Are Mid to Late Adolescents with Asthma Ready for Transition of Care? A Qualitative Study

Abstract

This qualitative descriptive study explores experiences and perspectives of mid-to-late adolescents about growing up with asthma, and the roles of parents and providers as they transition. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit and enroll adolescents aged 16–20 years with asthma. Forty-one adolescents participated in a focus group or individual interview, and content analysis was conducted to analyze the data. The mean age of participants was 17.7 years, the majority (56%) of whom were Black. Themes that emerged included concerns about becoming an adult with asthma and its self-management, parental involvement, and communication with providers. Adolescents felt burdened by asthma, few considered becoming adults with asthma, and their future outlook was pessimistic with concerns related to worsening symptoms, inadequacy in symptom self-management and limitations on career choices due to asthma. Deficiencies in self-management were noted, parents still played major roles in adolescents’ asthma care, and transition of care was seldom discussed with the providers. Mid-to-late adolescents with asthma are inadequately prepared for transition of care, and parents and providers insufficiently engage adolescents in the preparation. Parent, provider, and adolescent partnership is critical to achieve adolescent readiness for independence in asthma management and to ensure proper asthma care continuity post transition.