Objective: Survey youth and parents in a pediatric kidney transplant clinic with the following aims: 1) Compare pre- and post-intervention experiences with the transition process; 2) Assess patient satisfaction with printed transition materials.

Methods: Participants were 22 transplant recipients (age 12-19 years; M=16.1, SD±2.4; 55% female) and their parents seen in a pediatric renal transplant clinic. Families were surveyed about their experiences with preparation for transfer to adult care. At a subsequent visit, an intervention was implemented in which printed materials were provided on the topic of transition planning, including developmentally appropriate transplant care knowledge/action goals and guidance around broader psychosocial responsibilities of adulthood. Families were re-surveyed at a follow-up appointment about their transition experiences and satisfaction with the printed materials. Mean time between receipt of intervention and completion of follow-up surveys was 2.8 months (SD±1.3).

Results: Chi-square analyses were used to compare pre- and post-intervention survey responses. Both youth ([chi]²=9.17, p<.01) and parents ([chi]²=5.25, p=.02) were more likely to endorse they had discussed transition as a family after intervention. Youth ([chi]²=12.94, p<.01) and parents ([chi]²=9.33, p<.01) were also more likely to report they had talked with pediatric providers about transition post-intervention.

At follow-up, 95% of youth and 73% of parents recalled receiving the materials. By youth report, aspects of the materials deemed most helpful were medical information related to transplant care, skills to practice, developmentally appropriate mastery goals, and insurance information.

Conclusions: Low-intensity intervention of providing written materials on preparing for transfer of care facilitated conversation on the topic within families and between families and pediatric physicians. Patients found the materials helpful. Future directions may include examining how families prefer to receive information related to transition (e.g., handout, conversation, video) and comparing the effects of low-intensity educational interventions with high-intensity transition programs.

CITATION INFORMATION: Stephens H., Clementi M., Al-Uzri A., Wright M., Iragorri S., Rozansky D., Jenkins R., Wade J., Richardson K., Freeman K. Preparation for Transfer to Adult Kidney Transplant Care: Impacts of Providing Written Guidance Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

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