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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Pediatr Nurs. 2015 Jul 22;30(5):e19–e27. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2015.05.022

Table 2.

Study characteristics

Study design Cohorts Outcomes Results
Johnston et al. 2006 Retrospective observational cohort study (n=33) Saturday young persons’ clinic (n=18) vs. Routine weekday adult diabetes clinic (n=15) Primary: Number of failed appointments over 2 years post-pediatric transfer
Secondary: Hemoglobin A1C over 2 years post-pediatric transfer

  • No statistically significant difference in clinic attendance post-transfer

  • No statistically significant difference in post-transfer glycemic control
Van Walleghem et al. 2008 Pre-/post, retrospective observational cohort study (n=165) Transition pilot program participants (n= 64) vs. non-participants (n=101) Primary: Number of medical visits
Secondary: 1) Number of education visits; 2) Number of hospitalizations for diabetic ketoacidosis or severe hypoglycemia

  • 11% of participants vs. 40% of the non-participants dropped out of adult care

  • No statistically significant difference in hospitalizations for DKA (3 vs. 7.9 cases per 100 patient years) or severe hypoglycemia (2.4 vs. 4.7 cases per 100 patient years)

  • Non-participants who received intervention after becoming an adult had an increase in use of adult healthcare (59.4% to 73.3%)
Cadario et al. 2009 Pre-/post, Retrospective observational cohort study (n=62) Structured transition program participants (n= 30) vs. non-participants (n=32) Primary: Clinic attendance rates
Secondary: 1) mean HbA1c; 2) transition experience

  • Structured transition program participants compared to non-participants:

    • Greater proportion completed an adult care visit 1 year post-transfer (39/20 (97%) vs. 10/32 (31%))

    • Shorter mean length of time between last pediatric and first adult clinic visit (0.8 years vs. 4.6 years, p<0.001)

    • Higher rate of attendance in adult clinics (80% vs. 57%, p<0.05)

    • Lower HbA1c after one year in adult clinic but no difference at 3 years
Hankins et al. 2012 Retrospective observational study (n=83) Transition pilot program (n= 34) vs. no program (n= 49) Primary: Visit to adult hematology clinic within 3 months post-pediatric discharge

  • A greater proportion of transition program participants attended an adult clinic visit compared to non-participants (74% (25/34) vs. 33% (16/49), p = 0.002)
Steinbeck et al. 2014 Randomized controlled trial (n=26) Comprehensive transition program (CTP) (n= 14) vs. Standard clinical practice (n = 12) Primary: Engagement and retention in the adult service 12 months post-transfer from pediatric care
Secondary: 1) HbA1C; 2) diabetes-related hospitalizations; 3) microvascular complications; 4) global self-worth

  • No significant difference in

    • Transfer rate (11/14 of CTP vs. 12/12 in SCP, p = 0.2)

    • Time to transfer (15 vs. 14 weeks, p = 0.7)

    • Following up with adult providers 3 to 4 times annually (5/9 CTP vs. 2/9 SCP)

    • Diabetes-related hospitalizations (1/14 vs 3/12, p = 0.6)

  • CTP cohort had a higher median HbA1C compared to SCP cohort