Transition in acquired brain injury youth (TrABI-Y): a systematic literature review protocol

INTRODUCTION: Acquired brain injury (ABI) in paediatrics refers to children born with a neurological deficit, which will lead to a chronic neurological disorder. As advances in medical paediatric health progress, we are seeing these ABI youth transitioning into adult healthcare services while also going through different life events. Despite the growing number of young adult patients, access to transition programmes to facilitate the transition process is still limited and evidence on the effectiveness of these programmes is inconclusive. The purpose of this paper is to provide the protocol for an upcoming systematic literature review on this important issue. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The start of this systematic literature review is planned for 1 October 2019 and will end on 31 December 2021. According to the PICO framework developed, the Population and the Problem of interest (P) will include children, adolescents and young adults (0–18 years) diagnosed with ABI. The selected articles will have to involve an Intervention (I) relating to the healthcare of this population or life transitions from paediatric to adult-oriented care. Studies will be included if a Comparator (C) intervention was used. The expected Outcomes (O) will have to report quantitative or qualitative health-related outcomes post-transition. This comprehensive search of peer-reviewed literature will include articles published between 2010 and 2020. The databases to be searched include Medline, All EBM Reviews, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL. The selected articles will be appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A synthesis of the findings will be drafted to identify the effectiveness of available transition programmes as well as predictors, factors and determinants involved in the transition process. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This project is not associated with direct individuals. The dissemination plan includes strategies such as using this systematic literature review to develop a research project on transition that will be published.