Good practices that address continuity during transition from child to adult care: synthesis of the evidence

Abstract

Background: Effective transition to adult services is required by an increasing number of children with ongoing needs.

Aim: To identify practices that promote continuity at transition between child and adult services.

Methods: Systematic examination of the evidence from two search strategies yielding 5319 items.

Results: Only three of the 126 appraised items had strong external validity. A large range of different practices, which focused on the service, the young person and the family, were identified. Practices within the service addressed structural, process and outcome components.

Conclusion: Four transition models are proposed for testing.