BACKGROUND: The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy has significantly improved the life expectancies of children and adolescents living with HIV, leading to an increased number transitioning to adult care. However, there has been a lack of studies in Ethiopia focusing on factors influencing the success of this transition. Therefore, this study aimed to determine predictors of a successful transition from pediatric to adult HIV clinics among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in health facilities in southern Ethiopia.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study included 337 adolescents and young adults who transitioned to adult-oriented HIV care. Successful transition was defined as having a viral load of less than 1000 copies/ml and maintaining care during the first year post-transition. Patients\' antiretroviral therapy (ART) cards and monitoring charts were reviewed. Secondary data analysis was conducted using a multivariable binary logistic regression model to identify predictors of a successful transition. Using the variance inflation factor, we checked for multi-collinearity between variables and assessed model fitness with the Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and P-value ≤ 0.05 measured the strength of association and statistical significance.
RESULTS: Of 337 participants, 230 (68.25%) successfully transitioned (95% CI = 63.25, 73.25). Transitioning at age 18 or older (AOR = 4.25; 95% CI = 2.29, 7.87), residing in an urban area (AOR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.04, 3.02), and being on antiretroviral therapy for more than two years (AOR = 4.25; 95% CI = 1.17, 4.94; P < 0.017) were identified as positive predictors and opportunistic infection (AOR = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.15, 0.75; P < 0.008) was identified as a negative predictor for a successful transition from pediatric to adult ART clinic.
CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds light on the challenges faced by HIV patients transitioning from pediatric to adult care, with less than 70% successfully navigating this critical phase. Factors such as age at transition, residence, duration of ART, and the presence of opportunistic infections were identified as key predictors of successful transition. The findings underscore the urgent need for tailored interventions, including standardized transition plans that address age and urban/rural disparities, to enhance transition outcomes for adolescents and young adults living with HIV in the region.

With the continuous advancement of medicine, more children with congenital or pediatric-onset chronic urologic conditions are surviving well into adulthood, which imposes an ever-rising need for adequate transition of these patients from pediatric to adult care. Transitional Urology focuses on the health care needs of adolescents and young adults with congenital urological disorders as they transfer from pediatric to adult care, maximizing the best interests of the children. Since Shanghai Children\'s Medical Center has been approved for over-age continuous medical care, this paper aims to analyze the currently perceived barriers in care transition within the urological context, explore the ways of previously implemented transition models, and propose the suggestions for improvement.
随着医学的不断进步，更多患有先天性泌尿系统疾病的患儿在得到治疗后顺利成年，使得这些患者从儿童诊疗过渡到成人管理的需求不断增加。过渡期泌尿外科重点关注患有先天性泌尿系统疾病的青少年和年轻人从儿科治疗过渡到成人治疗时的医疗保健需求，最大程度地保障患儿的利益。因上海儿童医学中心获批超年龄连续医疗的资质，本文旨在分析目前在泌尿外科背景下医疗过渡中存在的障碍，探讨以前实施的医疗过渡模型的方式并提出改进建议。.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the transition readiness of adolescents with cancer in central China and to explore the paths associated with transition readiness based on self-determination theory (SDT).
METHODS: Self-management and transition to adulthood with Rx = treatment questionnaire, patient activation measure, perceived social support scale and general self-efficacy scale were used to measure transition readiness as well as constructs pertaining to SDT (competence, relatedness and autonomy). The factors influencing transition readiness were evaluated using multiple linear regression. Models 4 and 6 in PROCESS Macro 3.3 were used to test the mediating effects and chain mediating effects, respectively.
RESULTS: A total of 217 adolescents with cancer were included; their mean transition readiness score was 59.95 (11.34). Age (t = 6.086, p < 0.000), duration of diagnosis (t = 2.218, p = 0.028), completion of treatment (t = -2.036, p = 0.043), insurance, and competence (t = 11.149, p < 0.000) were significantly associated with transition readiness. The direct effects of self-efficacy and perceived social support on transition readiness were not significant. However, two chain mediating paths were observed: perceived social support - self-efficacy - patient activation - transition readiness and self-efficacy - perceived social support - patient activation - transition readiness; the effect values of these paths were 0.0678 and 0.0703, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study add to the evidence supporting the use of SDT-related constructs to promote transition readiness among adolescents with cancer, highlight the importance of encouraging patient activation, and clarify the ancillary roles of social support and self-efficacy in patient activation development during transitional period.

