Adolescent, Caregiver, and Young Adult Perspectives of the Transition From Pediatric to Adult Care for Sickle Cell Disease: A Preliminary Evaluation of the Sickle Cell Disease Transition Program

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a debilitating genetic disorder affecting 70,000-100,000 Americans. It is frequently associated with very serious medical complications. For children with SCD, successfully transitioning to adult care is a vital step in ensuring continuity of care, managing their disease, and improving their health outcomes. Transition programs have been created to facilitate the transition process. However, few studies have assessed transition readiness and whether transition program components meet the transition needs of patients and families.

The purpose of this study is to explore transitioning from pediatric care to adult care and to assess components of the SJCRH SCD Transition Program from three perspectives: adolescents with SCD, their caregivers, and young adults with SCD who have transitioned to adult care. Data collection methods will include focus groups, questionnaires, and checklists. Qualitative data analysis procedures will be used to examine the data.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sickle Cell Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Assessment

Detailed Description

In this study, through the use of focus groups and questionnaires, we will identify perceptions of transition from pediatric to adult care, transition readiness, disease knowledge, and self-management skills, and assess components of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH) Sickle Cell Disease Transition Program. Participants will participate in focus groups to discuss transition and transition-related concepts and evaluate components of the transition program. Additionally, participants will complete questionnaires about specific aspects of the transition program and about current disease knowledge and management skills.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 55

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Tennessee
    • Memphis, Tennessee, United States, 38105
      • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 12 years to 30 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

1. Adolescents with SCD (all genotypes) ages ≥ 12 years old and ≤ 18 years old and currently receiving services through the SJCRH Sickle Cell Disease Transition Program
2. Caregiver of an adolescent with SCD who has resided with the adolescent for at least 2 years prior
3. Young adults with SCD (all genotypes) ages ≥ 18 years old and ≤ 30 years old who have transitioned to adult care

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adolescents with SCD (all genotypes) ages ≥ 12 years old and ≤ 18 years old and currently receiving services through the SJCRH Sickle Cell Disease Transition Program.
• Caregivers who have resided with the adolescent with SCD for at least 2 years prior.
• Young adults with SCD (all genotypes) ages ≥ 18 years old and ≤ 30 years old who have transitioned to adult care

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-English speakers.
• Adolescents and young adults with sickle cell trait.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Adolescents; Adolescents with SCD (all genotypes) age 12 years old up to 18 years old and currently receiving services through the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Sickle Cell Disease Transition Program.	Other: Assessment; In this study, through the use of focus groups and questionnaires, we will identify perceptions of transition from pediatric to adult care, transition readiness, disease knowledge, and self-management skills, and assess components of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH) Sickle Cell Disease Transition Program. Participants will participate in focus groups to discuss transition and transition-related concepts and evaluate components of the transition program. Additionally, participants will complete questionnaires about specific aspects of the transition program and about current disease knowledge and management skills.; Other Names: Focus Groups; Questionnaires
Caregivers; Caregiver of an adolescent with SCD who has resided with the adolescent for at least two years prior.	Other: Assessment; In this study, through the use of focus groups and questionnaires, we will identify perceptions of transition from pediatric to adult care, transition readiness, disease knowledge, and self-management skills, and assess components of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH) Sickle Cell Disease Transition Program. Participants will participate in focus groups to discuss transition and transition-related concepts and evaluate components of the transition program. Additionally, participants will complete questionnaires about specific aspects of the transition program and about current disease knowledge and management skills.; Other Names: Focus Groups; Questionnaires
Young Adults; Young adults with SCD (all genotypes) age equal to 18 years up to and equal to 30 years of age who have transitioned to adult care.	Other: Assessment; In this study, through the use of focus groups and questionnaires, we will identify perceptions of transition from pediatric to adult care, transition readiness, disease knowledge, and self-management skills, and assess components of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH) Sickle Cell Disease Transition Program. Participants will participate in focus groups to discuss transition and transition-related concepts and evaluate components of the transition program. Additionally, participants will complete questionnaires about specific aspects of the transition program and about current disease knowledge and management skills.; Other Names: Focus Groups; Questionnaires

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Grounded theory qualitative analysis of data	First, data will be prepared for qualitative analysis. Digital audio files from the focus groups will be transcribed verbatim and questionnaire data will be entered into an Excel data file. Second, focus group data will be qualitatively analyzed using the constant comparative process. A qualitative data analysis program, NVivo9 (Victoria, Australia) will be used to assist with this coding process.	1 day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• Collaborators: Plough Foundation; Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• Clinical Trials Open at St. Jude

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 30, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): April 3, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): June 24, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 23, 2014
• Last Verified: June 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Transition Program; Perspectives
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Hematologic Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Anemia; Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital; Anemia, Hemolytic; Hemoglobinopathies; Anemia, Sickle Cell
• Other Study ID Numbers: XPD12-025 TRANSCD; U1EMC19331 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Health Resources and Services Administration)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No