Current status and problems of transitional care in kidney transplantation

Abstract

Transition-period medical care is a step for patients to live independently in the future, and it is also one of the important challenges to be overcome in kidney transplant medicine. Especially in adolescents who are pediatric kidney transplant recipients, there is a tendency to develop medication non-adherence that can lead to loss of the transplanted kidney, and potential intellectual disabilities and family environment also affect medication adherence. Additionally, in pediatric kidney transplant patients, school absenteeism and the home environment may lead to a decline in communication skills, potentially resulting in lower success in social outcomes. Based on these points, in transitional care after kidney transplantation, it is necessary to address issues with the aim of preventing non-adherence of medication and improving social outcomes. As an issue on the part of healthcare providers, if adult care physicians at the transition destination are inexperienced in handling pediatric patients, it is recommended to continue performing pediatric consultations in parallel for a while. In transitional care for pediatric kidney transplant patients, it is desirable to build a system that includes a transition program involving multiple professions.