Stepping from paediatric to adult care in kidney disease: how can pharmacists support the change?
With the support of a £40,000 Kidney Research UK Start-Up Grant, Mrs Rosemary Dempsey, lead paediatric renal pharmacist at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust will investigate how pharmacy teams can support young people with kidney problems and their families during the move from children’s to adult care.
Supporting our young adults as they move from children’s health care services
When young people move from children’s services to adult kidney care, this is known as transition. This can be a challenging time of life for any young adult, but for those with a complex medical condition it can feel overwhelming. Some young adults may start missing appointments and struggle with medicines or with meeting new healthcare staff, making it harder to manage their kidney condition. Good support is therefore vital.
Despite their expertise, the role of pharmacy professionals (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) in supporting young people through transition is not clearly defined. In some hospitals, pharmacy teams are actively involved in preparing young people for adult care, while in others they may have little or no direct involvement. We do not know how widespread, or consistent pharmacy involvement is, what young people and their families think about the support they currently receive, or what they would like to see in the future.
Pharmacists in the spotlight
Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who are experts in all aspects of medicines. In kidney care, pharmacists can help young people understand what their medicines are for, how to take them safely and how to manage side effects. They can answer questions, give advice and support young people to feel more confident and independent in managing their treatment. Pharmacists also work closely with the wider healthcare team to make sure medicine-related care is safe, consistent, and personalised.
Adding new insights to improve patient experiences
Rosemary will study the current and potential role of pharmacists in supporting young people with kidney disease as they move to adult care. She will investigate what kind of support is most helpful and what could be improved.
This project will include three parts. Firstly, existing research will be reviewed to find out more about the pharmacy teams’ involvement in transition in kidney disease. Rosemary will look at UK and international studies to identify what pharmacists have done, what outcomes have been reported, and where the gaps are.
Secondly, a national survey of healthcare professionals will help understand current practice, including questions such as how often pharmacy teams are involved in transition, what kinds of support they provide, the challenges they face, and what training or resources they feel they need.
Finally, interviews will be carried out to capture young people’s stories and experiences of pharmacy support, as well as their suggestions for how services could improve.
A better future for young adults in transition care
Rosemary’s work aims to improve the experience of moving from children’s to adult care. This study will help healthcare professionals and service leaders understand where pharmacy support is working well, and where improvements are needed. This could include better ways of sharing information, improved communication between teams, and stronger relationships with pharmacy staff.
Rosemary said: ‘Young people face many changes and challenges in their lives, and for those with complex medical conditions, the transition from paediatric to adult medical care must also be considered. I hope that my research, backed by Kidney Research UK, can help better define the role that pharmacy professionals can play in ensuring the most positive possible experience”
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