Advanced modern surgical repair has led to increased survival of children with congenital heart disease (CHD). As patients grow up, the responsibility for their health care gradually shifts from their caregivers to the patients themselves.
The purpose of this study was to explore the level of and to identify factors associated with the transition of health care and capacity for self-management among young adults with CHD in Taiwan.
Thirty nine young adults (17 male; 22 female) between 18 to 21 years old with CHD, and their primary caregivers participated in a cross-sectional study conducted in a teaching hospital in Taiwan. To be included in the study, participants had to comprehend the Chinese language questionnaires administered. Patients with Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, and hearing defects were excluded. Participants completed self-reported measures of body image, psychosocial development, self-efficacy, capacity for self-management, knowledge of CHD health care, and transition to managing own health care related to CHD while their caregivers completed self-efficacy scales.
Young adults had 67% moderate levels of CHD transitional health care preparedness (correct answers) and 57% lower level knowledge of CHD. They also had 65% moderate level of capacity for self-management. Young adults reached the 70% level of psychosocial development.
Body image is significantly correlated with CHD transitional health care which in turn was linked to general self-efficacy (GSES), young adults’ self-management, and young adults’ psychosocial development.
Young adults’ capacities for self-management positively correlated with their GSES and their psychosocial development. Young adults’ psychosocial development positively correlated with caregivers’ self-efficacy for young adults’ CHD care. Young adults’ self-efficacy for their own CHD care is significantly negative correlated with body mass index. Male young adults have higher GSES than female young adults.
Understanding the factors relating to transitional health care preparedness could help health providers to better provide care for young adults with CHD in Taiwan.