Notice of Thesis Defence - Jennifer Splane-FR and SJ

Event Details:

Jennifer Splane, MN.ANP candidate from Saint John, NB will defend her thesis "Exploring the Practices, Experiences, and Needs of Care Providers when Supporting Youth with Complex Care Needs Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care." 

Please contact Trish Canning at canningt@unb.ca for Zoom details.

ABSTRACT: 
Youth with complex care needs (CCN) require significant health, educational, and/or social assistance beyond what is generally required by their peers. These youth experience complex chronic conditions that were once seen as fatal and are now increasingly associated with survival into adulthood. As they approach adulthood, youth require a transition of their care from pediatric healthcare to adult-centred healthcare. Current transition practices, when present, have been disorganized and disjointed resulting in health status deterioration and an increase in complications due to unmet needs for youth with CCN. Consequently, the purpose of the proposed study is to develop a broader understanding of the current transition practices, experiences, and needs of primary care practitioners, specialists, and subspecialists in the support of youth with CCN as they transition from pediatric to adult healthcare. The proposed exploratory study will use a qualitative descriptive design. A purposeful sample of 20 care providers in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia who support youth with CCN in the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare will be obtained and interviewed individually using a semi structured interview guide. Data analysis will consist of thematic analysis following the six phases outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006). Scientific rigor will be enhanced by employing techniques to improve the study’s credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Prior to the study commencement, ethics approval will be sought from the University of New Brunswick and Regional Health Authorities in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Multiple strategies will be used to disseminate the research findings to practitioners, educators, and administrators in pediatric and adult healthcare settings. The findings from the proposed research study has the potential to contribute to improvements in transition practice and policy, and guide future research in this area.

Building: Zoom meeting