title: Development of a sickle cell disease readiness for transition assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Instrumentation with established reliability and validity is not yet routinely utilized to assess readiness for transition from pediatric to adult care for youth and young adults with chronic conditions, including sickle cell disease (SCD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to develop a SCD specific readiness for transition assessment tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven youths with SCD, ages 15-21 years, completed the initial version of the Transition Intervention Program - Readiness for Transition (TIP-RFT) assessment; 113 youths/young adults with SCD, ages 14-26 years, at two distinct sites of care completed a refined version of the TIP-RFT.
  
  
  METHODS
  The TIP-RFT was constructed based on a literature review, provider and patient consensus and assessed domains including knowledge and skills in medical self-care, social support, health benefits and independent living and educational/vocational skills. We used principal components factor analysis to evaluate TIP-RFT responses and assessed differences in TIP-RFT scores in relation to age, gender, sickle cell diagnosis and site of care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The original TIP-RFT, which had demonstrated face validity, was reduced from 56 to 22 items. The revised instrument consisting of four subscales demonstrated good internal consistency reliability and construct validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support that the TIP-RFT is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of transition readiness for youths with SCD. The TIP-RFT assessment can guide interventions to improve transition readiness and can provide a foundation for future research on other variables that might be associated with transition readiness.
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Treadwell
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: India
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sisler
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bitsko
authors.forename: Ginny
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gildengorin
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barreda
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Major
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Telfair
authors.forename: Wally R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000523:psychology*; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D060305:Transition to Adult Care; D014768:Virginia; D055815:Young Adult