title: Quality Improvement Targeting Adherence During the Transition from a Pediatric to Adult Liver Transplant Clinic.
abstract: The transition from pediatric to adult transplant care is a high risk period for non-adherence and poor health outcomes. This article describes a quality improvement initiative integrated into a pediatric liver transplant program that focused on improving outcomes following the transfer from pediatric to adult liver transplant care. Using improvement science methodology, we evaluated the impact of our center's transition readiness skills (TRS) program by conducting a chart review of 45 pediatric liver transplant recipients who transferred to adult transplant care. Medication adherence, clinic attendance, and health status variables were examined for the year pre-transfer and first year post-transfer. 19 recipients transferred without participating in the TRS program (control group) and 26 recipients participated in the program prior to transferring to the adult clinic (TRS group). The TRS group was significantly older at the time of transfer, more adherent with medications, and more likely to attend their first adult clinic visit compared to the control group. Among the TRS group, better adolescent and parent regimen knowledge were associated with greater adherence to post-transfer clinic appointments. Transition planning should focus on the gradual shift in responsibility for health management tasks, including clinic attendance, from parent to adolescent. There may be support for extending transition support for at least 1 year post-transfer to promote adherence.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. emfred@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fredericks
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Sally J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sevecke
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dore-Stites
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shieck
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
authors.forename: M James
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D055118:Medication Adherence; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060305:Transition to Adult Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adherence; Pediatrics; Self-management; Transition; Transplant