PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Jenny Prüfe AU - Marie-Luise Dierks AU - Dirk Bethe AU - Martina Oldhafer AU - Silvia Müther AU - Julia Thumfart AU - Markus Feldkötter AU - Anja Büscher AU - Katja Sauerstein AU - Matthias Hansen AU - Martin Pohl AU - Jens Drube AU - Florian Thiel AU - Susanne Rieger AU - Ulrike John AU - Christina Taylan AU - Katalin Dittrich AU - Sabine Hollenbach AU - Günter Klaus AU - Henry Fehrenbach AU - Birgitta Kranz AU - Carmen Montoya AU - Bärbel Lange-Sperandio AU - Bettina Ruckenbrod AU - Heiko Billing AU - Hagen Staude AU - Reinhard Brunkhorst AU - Krisztina Rusai AU - Lars Pape AU - Martin Kreuzer TI - Transition structures and timing of transfer from paediatric to adult-based care after kidney transplantation in Germany: a qualitative study AID - 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015593 DP - 2017 Jun 01 TA - BMJ Open PG - e015593 VI - 7 IP - 6 4099 - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/6/e015593.short 4100 - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/6/e015593.full SO - BMJ Open2017 Jun 01; 7 AB - Objectives It is known that transition, as a shift of care, marks a vulnerable phase in the adolescents’ lives with an increased risk for non-adherence and allograft failure. Still, the transition process of adolescents and young adults living with a kidney transplant in Germany is not well defined. The present research aims to assess transition-relevant structures for this group of young people. Special attention is paid to the timing of the process.Setting In an observational study, we visited 21 departments of paediatric nephrology in Germany. Participants were doctors (n=19), nurses (n=14) and psychosocial staff (n=16) who were responsible for transition in the relevant centres. Structural elements were surveyed using a short questionnaire. The experiential viewpoint was collected by interviews which were transcribedverbatim before thematic analysis was performed.Results This study highlights that professionals working within paediatric nephrology in Germany are well aware of the importance of successful transition. Key elements of transitional care are well understood and mutually agreed on. Nonetheless, implementation within daily routine seems challenging, and the absence of written, structured procedures may hamper successful transition.Conclusions While professionals aim for an individual timing of transfer based on medical, social, emotional and structural aspects, rigid regulations on transfer age as given by the relevant health authorities add on to the challenge.Trial registration number ISRCTN Registry no 22988897; results (phase I) and pre-results (phase II).