Table 2. Expert panel identified strategies and proposed operationalisation.
| Strategy | Proposed operationalisation |
|---|---|
|
1.The way young adults are
introduced to the adult diabetes clinic |
• Recruit a ‘named supporter’ to the young adult diabetes team, who may not be an expert
in type 1 diabetes to advise and guide young adults through the process of settling into the adult diabetes clinic. |
| • Launch a website and system of email contact to introduce young adults to the clinic,
including logistical information and information about members of staff, and to facilitate contact between young adults and the clinic staff as needed. | |
|
2. Attendance at diabetes
clinic appointments and contact between appointments |
• Create an online appointment booking system and pre-consultation agenda-setting tool
to support engagement among young adults with clinic appointments and contacts between appointments, and proactive follow-up by service providers following missed appointments. |
| • Diabetes service providers will communicate with young adults to discuss and agree upon
the purpose of clinic appointments to ensure the clinic is up-to-date with the needs and circumstances of young adults and to clarify the expectations of young adults and service providers. This will be carried out during an initial consultation and reviewed online and face-to-face, as required. | |
|
3. Building relationships
between young adults and service providers |
• Create an agenda-setting tool to be used before and during consultations to facilitate
relationship development and collaborative diabetes management between young adults and service providers. The pre-consultation activity could be carried out online. |
| • Recruit a youth worker and integrate them within the diabetes team to bridge the gap
between the young adult and service providers. This person may not have a background in diabetes management but will be an expert in working with young people, who will proactively reach out to young adults and will take a holistic approach to addressing the need of young adults. |