Abstract

PRENTICE-HOOGERVORST, Lesley  and  MAYERS, Pat M.. Adolescent paediatric transplant patients' experiences of transition to adult services. Health SA Gesondheid (Online) [online]. 2022, vol.27, pp.1-8. ISSN 2071-9736.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v27i0.1937.

BACKGROUND: Transition of adolescents from paediatric to adult health services is an important aspect of caring for young people with chronic diseases. Successful transition of adolescents living with a transplant is critical for long-term survival into adulthood. This qualitative study explored the lived experience of adolescents in a South African setting following their planned and supported transition process AIM: To explore the lived experience of transition for adolescents who had received a renal or liver transplant as a child, from paediatric to adult transplant services in the public health sector SETTING: Cape Town, South Africa METHOD: Six purposively sampled adolescents, who had participated in a planned transition from a tertiary level children's hospital to the affiliated adult hospital, were interviewed in the setting and language of their choice. The transcribed interviews were analysed using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach RESULTS: Five themes emerged: living with uncertainty in a changing world; being known, not knowing, and knowing; ambivalent relationships; the journey of loss; and being heard. Pre-transition planning, support groups, and consistency of clinicians within an accepting environment facilitated the adolescents' individuation and acceptance of self-care responsibility CONCLUSION: Carefully planned, collaborative preparation and implementation of a facilitated psycho-supportive intervention for transition can facilitate adolescent cooperation and adherence, minimise the risk of psychological and medical sequelae, and support the adolescent in adapting to living with a transplant as an adult CONTRIBUTION: This study offers insight into the importance of planned and supported transitional care of adolescents living with an organ transplant

Keywords : adherence; adolescent; chronic illness; non-compliance; renal or liver transplant; transition.

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