TransitionED Healthcare Transition Framework: The TransitionED Healthcare Transition Framework is a structured, guideline-informed, multi-component intervention designed to support youth and young adults with eating disorders transitioning from pediatric to adult care. Unlike standard transition practices, this framework integrates youth and caregiver transition planning packages, clinician-led structured transition meetings, a youth-authored Personal Transition Profile to support information transfer, optional peer support sessions, and a program-level communication and collaboration guide. The framework is embedded within routine clinical care and focuses on system-level coordination, readiness building, and continuity across pediatric and adult services.
Study summary
Moving from pediatric (children's) health care to adult health care can be challenging for youth and young adults with eating disorders. Many young people and families report feeling unprepared, unsure of what to expect, and worried about losing support during this time. Gaps in care during this transition can increase stress and make recovery more difficult.
This study is testing a structured transition support program called the TransitionED framework. The goal is to see whether this program can be successfully used in real hospital settings and whether youth, caregivers, and clinicians find it helpful.
The TransitionED framework is designed to help youth and families prepare for the move to adult care. It includes:
1. A transition planning package for youth
2. A separate planning package for caregivers
3. At least two guided transition meetings with a clinician
4. A short "Personal Transition Profile" written by the youth to help new adult providers understand them better
5. Optional virtual peer support sessions for youth and for caregivers
6. Tools to help pediatric and adult providers communicate more clearly
Youth who are 16 years or older and currently receiving care in a participating pediatric eating disorder program may be invited to join, along with one caregiver. Clinicians and program leaders will also take part to help deliver and evaluate the program.
Participants will complete surveys at the beginning of the study, about two months later, and six months after finishing the program. Some participants will also take part in interviews to share their experiences.
This study is focused on feasibility. That means the main goal is to learn whether this transition program is practical, acceptable, and workable in everyday clinical care. What we learn will help improve transition support for youth and young adults with eating disorders in the future.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
16 Years
Max age
—
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion Criteria:
Youth and Young Adults (YYA):
* Currently receiving paediatric eating disorder care at a participating study site.
* Age 16 years or or older (approaching age-based transition to adult-care)
* Expressed interest in transitioning to adult eating disorder care or other appropriate adult mental health services
* Identified by the clinical team as appropriate to begin formal transition planning (e.g., sufficient transition readiness and interest in ongoing care)
* Able and willing to provide informed consent/assent (as applicable at the site) and participate in study procedures
Caregivers:
* One caregiver (e.g., parent/legal guardian) of a participating YYA
* Able and willing to provide informed consent and participate in study procedures (including questionnaires and interviews)
Clinicians (intervention deliverers):
* Patient facing clinician at a participating site who provides transition support for participating YYA/caregivers and is responsible for delivering intervention components (e.g., joint meeting(s), communication/coordination related to the transition).
* Able and willing to provide informed consent and participate in study procedures (e.g., focus groups)
Implementation Team Members:
* Program leadership/managers/senior clinicians at a participating site involved in implementation of the intervention at that site.
* Able and willing to provide informed consent and participate in study procedures (e.g., focus group).
Exclusion Criteria:
YYA:
* Not receiving pediatric eating disorder care at a participating site.
* Under age 16 years
* Does not express interest in transitioning to adult eating disorder care or other appropriate adult mental health services.
* Not identified by the clinical team as ready/appropriate to engage in formal transition planning during the study period (e.g., insufficient transition readiness or not currently at the transition-planning stage).
* Unable to provide informed consent/assent or unable to participate in study procedures (e.g., due to significant cognitive/communication barriers as determined by the clinical/research team).
Caregivers:
* Not the caregiver of an enrolled YYA (only one caregiver per YYA is enrolled).
* Unable to provide informed consent or participate in study procedures.
Clinicians and Implementation Team Members:
* Not affiliated with a participating site or not in an eligible role as defined above.
* Peripheral providers who may be involved in care but are not enrolled as participants (e.g., family physicians or adult providers who might attend a joint meeting).
* Unable to provide informed consent or participate in study procedures.
Primary outcome measure(s)
Acceptability — Post-intervention (approximately 8 weeks after enrollment) and at 6-month follow-up. Acceptability refers to the extent to which youth and young adults (YYA), caregivers, clinicians, and implementation team members perceive the TransitionED Healthcare Transition Framework as appropriate, satisfactory, and useful. Acceptability will be assessed using qualitative interviews and focus groups conducted with participants following implementation of the framework. Interviews will explore participants' experiences with the framework, perceived usefulness, ease of use, perceived burden, and overall satisfaction with the transition support process.
Implementation Fidelity of the TransitionED Healthcare Transition Framework — From enrollment through framework completion (approximately 8 weeks post-enrollment) and throughout the implementation period at each site. Implementation fidelity refers to the extent to which the TransitionED framework is delivered as intended. Fidelity will be measured as the proportion of core intervention components delivered as planned, including completion of the Transition Planning Package, completion of the Personal Transition Profile, and delivery of clinician-facilitated transition meetings. Fidelity data will be collected using structured implementation tracking logs completed by clinicians and research staff.
Practicality and Integration of the TransitionED Healthcare Transition Framework — From enrollment through framework completion (approximately 8 weeks post-enrollment) and during the active implementation period at each site. Practicality and integration refer to the extent to which the TransitionED framework can be implemented within routine clinical workflows using existing clinical resources. This outcome will be assessed through clinician surveys and qualitative interviews examining feasibility of delivering the framework, perceived fit within existing clinical workflows, time required to deliver framework components, and barriers or facilitators to implementation.
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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