Improving health of adolescents and young adults with long-term conditions

Adolescents and young people aged less than 25 years who have been diagnosed with long-term conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, epilepsy and inflammatory bowel disease, need to understand their condition, manage high risk behaviours and learn how best to protect and improve their health. We are particularly interested in the quality of healthcare they receive and impact of health policies affecting their health.

Key research areas

Improving quality and outcomes of epilepsy care for young people
Impact of contraceptive policies on contraceptive use and abortion
Health of adolescents and young people diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and allergy
New models and sustainability of integrated care for children
Impact of Covid-19 on mental health
Impact of Covid-19 on access to contraception

Graphic showing young people reporting a long standing mental health problem

Blog

Minds matter: time to take action on children and young people’s mental health

Research

Long delays for diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

A doctor delivering medicine to a patient

News

Paying GPs to provide contraception information linked to reduced abortions

Providing GPs with financial incentives to offer information about long-acting contraceptives is associated with an increase in use.

Our research in this theme is funded by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) NW London ARC, NIHR School for Public Health Research NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Charity Crohns Colitis UK and the Nuffield Trust. We have collaborations with University of Liverpool (NIHR SPHR) and the Pop-IBD group at St Georges Univ London, UCL and Kings College London.