Lost in Transition? Experiences from young people with mental illness and care providers concerning transfer from child to adult care

• Applicant: Dr. Sabine Loos
• Subject Area: Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine
• Term: from 2015 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271504620

Introduction: Transition-age youth with mental health problems are less likely to utilise mental health care after attaining the age of 18 years. A transfer from child and adolescent to adult mental health service becomes inevitable. Aims: The aims of the study are to investigate and analyse a) views and experiences of transition-age youth regarding a planned or already performed transfer to adult mental health care system considering intra-, interpersonal and contextual factors which influence health behaviour b) views and experiences of care providers concerning structural and organisational factors which promote or hinder continuity of care, and c) to develop and intervention to improve the transition process of adolescents and young adults with mental health problems.Methods: With an exploratory qualitative study design six focus groups with transition-age youth between 16 and 25 years in transition to adult mental health service and three focus groups with providers of care will be conducted. Group discussions will be transcribed verbatim and analysis will follow a reconstructive approach of the documentary method by Bohnsack. Outlook: By involving patients and care providers in the developmental phase the project seeks to improve continuity of care with expert knowledge for a targeted intervention.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants