title: Key elements for, and indicators of, a successful transition: an international Delphi study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to reach an international consensus to determine what key elements should be part of a transition program and what indicators could be used to assess its success.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this purpose, a Delphi study including an international panel of 37 experts was carried out. The study consisted of three rounds, with response rates ranging from 86.5% to 95%. At each round, experts were asked to assess key elements (defined as the most important elements for the task) and indicators (defined as quantifiable characteristics). At each round, panelists were contacted via e-mail explaining them the tasks to be done and giving them the Web link where to complete the questionnaire. At Round 3, each key element and indicator was assessed as essential, very important, important, accessory, or unnecessary. A 70% agreement was used as cutoff.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At Round 3, more than 70% of panelists agreed on six key elements being essential, with one of them (Assuring a good coordination between pediatric and adult professionals) reaching an almost complete consensus (97%). Additionally, 11 more obtained more than 70% agreement when combined with the Very important category. Among indicators, only one (Patient not lost to follow-up) was considered almost unanimously (91%) as essential by the panelists and seven others also reached consensus when the Very important category was included.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using these results as a framework to develop guidelines at local, national, and international levels would allow better assessing and comparing transition programs.
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Adolescent Health, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: joan-carles.suris@chuv.ch.
authors.forename: Joan-Carles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Suris
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Adolescent Health, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067697:Adolescent Health; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D006801:Humans; D060305:Transition to Adult Care
keywords: Adolescence; Chronic disease; Delphi study; Transition