Abstract
BACKGROUND: Enhancing family readiness for the healthcare transition (HCT) to adult-focused care can help adolescents and young adults (AYA) thrive in adulthood. We aimed to explore modifiable and non-modifiable individual, family, and healthcare factors associated with HCT readiness of AYA among families of AYA with cystic fibrosis (CF) during COVID-19. METHODS: A multi-site, cross-sectional design was used and an online survey was deployed among families and their AYA from three US pediatric CF centers. The STAR(x) Transition Readiness Questionnaire assessed caregiver- and AYA-perceived HCT readiness of AYA. RESULTS: Caregivers (N = 71) and their AYA with CF (N = 33, aged 12-21 years) perceived moderately high HCT readiness of AYA. Caregiver resilience was a significant (p = 0.006), family-level factor correlated with caregiver-perceived HCT readiness. CONCLUSIONS: Families perceived similar levels of AYA readiness for adult-focused care. Caregiver resilience is an important, modifiable family-level factor for targeted interdisciplinary interventions aimed at enhancing HCT processes during COVID-19.