Influence of transition readiness from paediatric to adult health care on quality of life in child–parent dyads with long‐term conditions

Abstract

Aim To delineate the impact of perspective of children's transition readiness from paediatric to adult health care on quality of life in child–parent dyads with long‐term conditions. We used Actor–Partner Interdependence Model to identify actor effects (effect of one's own transition readiness on one's own quality of life) and partner effects (effect of one's own transition readiness on the partner's quality of life). Design A multi‐centre cross‐sectional survey. Methods The study was conducted in two paediatric hospitals in China from October 2018‐August 2019. We used a researcher‐designed questionnaire to collect demographic and clinical characteristics. Furthermore, we used four questionnaires assessing transition readiness and quality of life in child and parent respectively to collect data from 370 child–parent dyads. Structural equation modelling was applied to estimate the effect of actor–partner interdependence models. Results The total score of transition readiness had two actor effects on total child and parent quality of life controlling for age (βchildren = 3.335, p = .032 and βparents = 8.952, p < .001), while only one actor effect controlling for gender (βparents = 8.891, p < .001). Specific transition readiness dimensions had different partner effects on different domains of children and parents' quality of life. Moreover, younger children and fathers had a better quality of life. Conclusion Our study verified inherently interpersonal relationship that transition readiness appeared to influence quality of life in child–parent dyads with long‐term conditions. Impact This study was the first to verify mutual influence of transition readiness and quality of life in child–parent dyad using actor–partner interdependence model. Nurses who design the transition promoting programs should consider the effective communication between healthcare provider and child–parent dyads and support parents' involvement to improve shared understanding about managing child's condition, especially for older children and mothers.

Stakeholders' perspectives on caregiver outcomes for health care transition for adolescents and young adults with special health care needs: A qualitative study

“…Parental concerns reside in the doubts that their children can assume their chronic care responsibilities and perform them competently (Craig et al, 2007; Davies et al, 2011; Williams et al, 2007; Woodward et al, 2012). Ma et al (2021) explored the influence of HCT readiness that focuses on the readiness to transfer care to adult health services and quality of life in the dyads of children with long‐term conditions and their parents. Higher levels of HCT readiness of parent–child dyads were associated with higher quality of life for both parents and AYASHCN.…”

“…The preponderance of literature is focused on adolescent‐centric issues surrounding the pre‐transfer period and developmental concerns (Betz et al, 2016; Bloom et al, 2012; Campbell et al, 2016; Chu et al, 2015; Hart, Patel‐Nguyen, et al, 2019). Limited empirical evidence guides family‐centred HCT models (Cheak‐Zamora et al, 2017; Colver et al, 2018; Crawford et al, 2019; Ma et al, 2021; Sawicki et al, 2014). This is concerning as AYASHCN prefer to learn about their health condition from their parents during the transition age (Johnson et al, 2015).…”