Validation of the RAISE (Readiness Assessment of Independence for Specialty Encounters) Tool: Provider-Based Transition Evaluation

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to establish content validity of a developmentally based assessment tool of readiness for medical independence for specialty providers.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The validation process used expert panel evaluation to assess the items believed to measure the desired content in the nine age-based scales within the RAISE (Readiness Assessment of Independence for Specialty Encounters) tool. Experts in child development and transition rated items on relevance, clarity and developmental appropriateness via electronic survey. Statistical analyses included calculation of interrater agreement (IRA), content validity indices (CVIs), and factorial validity indices (FVI).

RESULTS

A total of 135 items were rated by 36 experts. Mean I-CVIs for 123 items across nine developmental scales met criteria for retention, ranging from 0.76 (threshold) to 1.00 (excellent). Mean I-CVIs for all 25 items across the five psychosocial stressor scales met criteria for retention, ranging from 0.92 to 1.00 (excellent).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from the current content validation study suggest that items on the revised RAISE tool are relevant, clear, and developmentally-appropriate as rated by experts in the fields of child development and transition. The tool, consisting of age based scales (ages birth-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18-21), is shown to have content validity of the retained items meeting criteria.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

With content validity of the RAISE tool established by experts, this developmentally based assessment tool can be integrated into practice to assist providers in educating patients around skills of medical independence which could improve transition outcomes.

Piloting a structured developmental tool to assess transition readiness for youth with special health-care needs: A mixed-methods exploration of health-care provider experiences

This mixed-methods study examined providers' experiences using a structured developmentally sensitive tool to assess transition readiness for youth with special health-care needs moving from pediatric to adult care. Twenty-eight health-care providers from three pediatric specialty clinics reported their experiences using the tool by surveys and semistructured telephone interviews. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Most (96%) believed routine practice should include a structured tool; 65.7% incorporated information from the tool into patient care plans. Salient themes pertained to practice behavior changes and implementation barriers. Integrating structured tools into standard clinical practice has the potential to optimize transition and improve patient care.