A practical toolbox for the effective transition of adolescents and
young adults with asthma and allergies -- an EAACI Position paper
Abstract
Adolescence is a critical stage of rapid biological, emotional and
social change and development. Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with
asthma and allergies need to develop the knowledge and skills to
self-manage their health independently. Healthcare professionals (HCP),
parents and their wider network play an essential role in supporting AYA
in this process. Previous work showed significant limitations in
transition care across Europe. In 2020, the first evidence-based
guideline on effective transition for AYA with asthma and allergies was
published by EAACI. We herein summarize practical resources to support
this guideline’s implementation in clinical practice. For this purpose,
multi-stakeholder Task Force members searched for resources in peer
review journals and grey literature. These resources were included if
relevant and of good quality, and were pragmatically rated for their
evidence-basis and user friendliness. Resources identified covered a
range of topics and targeted healthcare professionals, AYA,
parents/carers, schools, workplace, and wider community. Most resources
were in English, web-based and had limited evidence-basis. This position
paper provides a valuable selection of practical resources for all
stakeholders to support effective transitional care for AYA with asthma
and allergies. Future research should focus on developing validated,
patient-centred tools to further assist evidence-based transition care.