Validation of the Healthcare Transition Outcomes Inventory for Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: We recently developed and content validated the Healthcare Transition Outcomes Inventory (HCTOI), a stakeholder vetted, multidimensional measure of the outcomes of the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare for young adults (YA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the HCTOI.

Methods: We collected and analyzed cross-sectional data from 128 YA (18-25 years old) with T1D to evaluate the psychometric properties of the HCTOI. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), item analysis, and examined reliability and validity in relation to measures of quality of life, diabetes distress, regimen adherence, and glycemic control.

Results: CFA supported a five-factor solution: integration of T1D into emerging adult roles, balance of parental support with T1D autonomy, establishing and maintaining continuity of care, forming a collaborative patient-provider relationship, and ownership of T1D. We reduced the HCTOI from 54 to 34 items. The HCTOI demonstrated adequate internal consistency (α's = 0.62-0.87) and significant correlations demonstrated construct (quality of life, diabetes distress) and criterion validity (adherence, glycemic control).

Conclusions: The HCTOI demonstrated promising initial psychometric properties. As the first measure of the multiple dimensions of healthcare transition outcomes, the HCTOI provides a means to examine longitudinal relations between transition readiness and outcomes and to assess the efficacy or effectiveness of interventions and programs designed to improve the transition process for YA with T1D.

Keywords: healthcare transition; measure development; type 1 diabetes; young adults.