All 21 adults attending in the study period participated. Thirteen (62%) were female, 67% black African, median age 19 years (range 17–21) and had transferred at a median of 23 months (range 4– 34) previously. All ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ they were satisfied with their outpatient care. Fifteen of 21 (71%) strongly believed the service was more appropriate than standard adult clinics. Being treated as an individual, comprehensive management explanation and encouragement to develop independence were ‘strongly important’ to 17/21 (81%), 17/ 21 (81%) and 16/21 (76%) respectively. A quarter (5/21) thought meeting other young people with HIV was ‘neither important/unimportant’ and 9/21 expressed no interest in peer support. Eighteen of 21 had found transitional care an ‘easy process’ and 13/21 (62%) ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ that transition had a positive effect on their health/wellbeing. Nine of 21 (43%) had previous adult inpatient experiences; 5/9 (56%) were only slightly satisfied/not satisfied with their care. Sixteen of 17 (94%) ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ that a separate ward for young people would be preferable.
CONCLUSIONS: The views of young people living with chronic disease are important in developing transitional care services. This study illustrates that careful transition to a specialized adult service can be a positive event for young people born with HIV. However, the adult ward did not meet some of their healthcare needs and dedicated inpatient services for young people are required.
2009-04-01
P7
Copyright © 2009 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD