Monitoring adolescents and young people with inflammatory bowel disease during transition to adult healthcare

Abstract

The transition of adolescents and young people (AYP) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from paediatric to adult healthcare requires coordination between healthcare care providers to achieve optimum outcomes. Transition into adulthood is a time of major challenges physically, developmentally, emotionally and psychosocially for AYP living with IBD. Healthcare professionals must monitor the AYP progress proactively with attention to each of these parameters throughout the transition period to ensure that milestones are attained, and skills for self-management are formed. Thus, achieving the desired goals in both clinical and pastoral areas requires intensive monitoring from a multidisciplinary team across healthcare providers.