Adaptation and validation of the On Your Own Feet – Transition Experiences Scale evaluating transitions to adult services among adolescent mental health service users in Europe

Purpose
Experiences of young people transitioning from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) have mostly been investigated qualitatively. This study adapts and validates the On Your Own Feet – Transition Experiences Scale (OYOF-TES) in a sample of CAMHS users in Europe and describes young people's and parents’ experiences with transition and end of care at CAMHS.

Methods
The OYOF-TES was adapted to a mental health setting and translated. An End Of Care (OYOF-EOC) version (self- and parent-report) was developed. A total of 457 young people and 383 parents completed an OYOF-TES or OYOF-EOC. Psychometric properties and descriptives are presented.

Results
The Cronbach's alphas of the OYOF-TES and OYOF-EOC parent/self-report ranged from 0.92 to 0.94. The two-factor structure was confirmed. The mean overall satisfaction reported by young people was 6.15 (0–10; SD=2.92) for transition and 7.14 (0–10; SD=2.37) for care ending. However, 26.7%-36.4% of young people were unsatisfied.

Discussion
The OYOF-TES and OYOF-EOC can be used reliably in mental healthcare settings to capture young people's and parents’ transition experiences. The majority of young people and parents was satisfied with the process of transition and care ending, yet a third of young people had negative experiences.

Highlights

• The OYOF-TES/OYOF-EOC quantitatively assess mental health care transition experiences
• The OYOF-TES/OYOF-EOC are reliable and valid measures.
• The overall satisfaction with transition reported by young people was 6.15 (range 0–10).
• 27%−36% of young people have negative experiences with transition or end of care.
• Our findings can help clinicians monitor and improve young people's and parents’ experiences.