Transition from Pediatric to Adult Specialty Care for Adolescents and Young Adults with Refractory Epilepsy: A Quality Improvement Approach

Adolescents and young adults with refractory epilepsy are particularly vulnerable to serious medical and psychosocial challenges during transition from pediatric to adult care. Quality improvement methods were used to address the transition process on an academic medical campus. Outcomes achieved were decreased time from referral to first appointment in the adult clinic, H = 8.2, p = 0.004, r = 0.43; and increased social work referrals using decision support, z = 10.0, p = 0.0006, OR = 6.13. As measured by the 13-item Patient Activation Measure, pre-post change in patient activation as an outcome of self-management education was not statistically significant. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.