Transition of young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) from pediatric to adult medical care is an important priority, because many patients are living well into their fourth decade, and by 2010 more than half of all people living with CF will be older than 18 years. Transition to adulthood, a developmental process of skill-building in self-management supported by the health system, is important for the successful transfer to adult CF care. The US Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has been proactive in preparing for increasing numbers of young adults in need of specialized adult-oriented care by creating specialized clinical fellowships for physician providers and mandating establishment of adult CF programs. Despite these initiatives, how to best facilitate transition and to define and measure successful outcomes after transfer to adult care remains unclear. Many adults with CF continue to receive care in the pediatric setting, whereas others transfer before being developmentally prepared. In this state-of-the-art review we provide context for the scope of the challenges associated with designing and evaluating health care transition for adolescents and young adults with CF and implications for all youth with special health care needs.
Cystic Fibrosis and Transition to Adult Medical Care
Happy 350th Anniversary to Modern Science: This year marks the 350th anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Society in England—founded in 1660 by followers of Sir Francis Bacon, who was the first British statesman on record to advocate for the acquisition of knowledge by testing ideas through experiments. According to an article in The Economist (January 9, 2010), 12 individuals gathered in that year to hear a lecture by astronomer and architect Christopher Wren, which prompted this group to then meet weekly to discuss “scientific matters” and witness experiments conducted by various members of the group. In time the Royal Society's meetings led to scientific publishing, peer review, and made English the primary language of scientific discourse. Today there are 1300 members of the Royal Society of which 74 are Nobel laureates—all of whom will be celebrating the anniversary of the Society and in turn the “joy and vitality of science.”
Noted by JFL, MD
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The authors have indicated they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.
Lisa K. Tuchman, Lisa A. Schwartz, Gregory S. Sawicki, Maria T. Britto; Cystic Fibrosis and Transition to Adult Medical Care. Pediatrics March 2010; 125 (3): 566–573. 10.1542/peds.2009-2791
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