Adherence to a reproductive health intervention for young adults with sickle cell.

BACKGROUND: The CHOICES intervention is tailored specifically for young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) or sickle cell trait (SCT). The face-to-face (F2F) delivery format is feasible with efficacy for improving knowledge about reproductive health for those with SCD or SCT. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to compare the participant adherence to a remote online CHOICES intervention study (N = 107) and a F2F CHOICES intervention study (N = 234). METHODOLOGY: In both studies, participants with SCD or SCT were randomized into experimental or usual care control groups. Descriptive statistics were collected for all participants by group in both studies. Adherence was measured by retention at each data collection time point. Independent t-tests were conducted to compare mean participant adherence of the F2F and online studies postbaseline (6, 12, 18, and 24 months). RESULTS: There was a significant difference in mean adherence postbaseline between the studies (p = .005). The results suggest that more research is necessary for proper online participant retention. CONCLUSION: Advance practice nurses that are well informed on CHOICES can transmit the availability of this evidence-based intervention to this special population. Special referral for the CHOICES intervention, which is tailored specifically for young adults with SCD or SCT, may increase adherence to the intervention if it comes from trusted health care providers. IMPLICATIONS: Nurse practitioners are educators in primary and acute care settings. Encounters with reproductive age populations with SCD or SCT can occur in both settings.

Adolescents' practical knowledge of asthma self-management and experiences in the context of acute asthma: a qualitative content analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize adolescents' practical knowledge of asthma self-management and experiences during acute asthma episodes, and compare practical knowledge between minority and non-minority groups. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis using a qualitative descriptive design of textual data collected from 126 adolescents that participated in a randomized controlled trial of an asthma self-management program. Directed content analysis was conducted using four constructs of asthma self-management including symptom prevention, symptom monitoring, acute symptom management, and symptom communication. RESULTS: Most of the adolescents knew how to prevent exercised-induced bronchoconstriction, but had limited understanding about how to assess and monitor the severity of acute symptoms, appropriately use bronchodilators, seek timely medical help, and communicate acute symptoms to caregivers or healthcare providers during a slow-onset and rapid-onset asthma attack. More minority participants monitored asthma using peak expiratory flow than non-minority participants, who often relied on symptom-based monitoring. Minority adolescents more frequently mentioned bronchodilator use to manage asthma attacks, while non-minority adolescents often reported use of complementary and alternative approaches. Minority youth mentioned accessing healthcare services for acute episodes more often than their non-minority counterparts. Minority participants mentioned communicating acute symptoms to their providers, or family members less frequently than non-minority youth. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents have insufficient practical knowledge about ways to prevent and manage acute asthma. Periodic assessment of learning needs related to asthma attacks should be considered a routine part of clinical visits for adolescents to provide targeted information support to address their identified needs.

Tailored Parenting Plans of Young Adults With Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Trait.

Our study purpose was to evaluate the variation and accuracy of tailored parenting plans individually generated as a supplement to reproductive health education on the genetic inheritance of sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait. We present a secondary data analysis of experimental group data from a randomized controlled trial. Participants completed the valid and reliable Internet-based Sickle Cell Reproductive Health Knowledge Parenting Intent Questionnaire. We created a computerized algorithm that used participants' responses to generate tailored parenting plans based on their parenting preferences and partner's sickle cell status. Thirty-one different parenting plans were generated to meet the variety in the participants' preferences. The most frequently generated plan was for participants with sickle cell disease who had a partner with hemoglobin AA, who wanted to be a parent, was not likely to be pregnant, and wanted their child to be sickle cell disease free. More than half of the participants required alteration in their reproductive behavior to achieve their parenting goals. Findings provide insight into the variety and accuracy of computer algorithm-generated parenting plans, which could further guide refinement of the algorithm to produce patient-centered, tailored parenting plans supplemental to Internet-based genetic inheritance education.

Characteristics associated with the perceived likelihood to become parents among young adults with sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait in the USA.

Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) and individuals with sickle cell trait (SCT) have different health trajectories, but it is unknown whether sociodemographic and clinical characteristics are associated with their likelihood to be a parent. The purpose of this study was to examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with perceived likelihood-to-parent among a cohort of young adults with SCD or SCT in the USA. The participants were 234 young adults (82 males, 152 females) who had either SCD (n = 138) or SCT (n = 96). The average age was 25.9 years (SD = 4.9), and most participants (87%) were single. Study participants completed the likelihood-to-parent item (0-4 scale) included in the valid and reliable Sickle Cell Reproductive Health Knowledge Parenting Intent and Behavior Questionnaire (SCKnowIQ). The mean likelihood-to-parent score was M = 2.3 (SD = 1.1) and 41% indicated that they were 'very' or 'extremely' likely to be a parent. Bivariate analysis showed that likelihood-to-parent was associated with the participant's sickle cell genotype (p = .03), age (p = .003), educational level (p = .04), income (p = .01), employment (p = .04), number of children (p < .001), health insurance (p = .02), and influenced by others (p < .001). In multiple regression analysis, participants reported higher likelihood-to-parent scores if they had at most 2 children (p = .03), higher income (p = .03), had no insurance (p = .01), and reported higher levels of being influenced by others (p = .001). Additional research is needed to confirm these findings in larger representative samples with more young adult males and to understand the likelihood to become parents over time by implementing longitudinal studies in the SCD and SCT populations. Such research is needed to guide appropriate education and genetic counseling for reproductive decision-making among young adults with SCD or SCT.

Factors associated with young adult engagement with a web-based sickle cell reproductive health intervention.

Objective: To determine the factors predicting the engagement of young adults who have sickle cell disease (SCD) or sickle cell trait (SCT) with an online reproductive health education intervention and engagement effects on knowledge. Methods: The cross-sectional study included 167 participants who completed the web-based intervention either face-to-face (F2F) or online delivery (OL). Measures include: time used relative to length of the intervention narration and media (engagement) and the SCKnowIQ questionnaire. Ordinal regression was conducted. Results: The sample mean age was 26-years (SD=5), 68% were female, 54% had SCD, and 68% were in the F2F group. Adjusting for age, partner sickle cell status, marital status, and education, participants who were female (p=.003), had SCD (p=.018), or had F2F delivery (p < .001) were more likely to spend more time on the intervention. Adjusting for baseline knowledge and modality, more time spent on the intervention was associated with higher posttest knowledge (p=.006). Conclusions: Future studies are necessary to understand reasons underpinning engagement and to investigate other unmeasured factors, such as intervention interactivity elements, that could also be associated with engagement. Innovation: This study of young adults with SCD or SCT provides much needed insight about their engagement with online reproductive health education.