Transitioning Adolescents and Young Adults With HIV Infection to Adult Care: Pilot Testing the "Movin' Out" Transitioning Protocol.
BACKGROUND
Advances in care and treatment of adolescents/young adults with HIV infection have made survival into adulthood possible, requiring transition to adult care. Researchers have documented that the transition process is challenging for adolescents/young adults. To ensure successful transition, a formal transition protocol is needed. Despite existing research, little quantitative evaluation of the transition process has been conducted.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to pilot test the "Movin' Out" Transitioning Protocol, a formalized protocol developed to assist transition to adult care.


METHODS
A retrospective medical/nursing record review was conducted with 38 clients enrolled in the "Movin' Out" Transitioning Protocol at a university-based adolescent medicine clinic providing care to adolescents/young adults with HIV infection.


RESULTS
Almost half of the participants were able to successfully transition to adult care. Reasons for failure to transition included relocation, attrition, lost to follow-up, and transfer to another adult service. Failure to transition to adult care was not related to adherence issues, X(2) (1, N=38)=2.49, p=.288; substance use, X(2) (1, N=38)=1.71, p=.474; mental health issues, X(2) (1, N=38)=2.23, p=.322; or pregnancy/childrearing, X(2) (1, N=38)=0.00, p=.627).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the small sample size, the "Movin' Out" Transitioning Protocol appears to be useful in guiding the transition process of adolescents/young adults with HIV infection to adult care. More research is needed with a larger sample to fully evaluate the "Movin' Out" Transitioning Protocol.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Miami, FL.
Donna
D
Maturo
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Miami, FL.
Alexis
A
Powell
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Miami, FL.
Hannah
H
Major-Wilson
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Miami, FL.
Kenia
K
Sanchez
University of Miami, School of Nursing & Health Studies, Coral Gables, FL. Electronic address: dmaturo@med.miami.edu.
Joseph P
JP
De Santis
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Miami, FL.
Lawrence B
LB
Friedman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D060305:Transition to Adult Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
Adolescents; Clinical protocols; HIV infection; Health transition; Young adults