TRANSITION IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: WHAT MOROCCAN ENDOCRINOLOGISTS AND PEDIATRICIANS THINK?

Background:Transition is defined as the transfer of a patient from a child to an adult structure.Our study aimed to describe and compare the state of knowledge of endocrinologists and pediatricians about the transition period.

Methods:This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted during July 2020. We made two questionnaires. We compared the two groups in terms of: practice area, hospital activity and definition of transition, age of transition in routine practice among endocrinologists and pediatricians, and the existence or not of a transition consultation at the practice area.

Results:Sixty percent of endocrinologists received patients referred by pediatricians between the ages of 15 and 18 years old, 20% received patients between the ages of 10 and 15 years old and 20% after 18 years old. The mean age of transition was between 15 and 18 years, according to 67.6% of pediatricians, after 18 years old for 29.4% of pediatricians and between 10 and 15 years old for 2.9% of them. Endocrinologists and pediatricians were comparable in terms of practice area, hospital activity, definition of transition age, the existence of a transition consultation, and also in terms of transition-age in current practice. We found a statistically significant difference in terms of practice area between endocrinologists and pediatricians (p-value: 0.025).

Conclusion:Our study highlighted the importance of specific support to facilitate the transfer from pediatric to adult care for young patients.