CDC: Many Adolescents Do Not Receive Health Care Transition Guidance

A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that only approximately 15% of adolescents with and without diagnosed mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders (MBDDs) received guideline-recommended health care transition support from their primary care physicians (PCP).

The researchers used data from the 2016 and 2017 National Survey of Children’s Health from the parents of 29,286 adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years. While researchers found that there were no significant differences in the results between adolescents with and without MBDD (15.8% and 14.2%, respectively), differences among subgroups were observed. Of those who received recommended transition support, the largest subgroup was adolescents with emotional disorders (20.4%), and the smallest was adolescents with developmental disorders (12.6%).

“All adolescents, especially those with MBDDs, could benefit from receiving earlier transition planning as recommended. Those with MBDDs might also benefit from condition-specific transition protocols with extended transition timelines, modified transition goals, and increased opportunities for co-management between pediatric and adult PCPs. School-based transition programs and treatment appointments, including medication checks, provide opportunities outside preventive visits for transition planning work,” the researchers wrote.

“Improving access to comprehensive and coordinated programs and services, as well as increasing provider training concerning adolescents’ unique mental and physical health care needs could help increase the number of adolescents benefiting from successful health care transitions.”

—Leigh Precopio

Reference:

Leeb RT, Danielson ML, Bitsko RH, et al. Support for transition from adolescent to adult health care among adolescents with and without mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders – United States, 2016-2017.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69:1156-1160. Doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6934a2