Folasade Solanke

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences
• Investigating whether questionnaires about unmet health need can be used in quantitative analysis rather than just as descriptive tools

Children with chronic conditions often move with difficulty from child to adult healthcare. “Transition” is a four-year study, aiming to provide evidence to the NHS of what could help young people with these conditions during their transition from child to adult healthcare. This study investigated service needs of 108 young people with Cerebral Palsy. Questionnaires given annually to young people (and parents) explored eleven health needs these young people may have, and whether they are being met. The analysis identified two areas of unmet health need relating to Daily Activities and Medical Interventions. It revealed how unmet health needs can be calculated as a robust outcome measure in health services research. In the “Transition” study, analysis aims to identify which clinical practices during transition reduce unmet health needs, and suggest how the NHS might improve the quality of life of young people with long term conditions.

Funding source: Newcastle University

Supervisors: Prof Allan Colver & Prof Helen McConachie