PolicyLab

iTransition is a dynamic Social Cognitive Theory-based mHealth native and website application (web app) to improve health care transition at the patient, provider and clinic levels with features focused on medication and appointment reminders, direct messaging between patients and providers, and important health care transition tips and resources. As a native app and web app, iTransition can be used on a range of devices (computer, tablet, smartphone), web browsers and operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows).

To develop iTransition, our team followed a multi-step process in collaboration with Emory University, University of Carolina Greensboro, and Pattern Health (app developers). We first created a development framework and held iterative design meetings to receive feedback on health care transition needs and preferences for a web app with a youth advisory board comprised of individuals who had recently experienced or were about to experience this health care transition from pediatric/adolescent care to adult care. We also received feedback from clinical providers who directly helped youth through the health care transition process.

To test iTransition and determine its preliminary efficacy, we conducted a non-randomized intervention trial with youth living with HIV, comparing a historical control group who experienced standard health care transition and an intervention group who received iTransition app. The trial also included HIV care providers who facilitate health care transition in their clinics and tested iTransition.  We consulted “transition champions” who were HIV care providers nominated by their peers to endorse and promote use of iTransition to youth living with HIV and providers in the intervention.

Through this study, we implemented iTransition and reviewed how it was utilized, conducted surveys to assess iTransition satisfaction and past/current health experiences, organized qualitative interviews on the health care transition process and iTransition experiences, and reviewed medical charts of youth living with HIV to assess care retention and viral suppression. For more information on the implementation of iTransition, please read our protocol paper published in Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) Research Protocols.

The preliminary outcomes from piloting iTransition were presented at various conferences from 2022-2025. Data collection of the iTransition pilot study concluded on June 30, 2024 followed by data analysis through 2025.

Project results have been published. This study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic which may have impacted results. We discuss lessons learned in this publication of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. Read about iTransition pilot outcomes published here in AIDS Patient Care and STDs.