[The transition from paediatric to adult care: a new paradigm].

In healthcare, the child-adult transition is the point of intersection between two health care systems organized in a network (pediatric and adult care), each with its own specificities and dysfunctions. Information, education and empowerment of young adults are crucial in preparing them for the transition to adult care while centrality of the patient, patient preferences, sharing with patients and their families, and multi-disciplinary approach, are the key words of the transition process. Barriers to overcome include the reluctance of patients and their families to separate from the pediatric care system, the tendency of pediatric healthcare workers not to favour the emancipation process and the inability of healthcare workers providing adult care to perceive the sense of insecurity and dependence experienced by young adults.