Good practices that address continuity during transition from child to adult care: synthesis of the evidence

Child Care Health Dev. 2004 Sep;30(5):439-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2004.00440.x.

Abstract

Background: Effective transition to adult services is required by an increasing number of children with ongoing needs.

Aim: To identify practices that promote continuity at transition between child and adult services.

Methods: Systematic examination of the evidence from two search strategies yielding 5319 items.

Results: Only three of the 126 appraised items had strong external validity. A large range of different practices, which focused on the service, the young person and the family, were identified. Practices within the service addressed structural, process and outcome components.

Conclusion: Four transition models are proposed for testing.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Health Services / organization & administration
  • Adolescent Health Services / standards
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child Health Services / organization & administration
  • Child Health Services / standards
  • Continuity of Patient Care / organization & administration
  • Continuity of Patient Care / standards*
  • Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration
  • Delivery of Health Care / standards
  • Family
  • Health Services / standards*
  • Humans
  • Models, Organizational
  • Quality of Health Care / organization & administration
  • Quality of Health Care / standards
  • Research Design