BACKGROUND: The development and implementation of the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare systems for adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) should consider stakeholders\' perceptions. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing the transition of Chinese adolescents with IBD from the perspectives of patients, parents, and healthcare providers.
METHODS: A descriptive qualitative research was conducted. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 36 participants, including 13 patients, 13 parents, and 10 providers, from a tertiary pediatric IBD center, a tertiary adult IBD center, and the China Crohn\'s & Colitis Foundation in Zhejiang Province, China. Individual semi-structured interviews were used to collect data on facilitators and barriers to the transition process. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts.
RESULTS: Nine primary themes were identified. Patients with young age, prolonged disease duration, severe disease, academic pressures such as the Gaokao, low level of disease acceptance, limited transition consciousness, low self-efficacy, poor transition communication, and inadequate medical transition system serve as barriers. While patients with the mentality of guilt towards their parents; parents with low education levels and intensive work schedules, high levels of disease acceptance, and situations of parent-child separation; stakeholders with high transition consciousness, high transition self-efficacy, and effective transition communication act as facilitators. Furthermore, community support and hospital guide services were also contributing factors during the transition.
CONCLUSIONS: This study offers comprehensive insights into the factors affecting the transition of Chinese adolescent IBD patients. The process is continuously influenced by stakeholders, community, and healthcare environments and policies. Identifying these factors provides healthcare providers with a reference for developing and implementing targeted transition interventions.

OBJECTIVE: The transition from paediatric-centred to adult healthcare services in adolescent solid organ transplantation recipients is a period of increased risk and vulnerability, the issues related to healthcare transition have become key concerns to the healthcare community.
METHODS: Qualitative studies of any design and qualitative components of mixed method studies that explored the experiences of healthcare transition among adolescent solid organ transplant recipients, parents, and healthcare professionals were included.
METHODS: Nine articles were finalised and included in the review.
METHODS: A systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted. Databases searched were Scopus, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Studies published between the inception of respective database and December 2022 inclusive were considered. A three-step inductive thematic synthesis method outlined by Thomas and Harden was used to form descriptive themes and the 10-item Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was utilised to appraise the quality of included articles.
RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty studies were screened, and 9 studies published between 2013 and 2022 were included. Five analytical themes were generated: \'the struggle of being an adolescent with a transplant\'; \'perceptions of transition\'; \'the role of parents\'; \'lack of transition readiness\' and \'the need for better support\'.
CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent solid organ transplant recipients, parents, and healthcare professionals faced multiple challenges in the healthcare transition.
CONCLUSIONS: Future interventions and health policies should provide targeted intervention strategies that address the barriers present in the healthcare transition to facilitate the optimization of the youth healthcare transition.

Transition readiness is important for pediatric cancer survivors who need to move from pediatric to adult medical care. However, their transition readiness profiles merit further exploration.
The aim of this study was to use a person-centered approach to identify transition readiness profiles of Chinese pediatric cancer survivors aged 12 to 18 years, diagnosed at least 6 months before the study.
Transition readiness was assessed using the Chinese TRANSITION-Q Scale, and latent class analysis was performed to identify the transition readiness profiles as well as demographic and clinical factors associated with profile classification and to examine how self-efficacy and quality of life may differ between these profiles.
A total of 139 pediatric cancer survivors were included. Three different transition readiness profiles were identified: high transition readiness, medium transition readiness, and low transition readiness. Age, treatment status, and parental working status were significantly associated with the transition readiness profile classifications. Those who were in the low transition readiness profile were likely to have lower self-efficacy and mobility scores than those in the high or medium transition readiness profiles.
Three distinct transition readiness profiles existed in a sample of Chinese pediatric cancer survivors, indicating significant heterogeneity in their transition readiness.
Knowledge of transition readiness profiles can assist clinicians in screening pediatric cancer survivors for their profile memberships and provide targeted interventions for those with a low transition profile.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent/young adults (AYAs) with chronic conditions must undergo healthcare transition (HCT) preparation until their mid-twenties. Valid HCT readiness measures are lacking in China.
METHODS: The present study translated, back-translated, and adapted the Self-Management and Transition to Adulthood with Rx = Treatment (STARx) Questionnaire. We examined the psychometric properties of this tool in a relatively large in-patient sample of AYAs with various chronic health conditions at a Chinese tertiary general hospital.
RESULTS: We enrolled 624 AYAs aged 10-25 years (19.66 ± 3.64) with various chronic health conditions. The Chinese version of the STARx Questionnaire demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach\'s alpha = 0.83) and reliability with a two-week test-retest (ICC = 0.88, p < .001). Furthermore, the Chinese version revealed a three-factor structure (self-management, disease knowledge, and provider communication) consistent with the revised English version of the STARx Questionnaire. In terms of discriminant validity, the total score of the Chinese STARx Questionnaire showed a significant positive correlation with age but no gender differences were found. In terms of predictive validity, the Chinese STARx Questionnaire was significantly correlated with shorter length of hospitalization and higher frequency of emergency room visit, but the correlations became insignificant after controlling for age.
CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the Chinese version of the STARx Questionnaire is a robust HCT readiness tool in AYAs with chronic conditions and clinicians may find it useful to develop individualized interventions.

