Transition readiness in middle and older adolescents with asthma and associated factors: a descriptive study

Objective: Asthma is the leading chronic health condition in adolescents, yet little is known about adolescents’ readiness to transition into adult-focused care. This study examines transition readiness in middle and late adolescents with asthma. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2019 with 41 adolescents (16–20 years old) with asthma. Transition readiness was measured with the 20-item Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ), which comprises five subscales. Results: Slight majorities of the sample comprised females (58.5%) and minority adolescents (56%). The sample’s overall mean score on the TRAQ was 3.89 (±0.63; possible range 1–5). Managing daily activities was associated with talking with providers subscale (r = 0.36; p < 0.01), but not with other TRAQ subscales. Females reported greater scores for managing medications than did males, with mean = 4.2 vs. 3.6 (t = −2.15, p = 0.04). Transition readiness did not differ by race or health insurance type. However, scores on arranging transportation to medical appointments were lower among minority adolescents than whites (4.17 vs. 4.8, t = 2.56, p = 0.01). Better asthma control was associated with higher scores on talking with providers (r = –0.42; p < 0.01), but not with other subscale domains. Conclusions: Overall transition readiness is suboptimal in middle to late adolescents with asthma. Adolescents’ capacity to manage daily activities is not a valid indicator of transition readiness in disease self-management. It is important to consider gender, race, and asthma control in understanding transition readiness in adolescents with asthma.