Adolescent and Parent Reports of Health Care Transition Readiness Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents

The health care transition (HCT) is a difficult and high-risk time for youth who are expected to demonstrate increasing autonomy in managing health care tasks, often with varying levels of support. The purpose of this study was to assess adolescent and parent perspectives of HCT readiness among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adolescents to identify potential targets for future HCT planning interventions.

Data are from a cross-sectional survey of nondyadic TGD adolescents (aged 13-17) and parents of TGD adolescents receiving care in a pediatric gender clinic. HCT readiness was assessed using the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire. Independent samples t-tests and one-way analysis of variance were used to assess for differences in Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire domain scores by adolescent demographic characteristics.

Both adolescent and parent respondents indicated relative strengths in tracking health issues (adolescent: 4.23 ± 0.72; parent: 3.31 ± 0.94) and talking with providers (adolescent: 4.40 ± 0.71; parent: 3.99 ± 1.08), and areas for improvement in managing medications (adolescent: 3.64 ± 0.90; parent: 2.39 ± 1.06) and appointment keeping (adolescent: 3.74 ± 1.03; parent: 1.78 ± 1.06). Post hoc comparisons showed that older adolescents scored themselves higher in the talking with providers domain compared to younger adolescents.

Consistent with research among youth with chronic health conditions, both TGD adolescents and parents of TGD adolescents identified managing medications and appointment keeping tasks as important areas for improvement in HCT readiness. Future interventions with TGD adolescents and their parents that promote independence in medication management and appointment keeping may be important approaches for improving HCT readiness in this population.