Health care competence of adolescents with chronic conditions in transition: Research data from the evaluation of a patient education program.

Research Questions/Hypotheses:

A 1.5-day transition workshop increases transition-oriented knowledge and competencies of adolescents with a chronic condition. Additionally, active patient participation and self-efficacy of the young people are increased. The workshop is applicable to a variety of diseases.

Research Design:

Quasi-experimental Design , Mixed Design, Field Experiment; repeated measurements

Measurement Instruments/Apparatus:

In a prospective controlled intervention study, the feasibility, acceptance and effectiveness of the newly developed patient education program was examined. First, all eligible patients were invited to participate in the education program at a fixed date. Those who were interested in the program and had time on the specified date were assigned to the intervention group (IG). Those who were interested in the program in principle but were unable to attend the program for various reasons were assigned to the control group (KG). At two measurement dates (immediately before (T0) and after the training (T1), 4 weeks later (ModuS) and 6 months later (Transition; T2), the participants of the IG had to fill in questionnaires. In addition, focus group interviews were conducted separately with the young people and the parents in 10 training courses. These served to supplement the quantitative data and to evaluate the workshops with the greatest possible openness. The participants of the KG filled out the questionnaire battery at two points in time (T0 and T2) at intervals of 4 weeks and 6 months respectively.

Data Collection Method:

Data collection in the presence of an experimenter
– Individual Administration
– Paper and Pencil

Data collection in the absence of an experimenter
– Mail Survey

Population:

Adolescents with chronic condition aged 13-24 years

Survey Time Period:

T0: Baseline before intervention
T1: Immediately after intervention (intervention group only)
T2: 1 or 6 month after intervention

Sample:

Convenience sample

Gender Distribution:

50,9% female subjects
49,1% male subjects

Age Distribution: 13-24 years

Spatial Coverage (Country/Region/City): Germany

Subject Recruitment:

Adolescents with chronic condition were contacted via participating special clinics. Participants of the intervention (Project Transition) received a 20-Euro Amazon-voucher.

Sample Size:

723 individuals

Return/Drop Out:

323 participants did not fill in the General Self-efficacy Scale as it was only applicated in the project “Transition”