title: Transition Needs of Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article describes how adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) perceive their ability to perform everyday tasks required for transition to adult health care and independent living.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Adolescent Autonomy Checklist (AAC) was adapted to include skills associated with managing SCD (AAC-SCD) and was administered to adolescents during clinic visits. Participants indicated "can do already" or "needs practice" for 100 activities in 12 categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 122 patients, the percentage of adolescents who needed practice was greatest in living arrangements (38.7%), money management (35.8%), vocational skills (29.6%), and health care skills (25.5%). We found a significant effect of age and of cerebrovascular injury on the percentage of those who reported "needs practice" in multiple categories. We found no effect of gender and limited effect of hemoglobin phenotype on any skill category.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support the need for educational intervention to improve transition skills in adolescents with SCD.
authors.affiliation: Regina A. Abel, PhD, is Staff Scientist, Child Health and Education Laboratory, Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Regina A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.affiliation: Esther Cho, MS, OTR/L, was Student, Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, at the time of the study.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Kelley R. Chadwick-Mansker, RRT, is Research Assistant, Hematology Department, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Kelley R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Chadwick-Mansker
authors.affiliation: Natalia D'Souza, OTD, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.affiliation: Ashley J. Housten, OTD, MSCI, MPA, is Postdoctoral Research Associate, Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Ashley J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Housten
authors.affiliation: Allison A. King, MD, MPH, is Director, Child Health and Education Laboratory, and Assistant Professor, Program in Occupational Therapy and Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO; king_a@kids.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Allison A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell; D005260:Female; D005376:Financial Management; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D020521:Stroke; D060305:Transition to Adult Care; D000069341:Transitional Care; D055815:Young Adult