Residency Training in Transition of Youth With Childhood-Onset Chronic Disease

OBJECTIVE: To assess the current medical school training of internal medicine and pediatric residents in transitioning youth with special health care needs from child-oriented to adult-oriented health care. METHODS: We surveyed internal medicine and pediatric residents to assess their preparedness to transition youth with special health care needs to adult-oriented health care. RESULTS: The survey results demonstrated that internal medicine residents felt unprepared to care for most patients with chronic childhood-onset illness; however, most pediatric residents were comfortable caring for such patients. CONCLUSION: Training in chronic childhood-onset illness should be included in internal medicine training programs.