(971) - Improving Health Management: The Development of an Adolescent Specific Education Program

Abstract

There is consensus regarding the importance of a coordinated and sensitive transition process to support adolescents after transplant as they take responsibility for their healthcare and become adults. We describe the development of an adolescent specific education program aimed at optimizing transition into adulthood and improving transplant related education, psychosocial and transplant outcomes. The Pediatric and Adolescent team is an interdisciplinary group who manage the care of 22 children and adolescents within an adult lung transplant service. With evidence of inferior long-term outcomes, higher rates of non-adherence and poorer health literacy in this age group an education program was developed with input from the patient cohort. A questionnaire exploring individual knowledge around health management, psychosocial function and adherence was completed by 80% of the cohort. Based on the results a program was developed delivering education at 3 stages: pre-transplant; early post-transplant (12 weeks) and late transplant. Pre-transplant sessions occur individually focusing on general transplant education and the need for post-transplant adherence. The early transplant program consists of weekly sessions of topics such as: Why did I have a transplant; Medications and why they are important and Preventing Infection. Ongoing education occurs 6 monthly in a group format over 4 hours and covers issues identified by the cohort as important to them. They have included: Travelling with a transplant; Piercings and tattoos; Drugs and Alcohol; Dealing with Rejection. 25% of sessions have been patient-led and each day has included a moderated discussion around the transplant experience All transplant recipients aged 13-25 yo are invited to participate. Attendance has been >90% at all sessions. Feedback has suggested: all participants found the sessions helpful, 70% felt the opportunity to speak to others with a transplant helped normalize their experience and 65% indicated that the sessions had helped them manage their transplant better. The development of an education program in conjunction with the patient cohort has been well received and deemed to be beneficial by most adolescents attending. The impact of the program on long-term outcomes and health literacy is yet to be determined but may provide a way to improve adolescent outcomes.