The project is about young patients' transition from paediatric wards to adult wards. Here they receive fewer consultations and less support. The abrupt transition often results in discontinuation of treatment or serious complications. CAT will help establish better transition processes between these departments.
Every fifth young person in the programme region suffers from serious or chronic illness. These young patients rely on the support of their parents and the healthcare system. However, once they turn 18, they are on their own as they automatically transition from paediatric to adult wards, where they receive fewer consultations and less support. An abrupt transition can result in treatment interruption or serious complications - in the worst case scenario, early death. Interrupted treatment is also a socio-economic issue. Therefore, it is crucial that more attention is paid to the child-to-adult transition in healthcare.
CAT (Child to Adult Transitions) is a cross-regional project that aims to improve the transition from child to adult care and minimise the risk of patients being "lost" during the transition period. CAT develops and implements transition programmes across borders based on research into the needs and experiences of young patients. The programmes prepare patients for their transition process through transition teams, workshops and digital solutions. CAT is based on transnational co-operation, experience sharing and capacity building between hospitals. In this way, Denmark and Germany jointly make a strong effort to support young patients.
Support programme: Interreg Deutschland Dänemark
Project duration: 01.01.2023 - 31.12.2025
Project budget: 3.929.226 Euro
EU-support: 2.553.997 Euro
Project partners:
Department of Rheumatology, Zealand University Hospital
Research Unit in the Staff, Zealand University Hospital
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Slagelse Hospital
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAMHS), Psychiatry Region Zealand, Roskilde
Psychiatric Research Unit, Region Zealand, Slagelse
Trifork Public A/S, Aarhus
Department of Health and Prevention, Institute of Psychology, University of Greifswald
Clinic for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel
Centre for Integrative Psychiatry ZIP gGmbH, Lübeck & Kiel
Comprehensive Centre for Inflammatory Medicine (CCIM), University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel
The project is co-financed by the European Union.