Coming of age with diabetes: patients' views of a clinic for under-25 year olds.
This study is both an evaluation of patients' perceptions of a diabetes clinic for under-25 year olds, and an assessment of experiences in transferring from a paediatric clinic. Sixty-nine patients with Type 1 diabetes (74% of the total clinic), including 41 females, completed evaluations of the clinic and recall of experiences in transfer. Mean age on transferring clinic was 15.9 (range 12-20) years. Paediatricians were perceived to emphasise family and social life, school or work progress; adult physicians tended to stress the risk of long-term complications, importance of exercise and need to maintain strict levels of glycaemic control. Our data suggest that transition to adult care can generally be achieved non-traumatically, but patients may perceive some difficulty because of different emphases and treatment advice favoured by paediatricians and adult physicians.
Eiser
C
C
Department of Psychology, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Exeter, UK.
Flynn
M
M
Green
E
E
Havermans
T
T
Kirby
R
R
Sandeman
D
D
Tooke
J E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D003153:Community Health Services; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires