Factors influencing independence in adolescents with sickle cell disease.
OBJECTIVE
Factors that predict successful transition from pediatric to adult care for adolescents with sickle cell disease are not fully understood, making transfer decisions difficult.


METHODS
Seventy-four adolescents (14-21 years) participated in this descriptive correlational study to investigate the relationships of age, gender, knowledge about sickle cell disease, disease severity, and family relationships to independence.


RESULTS
Knowledge, severity, and family relationships explained only 25% of the variance for independence in the final model; family relationships were inversely correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
Factors exerting stronger influences on independence remain unknown. Cultural factors may be important among this predominantly African American population.
Newland
Jamesetta A
JA
New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY, USA. jan7@nyu.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult