Topical Review: Advancing Research on the Transition to Adult Care for Type 1 Diabetes

Objective To acknowledge and address the gaps in health care transition (HCT) in type 1 diabetes (T1D) literature by proposing an expanded model that could guide future research. Method Topical literature review. Results Empirical research examining the out-comes of HCT in T1D is limited by methodological and interpretive problems. The relevant evidence indicates that HCT outcomes are both multi-systemic and multidimensional; the authors propose an expanded model that incorporates multiple stakeholder perspectives of HCT outcomes. Conclusions The development and validation of a standard index of HCT outcomes based on the expanded model of HCT outcomes could provide a means for assessing relations be-tween HCT readiness and outcomes, facilitate the design of longitudinal studies to determine the predictive validity of HCT readiness assessment and the efficacy of HCT interventions, and inform the design and evaluation of appropriate interventions targeting those mechanisms. Key words: emerging adulthood; health care transition; transition outcomes; type 1 diabetes. The health care transition (HCT) from pediatric to adult care is a critical developmental stage in the lives of emerging adults with typ