Needs Assessment Survey of Post-Transition Adults with Cystic Fibrosis

In recent years, increased attention has been paid to the process of helping pediatric Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients transition to adult CF health care. As a result of improved care and increased life expectancy, many more teens are making the transition to adult heath care. For the past several years, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has strongly advocated for the development of adequate transition programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the transition experience of patients who are currently being seen in the adult CF clinic at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida.

Current patients in the adult CF clinic were given a needs assessment that examined how helpful different multi-disciplinary CF care team members were and the barriers the patient faced in transitioning. The participants were also encouraged to include ideas about what would have made the transition process easier for them.

The overarching objective of this study was to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the current transition process for patients at Shands Hospital CF clinics. In the future, this information will enable the pediatric and adult CF clinic teams to work together with the common goal of revising transition practices. This collaborative effort will ensure a smoother transition process for CF patients.