Abstract
BackgroundTransition from parent-delivered to self-management is a vulnerable time for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with allergy and asthma. There is currently no European guideline available for healthcare professionals (HCPs) on transition of these patients and local/national protocols are also mostly lacking.MethodsEuropean HCPs working with AYA with allergy and asthma were invited to complete an online survey assessing challenges of working with these patients, current transition practices and access to specific healthcare resources.ResultsA total of 1179 responses from 41 European countries were collected. Most HCPs (86%) reported a lack of a transition guideline and a lack of a transition process (20% paediatric HCPs, 50% of adult HCPs, 56% HCP seeing all ages). Nearly half (48%) acknowledged a lack of an established feedback system between paediatric and adult medical services. Many respondents never routinely asked about mental health issues such as self-harm or depression and are not confident in asking about self-harm (66.6%), sexuality (64%) and depression (43.6%). The majority of HCPs (76%) had not received specific training in the care of AYA although 87% agreed that transition was important for AYA with allergy and asthma.ConclusionAlthough there was agreement that transition is important for AYA with allergy and asthma, there are crucial limitations and variations in the current provision of transition services across Europe. Standardisation of AYA management and specific training are required. This should improve management and continuity of care during adolescence and into adulthood to achieve the best healthcare outcomes.
Highlights
Allergy and asthma are amongst the most common chronic disorders
This paper describes the results of a pan-European survey to assess the challenges of working with AYA, current transition practices and access to specific healthcare resources to support transition
As no relevant validated questionnaire existed, the survey was developed by the members of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Adolescent and Young Adult Task Force after a systematic literature review on the transition process and challenges of the AYA with allergies
Summary
Allergy and asthma are amongst the most common chronic disorders. the prevalence and severity of allergic diseases and asthma continue to rise with adolescents and young adults (AYA)—those between ages 11 and 25 [1,2,3]. AYA with food allergy (FA) have a lower quality of life (QoL) than AYA with other chronic conditions [6] These findings suggest that AYA with allergic conditions require specialised resources and healthcare plans to address their age- and disease-related needs. Transition has been defined as ‘active and evolving process that addresses the medical, psychosocial, and educational needs of young people as they prepare to move from child- to adult-centred health care’ [8]. It is about transfer of patient information and disease history to an adult healthcare setting. There is currently no European guideline available for healthcare professionals (HCPs) on transition of these patients and local/national protocols are mostly lacking
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