The Analysis of Transition Readiness of Adolescent Epilepsy Patients from Childhood to Adult from the Perspective of Disease Self-management: A Cross-sectional Study in Southwest China.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the transition readiness of juvenile epilepsy patients during the transition period from childhood to adulthood and analyze the impact of patients' basic characteristics and self-management on their transition readiness.

Methods: A total of 376 adolescent epileptic patients were selected as research objects from 3A general hospitals located in Chongqing, Guizhou, and Yunnan respectively, and a 3A children's specialist hospital in Chongqing, Jiangxi from May 2021 to February 2022. The readiness for transition was assessed using a transition readiness questionnaire, and patients' self-management skills were evaluated using the Self-Management Scale for Epilepsy Patients. Data analysis was conducted to determine the readiness for transition and examine the factors influencing it.

Results: The mean overall transition readiness score in adolescent epilepsy patients was (56.60±12.51). Among the six dimensions, drug management, disease understanding, doctor-patient interaction, health responsibility, medical involvement, and resource utilization were ranked highest to lowest. The examination identified age, epilepsy duration, medication types, and primary caregivers as the primary factors influencing transition readiness in adolescent epilepsy patients (P < .001). Additionally, there was a favorable correlation between the total disease self-management score and transition readiness (r=0.487, P < .01), signifying the positive predictive impact of self-management skills on transition readiness.

Conclusion: Adolescent epilepsy patients exhibited moderate readiness for the transition from childhood to adulthood. Older patients with longer disease duration and stronger self-management skills displayed a higher level of readiness. Targeted clinical interventions that prioritize self-management skills are essential for facilitating a smoother transition into adulthood for patients.