Transition of rheumatologic care, from teenager to adult: which health assessment questionnaire can be best used?
OBJECTIVE
Transition of care for adolescents includes a transfer from paediatric to adult health care. This requires a transfer of specific measurements, which evaluate disease profiles such as functional ability. One of the most common measurements is the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ).


METHODS
Results of the Childhood HAQ (CHAQ) and HAQ were compared among adolescents diagnosed with rheumatic diseases involving the musculoskeletal system. All adolescents had recently dealt with or would in the near future be dealing with transition.


RESULTS
Overall results of both questionnaires were comparable; intra-class correlation for consistency (ICC) was 0.95 (95% confidence interval 0.93-0.97). For a smooth transfer from CHAQ to HAQ, both correlation and agreement are required. Agreement between both questionnaires was not found. Described by limits of agreement, results of HAQ can differ from CHAQ as much as 0.95.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite strong correlations for consistency, lack of agreement was found in the results of CHAQ and HAQ. If correlation persists over time, this study suggests evaluating both the childhood and adult version of the HAQ during the transition period. When transfer into adulthood is completed, comparison to earlier tests at younger age is available and reliable.
van Pelt
P A
PA
Department of Paediatric Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Kruize
A A
AA
Goren
S S
SS
van der Net
J
J
Uiterwaal
C  S P
C
Kuis
W
W
Bijlsma
J W J
JW
Wulffraat
N M
NM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012219:Rheumatology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult