The Role of Pediatric Psychologists in the Transition of Youth to Adult Health Care: A Descriptive Qualitative Study of Their Practice and Recommendations

Transition from pediatric to adult health care setting is a challenge for young patients because of the psychosocial issues they may present that could hinder their commitment to treatment and medical care. Psychologists play a key role in supporting these patients. They intervene with the most vulnerable ones for whom the current transitional practice does not necessarily meet their specific needs and help them to develop an appropriate level of autonomy despite medical condition. To date, few studies have described their clinical practice in this field. This study aimed to gather in-depth information about the elements that characterize their different roles in transition care. Following a semi-structured interviews with ten pediatric psychologists, we conducted a thematic content analysis to identify common themes among participants. The results indicate that the psychologists’ practice focuses on four main aspects: assessment, intervention, education, and liaison. Their recommendations point towards a better organization of health care services and a reflection on the best practices in psychology. These results highlight the specific roles that pediatric psychologists play in the transition process within the health care environment.