title: Achieving self-management of prophylactic treatment in adolescents: The case of haemophilia.
abstract: Adolescents with a chronic disorder, such as haemophilia, need to attain responsibility for their disease. The aim was to gain insight into how adolescents achieve self-management of prophylactic treatment.
  
  
  
  In three Dutch Haemophilia Treatment Centres, adolescents (10-25 years) received structured questions on treatment responsibility and self-management (pre-specified definitions) during routine nursing consultation.
  
  
  
  In total, 155 interviews were performed in 100 patients (median age 14.4 years). Self-infusion was initiated at a median age of 12.3 years (IQR 11.5-13.0) and self-management was achieved 9.6 years later, at a median age of 22.6 years. This process included three phases coinciding with known stages of adolescence. In early adolescence, patients acquired the technique of self-infusion (12.3 years) leading to independent self-infusion in middle adolescence (17.2 years). In late adolescence, patients demonstrated an increase in more complex skills, such as bleeding management and communication with the haemophilia physician (19.9-22.6 years).
  
  
  
  Although, the first steps in self-management with regard to self-infusion are taken in early adolescence, complete self-management was achieved in late adolescence after almost 10 years.
  
  
  
  Insight in this transitional process helps to provide individualized support and emphasizes the need for continued education with regard to self-management skills.
authors: Van Creveldkliniek, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: L.H.Schrijvers-3@umcutrecht.nl.
authors: Liesbeth
authors: L
authors: Schrijvers
authors: Haemophilia Treatment Centre, Emma Children's Hospital-Academical Medical Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Marlène
authors: M
authors: Beijlevelt-Van der Zande
authors: Haemophilia Treatment Centre, Emma Children's Hospital-Academical Medical Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Marjolein
authors: M
authors: Peters
authors: Department of Paediatric Haematology, Erasmus Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Janske
authors: J
authors: Lock
authors: Department of Paediatric Haematology, Erasmus Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Marjon
authors: M
authors: Cnossen
authors: Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Care, University of Applied Science, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Nursing Science, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Marieke
authors: M
authors: Schuurmans
authors: Van Creveldkliniek, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Kathelijn
authors: K
authors: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003029:Coagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002836:Hemophilia B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D012648:Self Care; D055815:Young Adult; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D003029:Coagulants
keywords: Home treatment; Learning; Prophylaxis; Responsibility; Self-infusion; Transition