A meta-analysis and systematic review of the use of transition tools for patients transitioning from paediatric to adult rheumatology services

Objectives: Transitioning from paediatric to adult care can be challenging, but transition tools are designed to increase successful rates of transfer. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review of the use of transition tools in the transfer of care from paediatric to adult services for rheumatology patients.

Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, PubMed and Embase. A total of 12 papers were included in the systematic review and 8 in the meta-analysis looking at the use of transition tools in successful follow-up in adult clinics.

Results: The meta-analysis showed 86.6% (95% CI 53.3, 80.6) of patients who used a transition tool attended an adult outpatient clinic within 1 year of their last paediatric appointment, compared with 67.7% (95% CI 56.7, 99.7) of patients who successfully transferred without a transition tool.

Conclusions: The systematic review demonstrated several unique transition tools with local success, but no dominant method. This article demonstrated a general positive influence of transition tools on successful transfer, but more research is needed to strengthen the association.