In Ireland, young people with childhood-onset physical disability transfer from a paediatric to adult healthcare environment at age 18 years. This can be a challenging period as it coincides with several emotional and social changes such as gaining employment. Transition is the process of preparing young people with chronic conditions to take charge of their lives and their health in adulthood. Transition is poorly managed for young people with childhood-onset physical disability in Ireland. Young people and parents identified the need for a professionally-led programme that improves transition for young people with childhood-onset physical disability in Ireland.
Objectives of this project are to:
adapt an existing evidence-based transition programme to improve transition for young people with childhood-onset physical disability in Ireland
assess the acceptability of, feasibility of delivering and fidelity to the programme.
A team of researchers, knowledge-users, young people with physical disability and parents will use a systematic framework based on Intervention Mapping (IM adapt) to adapt an existing evidence-based transition programme. The six stages of IM adapt are: conduct needs assessment and identify organisational capacity; search for evidence-based transition programmes; assess fit and plan adaptations; make adaptations; plan for implementation; and evaluate programme implementation and plan further evaluation. We will conduct a cohort study, and deliver the programme to 20 young people and their parent(s)/carer(s), to assess the feasibility of delivering the programme within paediatric disability services in Ireland and fidelity to the programme. We will conduct semi-structured interviews with young people, parents/carers and health professionals delivering the programme to explore acceptability.
This project will produce a transition programme adapted for young people with childhood-onset physical disability in Ireland and an implementation plan outlining practical strategies for implementing the programme. By improving transition, the programme may optimise young people’s health, quality of life and participation in adulthood.
