Evaluation of transition clinics

A transition clinic (also named adolescent or young adult clinic) is an outpatient clinic in the hospital focused on the transition from paediatric to adult health care of young people with chronic conditions. It is based on joint care, where both paediatric and adult healthcare staff see young people together - at least once before the actual transfer to adult care. The main goal is to prepare young people and their parents for the transition in care and the upcoming transfer. Although there are different approaches and working ways, common to transition clinics is to provide a joint consultation where the adult care provider is introduced to young people and their parents. Transition clinics intend to ensure continuity of care, reduce the risk of loss to follow-up and increase patients satisfaction with transition in care. At the moment, insight into the critical elements of transition clinics is lacking and little is known about outcomes of this intervention.