Traversing the liminal: What can Fontan adults' transition experiences and perspectives teach us about optimizing healthcare?

Abstract

Successfully transitioning to adult care is important for congenital heart disease (CHD) patients, particularly those at the worst end of the spectrum with a Fontan circulation, as their ongoing health engagement affects their health outcomes. Yet, there is a lack of literature exploring patient perspectives about their transition experiences, and what helps or hinders successful transition to adult care. Young adults with a Fontan circulation (n = 18) from the Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry participated in in-depth phone interviews. Thematic analyses were used to analyze the qualitative interview data. We identified six key themes which stood out from patient experiences, includ..