Given the importance of adolescents\' participation in the care of their chronic diseases during their transitional period in the healthcare system, the present study investigated the degree of participation in healthcare behavior by Chinese adolescents with chronic epilepsy and identified factors that should be addressed by health interventions.
The study used a convenience sample of 1238 adolescent patients with epilepsy, who were hospitalized in 17 tertiary A-level children or maternal and child specialty hospitals in China between January 2017 and March 2020. Several scales were used to measure their degree of participation in healthcare behavior and the factors that influence it. Data collection was conducted after uniform training of the investigators. The adolescents who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria could scan the QR code of the questionnaire via a mobile phone.
The age of the participants ranged from 12.2 to 17.8 years (mean 14.2 years), and the sample had a male-to-female ratio of 1.25:1. The patients\' average total score of participation in healthcare behavior was 125.58 (SD = 12.25), which was lower than the norm for China. Their scores on the six dimensions of participation were highest for information interaction, followed in descending order by medical decision-making, treatment and care, appeal, diagnosis and treatment decision-making, and questioning supervision. Multiple linear regression found significant associations between health-care participation and five personal and disease variables (gender, age, course of disease, number of comorbid diseases, type of family structure), self-efficacy, and coping styles (cognitive-palliative and acceptance), which explained 52.1% of the variance in patients\' total scores on participating in healthcare behavior.
The participation of young Chinese patients with epilepsy in transitional healthcare behavior needs to be improved. Participation was positively associated with being female, a longer course of disease, fewer comorbidities, and living in a nuclear family. Patients who used cognitive-palliative and acceptance coping styles and those who had higher self-efficacy also had significantly higher levels of participation in healthcare behavior. The study provides useful reference points for adolescents with chronic disease to participate in healthcare programs, in order to achieve a smooth transition from childhood to adulthood.

BACKGROUND: Transition from pediatric to adult care is a vulnerable time for youth with chronic diseases. In youth with rheumatic disease, studies show high rates of loss to follow up and increased disease activity. However, mortality data are lacking. In this study, we assessed whether transitional age is a risk factor for inpatient mortality.
METHODS: We analyzed the 2012-2014 National Inpatient Sample database, a representative sample of discharges in the United States. Individuals with rheumatic diseases were identified by International Statistical Classification of Disease - 9 (ICD-9) codes at time of discharge. Youth were categorized into three age groups: pre-transitional (11-17), transitional (18-24) and post transitional (25-31). We fitted univariable and multivariable logistic regression models to assess whether transitional age was a risk factor for inpatient mortality.
RESULTS: There were 30,269 hospital discharges which met our inclusion criteria of diagnosis and age. There were 195 inpatient deaths (0.7%). The most common causes of death were infection (39.5%), pulmonary disease (13.8%), and cardiac disease (11.2%). The Odds ratio for inpatient mortality of a transitional-aged individual was 1.18 compared to controls (p = 0.3). Black race (OR = 1.4), male sex (OR = 1.75), and a diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (OR = 4.81) or vasculitis (OR = 2.85) were the greatest risk factors of inpatient mortality.
CONCLUSIONS: Transitional age was not a risk factor for inpatient mortality in this study. We did identify other risk factors other than age. Further studies are required to assess if there is an increased risk of mortality in outpatients of the transitional age group.

OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy is one of the most common childhood-onset neurological disorder characterized by both seizures and the related comorbidities. The preparatory phase in transition refers to a dynamic process of identifying and resolving health issues to ensure seamless continuing care from childhood to adulthood. This study identifies the health issues of the preparatory phase in transition from children to adulthood using the Omaha System.
METHODS: This prospective, single-center study enrolled 86 adolescents with epilepsy in China. The Problem Classification Scheme and Problem Rating Scale for Outcomes of Omaha System were used to evaluate transition-induced health problems.
RESULTS: These health problems cover all four domains of the problem classification scheme of the Omaha System, and the specific distribution is related to the type of epilepsy. The results of the four-category classification evaluation showed that the most common health problem is health-related behavioral problems (46.1%), followed by psychosocial problems (23.0%), physiological problems (20.6%), and environmental problems (10.3%). The distribution of these health problems in generalized seizures, focal seizures, and generalized-focal seizures are significantly different (P < 0.01). The results of the outcome rating scale showed that 83.4% of the children had minimal knowledge, 84.2% had inconsistently appropriate behaviors, and 86.7% had moderate symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS: The health problems of patients with epilepsy during the preparatory phase of transition process from pediatric to adulthood should be emphasized. Identification of health problems though the Omaha System can improve management for adolescents with epilepsy, including prevention, nursing care, social support, and therapeutic interventions.