A meta-analysis and systematic review of the use of transition tools for patients transitioning from paediatric to adult rheumatology services.

OBJECTIVES

Transitioning from paediatric to adult care can be challenging, but transition tools are designed to increase successful rates of transfer. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review of the use of transition tools in the transfer of care from paediatric to adult services for rheumatology patients.

METHODS

An extensive literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, PubMed and Embase. A total of 12 papers were included in the systematic review and 8 in the meta-analysis looking at the use of transition tools in successful follow-up in adult clinics.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis showed 86.6% (95% CI 53.3, 80.6) of patients who used a transition tool attended an adult outpatient clinic within 1 year of their last paediatric appointment, compared with 67.7% (95% CI 56.7, 99.7) of patients who successfully transferred without a transition tool.

CONCLUSIONS

The systematic review demonstrated several unique transition tools with local success, but no dominant method. This article demonstrated a general positive influence of transition tools on successful transfer, but more research is needed to strengthen the association.