Title

The Relationship of Transition Readiness, Self-Efficacy, and Adherence to Preferred Health Learning Method by Youths with Chronic Conditions

Document Type

Article

Date of Publication

2015

Publication Title

Journal of Pediatric Nursing

First Page

83

Last Page

90

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Health care transition preparation, medication adherence, and self-efficacy are important skills to achieve optimal healthoutcomes. It is unclear how pediatric patients with chronic conditions obtain health information that may impact the acquisition of these skills.

METHODS:

In this cross-sectional study, we determined the preferred sources/methods for health information among youths with chronicconditions and their relationship to health care transition readiness (STARx Questionnaire), self-efficacy (Iannotti's Diabetes Management Self-efficacy Scale), and medication adherence (Morisky Medication Adherence Scale). Youths with various chronic health conditionsattending Victory Junction, a therapeutic camp, were invited to complete these online surveys.

RESULTS:

A total of 160 youths with different chronic conditions from multiple institutions, ages 6 to 16 years participated. Most commonly preferred sources of medical information were family/parents (n=122, 76.3%) and health care providers (n=88, 55.0%). Youths who favored family/parents had the highest medication adherence rates. In turn, youths who favored health care providers over other sources, scored highest on self-efficacy and transition readiness of all groups.

CONCLUSION:

Our novel findings represent important areas of intervention to improve transition readiness, self-efficacy, and medication adherence. Ascertaining the patients' preferred method of learning about the disease and its management is important in order to customize and enhance health care transition readiness, self-efficacy, and medication adherence.

DOI

10.1016/j.pedn.2015.05.014

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