Interventions to support young adults and families with the healthcare transition between paediatric and adult nephrology health services: A systematic scoping review

Background

Healthcare transition can be challenging for young people and families living with chronic kidney conditions, including those with rare renal disorders who often have multi-systemic conditions, those who have undergone kidney transplantation, and those who face intense treatments like dialysis. Comprehensive, holistic healthcare transition interventions are required, encompassing physical, psychosocial, sexual, educational and vocational support.

Aim

This manuscript presents a systematic scoping review synthesising the healthcare transition interventions to support youth and families within nephrology services.

Methods

This review followed Arksey and O’Malley's five-stage framework, updated by Levac, Colquhoun and O'Brien and the Joanna Briggs Institute. Six databases were systematically searched: CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, and the Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA), locating 12,662 records. Following a systematic screening process, 28 articles met the inclusion criteria. Results were analysed systematically and presented using the PAGER framework developed by Bradbury-Jones et al. (2022).

Results

Various interventions were sourced. Three broad patterns emerged: 1. Contextual Factors, e.g. cultural differences between paediatric and adult services; 2. Major Intervention Components, e.g. parental/familial/peer-to-peer support, and 3. Personal factors, e.g., self-management ability.

Conclusion

Few interventions are available to support youth with rare renal disorders, specifically. Future research must be directed at this cohort. Healthcare transition timing remains hotly contested, with additional guidance required to support decision-making. Finally, limited interventions have been evaluated for practice.

Implications

This review has provided various considerations/recommendations that should be taken into account when designing, implementing or evaluating future healthcare transition supports.