The Development and Content Validation of a Self-reported Instrument to Explore the Nurse's Role in Healthcare Transition Planning for Youth and Young Adults With Chronic Illness and/or Disability (NR-HCTP)

Abstract

Purpose: To develop an instrument to assess the nurse's role and responsibilities in healthcare transition planning (HCTP) for youth and young adults (YYA) with chronic illness and/or disability (CI/D) that will determine to what extent nurses are involved with providing HCTP services; and identify the specific activities that nurses engage in when providing HCTP services.

Design and methods: A panel of seven experts in the field were used to determine content validity.

Results: The final NR-HCTP instrument contains a total of 68 items (17 main items, 5 containing sub items) representing activities that nurses engage in when providing HCTP services, their level and extent of involvement, and their level of knowledge in the areas of HCTP.

Practice implications: An exploration of nurse's roles in HCTP for YYA with CI/D allows for discussion of current nursing practices in the transition process. The information obtained may be used to identify gaps in knowledge and practice guidelines, develop nursing core elements and educational materials to support nurses in their role, and inform nursing administrators in the development of appropriate HCTP position descriptions.

Keywords: Chronic illness; Content validity; Disability; Healthcare transition planning; Instrument; Nursing role; Pediatric nursing; Youth and young adults.