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S16: ADOLESCENT UROLOGY
Moderators: Piet Hoebeke (Belgium), Elizabeth Yerkes (USA)
ESPU Meeting on Friday 16, October 2015, 13:30 - 13:56
13:30 - 13:35
S16-1
(LO)
BARRIERS TO TRANSITION IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH NEUROGENIC BLADDER
Gwen GRIMSBY
1
, Rachel BURGESS
2
, Bruce SCHLOMER
1
and Micah JACOBS
1
1) University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Pediatric Urology, Dallas, USA - 2) Children's Medical Center,
Pediatric Urology, Dallas, USA
PURPOSE
Children with complex anomalies such as spina bifida are often ill-equipped for transition to adult care. The goal of this
study was to identify barriers for young adults with neurogenic bladder transitioning to independent care.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A prospective IRB approved study was performed of patients with neurogenic bladder ages 18-26 referred to our
transitional clinic. After informed consent, cognitively intact patients completed the Transition Readiness Assessment
Questionnaire (TRAQ) questionnaire in private prior to an appointment. TRAQ is a validated tool to measure the
readiness for transition to self-care for patients with special health care needs. Responses included: 1) I don’t need to
do this 2) I don’t know how but I want to learn 3) I am learning to do this 4) I have started doing this 5) I always do
this when I need to.
RESULTS
56 (76%) of 74 patients referred to the transitional clinic came to their appointment. 35 completed the TRAQ
questionnaire at a mean of 19 years old. 89% had spina bifida and 40% are ambulatory. The highest scores were
related to taking/ordering medications, communicating with health care providers, and household duties. The lowest
scores regarded health coverage, payments/financial help, and utilization of community services.