PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - B Beresford
AU  - L Stuttard
TI  - Young adults as users of adult healthcare: experiences of young adults with complex or life-limiting conditions
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-4-404
DP  - 2014 Aug 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 404--408
VI  - 14
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/14/4/404.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/14/4/404.full
SO  - Clin Med2014 Aug 01; 14
AB  - Awareness is growing that young adults may have distinctive experiences of adult healthcare and that their needs may differ from those of other adult users. In addition, the role of adult health teams in supporting positive transitions from paediatrics is increasingly under discussion. This paper contributes to these debates. It reports a qualitative study of the experiences of young adults – all with complex chronic health conditions — as users of adult health services. Key findings from the study are reported, including an exploration of factors that help to explain interviewees’ experiences. Study findings are discussed in the context of existing evidence from young adults in adult healthcare settings and theories of ‘young adulthood’. Implications for training and practice are considered, and priorities for future research are identified.