Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Medical advances have extended the life expectancy of children with pediatric-onset disorders, such as Cerebral Palsy (CP). Consequently, there emerges a new population of young adults with CP that must transition from the pediatric to adult healthcare system as a result of the expiration of pediatric services. The service gap between pediatric and adult health care regarding youth with chronic disabilities has been a popular field of research in adolescent health over the past 10-15 years resulting in development of transition programs and policy initiatives. Research in transitional care indicates that lack of age-appropriate medical provision for this population of young adults could have negative long-term effects on functional status and well-being. There is currently no data available that indicates how many adults with CP are cared for by family physicians. The first objective of this study is to identify whether the Most Responsible Provider (MRP) for adults with CP in northern Ontario is a pediatrician or a family physician indicating whether these adults are receiving health services by the most appropriate provider. A second objective of this study is to discover the special interests of family physicians in northern Ontario. The CPFC has recently developed a Special Interest or Focused Practice (SIFP) initiative in family medicine and has formed special interest groups that provide a networking resource for family physicians across Canada to gain knowledge and skills in specific areas of medicine, while maintaining the comprehensive outlook on health care that is indicative of family medicine. Special interest groups also offer the opportunity for family physicians experienced in caring for adults with CP to educate those who require additional resources, ultimately resulting in better quality of care for adults with CP.