title: Measuring the transition readiness of youth with special healthcare needs: validation of the TRAQ--Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to develop the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ), a measure of readiness for transition from pediatric to adult healthcare for youth with special health care needs (YSHCN).
  
  
  METHODS
  We administered TRAQ to 192 YSHCN aged 16-26 years in three primary diagnostic categories, conducted factor analysis, and assessed differences in TRAQ scores by age, gender, race, and primary diagnosis type.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factor analysis identified two TRAQ domains with high internal consistency: Skills for Self-Management and Skills for Self-Advocacy. Each domain had high internal consistency. In multivariate regression models, older age and a primary diagnosis of an activity limiting physical condition were associated with higher scores in Self-Management, and female gender and a primary diagnosis of an activity limiting physical condition were associated with higher scores in Self-Advocacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our initial validation study suggests the TRAQ is a useful tool to assess transition readiness in YSHCN and to guide educational interventions by providers to support transition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Diseases, Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. gregory.sawicki@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sawicki
authors.forename: Katryne
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lukens-Bull
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Demars
authors.forename: I-Chan
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Livingood
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reiss
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012648:Self Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors