Transition from child to adult services for young people with cerebral palsy in Ireland: Influencing factors at multiple ecological levels

Jennifer Fortune; Jennifer M Ryan; Aisling Walsh; Michael Walsh; Claire Kerr; Thilo Kroll; Grace Lavelle; Mary Owens; Owen Hensey; Meriel Norris

doi:10.1111/dmcn.15778

Transition from child to adult services for young people with cerebral palsy in Ireland: Influencing factors at multiple ecological levels

Jennifer Fortune, Jennifer M Ryan, Aisling Walsh, Michael Walsh, Claire Kerr, Thilo Kroll, Grace Lavelle, Mary Owens, Owen Hensey, Meriel Norris

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

AIM: To explore the factors that influence the process of transitioning from child to adult services in Ireland among young people with cerebral palsy, their parents, and service providers.

METHOD: This study followed a qualitative descriptive approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 54 participants, including young people with cerebral palsy aged 16 to 22 years (n = 13), their parents (n = 14), and service providers (n = 27). Data were analysed using the Framework Method. Findings were categorized using an ecological model across four levels: individual, microsystem, mesosystem, and exosystem.

RESULTS: Limited awareness, preparation, and access to information hindered successful transition. Microsystem factors such as family knowledge, readiness, resilience, and health professional expertise influenced transition experience. Mesosystem factors encompassed provider-family interaction, interprofessional partnerships, and interagency collaboration between child and adult services. Exosystem factors included inadequate availability and distribution of adult services, limited referral options, coordination challenges, absence of transition policies, staffing issues, and funding allocation challenges.

INTERPRETATION: Transition is influenced by diverse factors at multiple ecological levels, including interactions within families, between health professionals, and larger systemic factors. Given the complexity of transition, a comprehensive multi-level response is required, taking into account the interactions among individuals, services, and systems.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	623-634
Number of pages	12
Journal	Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
Volume	66
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.15778
Publication status	Published - May 2024

Keywords

Adolescent
Humans
Cerebral Palsy/therapy
Health Personnel
Ireland
Models, Theoretical
Parents
Qualitative Research
Transition to Adult Care
Young Adult

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10.1111/dmcn.15778

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abstract = "AIM: To explore the factors that influence the process of transitioning from child to adult services in Ireland among young people with cerebral palsy, their parents, and service providers.METHOD: This study followed a qualitative descriptive approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 54 participants, including young people with cerebral palsy aged 16 to 22 years (n = 13), their parents (n = 14), and service providers (n = 27). Data were analysed using the Framework Method. Findings were categorized using an ecological model across four levels: individual, microsystem, mesosystem, and exosystem.RESULTS: Limited awareness, preparation, and access to information hindered successful transition. Microsystem factors such as family knowledge, readiness, resilience, and health professional expertise influenced transition experience. Mesosystem factors encompassed provider-family interaction, interprofessional partnerships, and interagency collaboration between child and adult services. Exosystem factors included inadequate availability and distribution of adult services, limited referral options, coordination challenges, absence of transition policies, staffing issues, and funding allocation challenges.INTERPRETATION: Transition is influenced by diverse factors at multiple ecological levels, including interactions within families, between health professionals, and larger systemic factors. Given the complexity of transition, a comprehensive multi-level response is required, taking into account the interactions among individuals, services, and systems.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Humans, Cerebral Palsy/therapy, Health Personnel, Ireland, Models, Theoretical, Parents, Qualitative Research, Transition to Adult Care, Young Adult",

author = "Jennifer Fortune and Ryan, {Jennifer M} and Aisling Walsh and Michael Walsh and Claire Kerr and Thilo Kroll and Grace Lavelle and Mary Owens and Owen Hensey and Meriel Norris",

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AU - Fortune, Jennifer

AU - Ryan, Jennifer M

AU - Walsh, Aisling

AU - Walsh, Michael

AU - Kerr, Claire

AU - Kroll, Thilo

AU - Lavelle, Grace

AU - Owens, Mary

AU - Hensey, Owen

AU - Norris, Meriel

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N2 - AIM: To explore the factors that influence the process of transitioning from child to adult services in Ireland among young people with cerebral palsy, their parents, and service providers.METHOD: This study followed a qualitative descriptive approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 54 participants, including young people with cerebral palsy aged 16 to 22 years (n = 13), their parents (n = 14), and service providers (n = 27). Data were analysed using the Framework Method. Findings were categorized using an ecological model across four levels: individual, microsystem, mesosystem, and exosystem.RESULTS: Limited awareness, preparation, and access to information hindered successful transition. Microsystem factors such as family knowledge, readiness, resilience, and health professional expertise influenced transition experience. Mesosystem factors encompassed provider-family interaction, interprofessional partnerships, and interagency collaboration between child and adult services. Exosystem factors included inadequate availability and distribution of adult services, limited referral options, coordination challenges, absence of transition policies, staffing issues, and funding allocation challenges.INTERPRETATION: Transition is influenced by diverse factors at multiple ecological levels, including interactions within families, between health professionals, and larger systemic factors. Given the complexity of transition, a comprehensive multi-level response is required, taking into account the interactions among individuals, services, and systems.

AB - AIM: To explore the factors that influence the process of transitioning from child to adult services in Ireland among young people with cerebral palsy, their parents, and service providers.METHOD: This study followed a qualitative descriptive approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 54 participants, including young people with cerebral palsy aged 16 to 22 years (n = 13), their parents (n = 14), and service providers (n = 27). Data were analysed using the Framework Method. Findings were categorized using an ecological model across four levels: individual, microsystem, mesosystem, and exosystem.RESULTS: Limited awareness, preparation, and access to information hindered successful transition. Microsystem factors such as family knowledge, readiness, resilience, and health professional expertise influenced transition experience. Mesosystem factors encompassed provider-family interaction, interprofessional partnerships, and interagency collaboration between child and adult services. Exosystem factors included inadequate availability and distribution of adult services, limited referral options, coordination challenges, absence of transition policies, staffing issues, and funding allocation challenges.INTERPRETATION: Transition is influenced by diverse factors at multiple ecological levels, including interactions within families, between health professionals, and larger systemic factors. Given the complexity of transition, a comprehensive multi-level response is required, taking into account the interactions among individuals, services, and systems.

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Transition from child to adult services for young people with cerebral palsy in Ireland: Influencing factors at multiple ecological levels

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