Effects of Transition from Pediatrics to Adult Oriented Health Care of Patients with Chronic Disease: A Literature Review

Pediatrics patients with chronic diseases have a higher prevalence of psychological, psychosocial and physical ill-health when compared with people in the general population. This significantly increases the rate of hospitalization and transition of patients with chronic disease from pediatric to adult-oriented health care. Transition of patients with chronic disease from pediatric to adult-oriented health care has remarkable effects on the patients involved and their families as well as the health care staff and health care system at large. This article explores the literature published between 2000 and 2015 in order to identify the effects of transition from pediatric to adult oriented health care of patients with chronic disease and discusses interventions needed for practice change to improve this transition. The effects of transition from pediatric to adult-oriented health care of patients with chronic disease are challenging to address. Existing literature does identify some interventions that can potentially provide the basis for practice change but fails to acknowledge the challenges faced by the nurses in the adult hospitals who are involved in the care of transition patients and their families. The result of this review revealed that it is crucial for health professionals to be aware of the challenges faced by the nurses in the adult hospitals who are involved in the care of transition patients and their families and implement appropriate interventions to improve this transition for both the patients and the nurses involved.

Keywords: Transition to Adult Hospitals; Effects of Transition; Patients with Chronic Diseases and Transition; Adult Nurses; Transition Patients