Transition to adult services by young people with life-limiting conditions in Belfast and Dublin: a realist evaluation using mixed methods (TASYL study): 

Background

Improvements in care and treatment have led to more young people with life-limiting conditions living beyond childhood, which means they must make the transition from children’s to adult services.  The loss of long-standing relationships with providers of children’s services combines with poor co-ordination of services to make this a daunting prospect for young people and their families. However, there is little evidence on transition services in palliative care, with few models of good practice in the literature.  This research aims to identify the factors that promote or inhibit effective transition.

Design

A realist evaluation using mixed methods of transition services in Belfast and Dublin.

Methods

An online questionnaire survey of health, social, educational and charitable organisations providing transition services to young people in Belfast and Dublin to identify current practices. Semi-structured interviews with young people with life limiting illnesses who have experience of palliative care services provided by a HSC Trust in Belfast and HSE Area in Dublin. Two focus groups consisting of the parents or carers of the young people taking part in the focus groups.  Semi-structured interviews with key service providers and practitioners in the identified HSC Trust and HSE Area.

Outcomes

The outcomes will be an overview of the transition services currently provided in Belfast and Dublin, together with a detailed description of the organisation of services in the identified HSC Trust and HSE Area, identifying models of good practice and the key factors influencing the quality, safety and continuity of care.

Contact details

Helen Kerr
Doctoral Fellow
All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care and HSC R&D Public Health Agency
Room 07/310 School of Nursing and Midwifery
Medical Biology Centre
Queen's University
Lisburn Road
Belfast BT9 7AB

Email: hkerr09@qub.ac.uk                                
Telephone: 028 9097 2684

Principal Supervisor

Dr. Peter O’Halloran                                                           
Lecturer                                                               
School of Nursing and Midwifery                                              
Medical Biology Centre                                                                    
Queen’s University
Lisburn Road                                                                
Belfast                                                                                            
BT9 7AB                                                                            

Email: p.ohalloran@qub.ac.uk
Tel: 028 9097 2490    

Supervisor                                                        

Dr Honor Nicholl
Assistant Professor
School of Nursing & Midwifery
Trinity College
24 D'Olier Street,
Dublin

Email: nichollh@tcd.ie
Telephone: 01 8963702

Supervisor                                                        

Dr Jayne E Price
Associate Professor (Children's Nursing)
Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education
Kingston University and St George's, University London
Kingston Hill Campus,
Kingston upon Thames,
Surrey, KT2 7LB

Email: j.e.price@sgul.kingston.ac.uk
Direct landline number: 020 8417 5703   

 

Publications

(previous surname of Sinclair)

Sinclair, H. A. H. and Hamill, C. (2007) Does vicarious traumatisation affect oncology nurses? A literature review. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 11(4), pp. 348-356. 

Hamill, C. and Sinclair, H. A. H. (2010) Bracketing-practical considerations in Husserlian phenomenological research. Nurse Researcher, 17(2), pp. 16-24.

Sinclair, H. A. H. and Price, J. (2014) Students' journey through a trauma studies educational programme: a Northern Irish perspective. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 19(3), pp. 278-287.     

Kerr, H., O’Halloran, P., Nichol, H. and Price, J. (2014) Transition from children’s to adult services for young people with life-limiting conditions: Findings from a questionnaire survey in Northern Ireland (Abstract). Palliative Medicine, 28(6), pp. 783-784.

Kerr, H., O’Halloran, P., Nichol, H. and Price, J. (2014) A realist literature review of transition to adult services for young people with life-limiting conditions in Ireland (Abstract).  Supportive and Palliative Care, 4(03), p.A85.

Kerr, H. (2014)  Review: The Struggle for safe staffing levels in the USA: a political economy of evidence based practice.Journal of Research in Nursing, 19, pp. 604-605.