title: Getting ready to leave: transition readiness in adolescent kidney transplant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a measure of transition readiness and assess factors associated with perceived readiness for transition of healthcare responsibility and transfer among adolescent kidney transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Readiness for Transition Questionnaire (RTQ-teen; RTQ-parent) was created to assess overall transition readiness, adolescent healthcare behavior, and familial involvement in healthcare. Participants were 48 adolescent kidney transplant recipients ages 15-21 years. Thirty-two (66.7%) of the adolescents' caregivers also participated. Adolescents completed the RTQ-teen, as well as self-reported measures of adherence and barriers to adherence. Parents completed the RTQ-parent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RTQ showed good internal consistency, inter rater reliability, and demonstrated construct validity. Increased adolescent responsibility and decreased parental involvement predicted higher transition readiness. Additionally, greater adolescent adherence factors predicted greater transition readiness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preliminary psychometrics of the RTQ appear to be supported. Additional research should evaluate healthcare transition programming to identify clinical components related to improved transition readiness, adolescent responsibility, and medical outcomes.
authors: Emory University School of Medicine, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. jordan.gilleland@choa.org
authors: Jordan
authors: J
authors: Gilleland
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Amaral
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Mee
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Blount
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060305:Transition to Adult Care; D055815:Young Adult