# Transition of Adolescents With Diabetes Mellitus to Adult Care at the Ho Teaching Hospital in Ghana

## TL;DR

This study examines the challenges faced by adolescents with diabetes transitioning to adult care in Ghana and highlights the need for better support systems.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into the transition process in a low-resource setting and suggests practical improvements for care continuity.

## Key findings

- Adolescents and caregivers lack sufficient education on diabetes management and emergency symptoms.
- Transitions are often abrupt at age 13, with poor coordination and limited self-management skills among adolescents.
- Recommendations include raising the transfer age, providing skills training, and creating a transition clinic.

## Abstract

Background: Transitioning adolescents with diabetes from pediatric to adult care poses significant challenges, especially in low-resource settings like Ghana. Poorly coordinated transitions can disrupt care continuity and adversely impact health outcomes.

Objective: This study explored how adolescents with diabetes mellitus (DM) transition from pediatric to adult care at Ho Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

Methods: A qualitative exploratory-descriptive design was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 adolescents and their caregivers. Thematic analysis was applied to identify key themes and subthemes.

Findings: Six key themes emerged: (1) inadequate education on DM management, with gaps in adolescents' and caregivers' understanding of the disease and emergency symptoms; (2) limited self-management skills, with caregivers performing most care tasks; (3) poor timing and uncoordinated transfer, with abrupt transitions at age 13; (4) overreliance on caregivers, as caregivers were hesitant to shift responsibilities to adolescents; (5) limited adolescent involvement in care decisions, with healthcare providers engaging more with caregivers; and (6) recommendations for transition improvement, including raising the transfer age, providing skills training, and establishing a transition clinic.

Conclusion: The study underscores the need for a structured, developmentally appropriate transition process with targeted education, skills training, and adolescent participation to promote self-management and improve transition outcomes for adolescents with DM.