Italian cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Sample Transition Readiness Assessment for Youth: a pilot study

Background: Transition from paediatric to adult healthcare represents a critical phase for adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions. Structured assessment of transition readiness and evaluation of transition experiences are essential to support continuity of care. Aims: This pilot study aimed to (1) culturally adapt and preliminarily validate the Sample Transition Readiness Assessment for Youth 2.0 (STRAY 2.0) for Italian-speaking patients; (2) describe the development of a multidisciplinary complex transition programme at the University Hospital of Padua; and (3) conduct the forward-backward translation of the On Your Own Feet - Transition Experiences Scale (OYOF-TES) for future outcome assessment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 66 adolescents and young adults (aged 15-30) followed in four paediatric Clinical Units. Psychometric analysis included internal consistency, split-half reliability and exploratory factor analysis. In parallel, a small nursing intervention, as part of the multidisciplinary educational intervention, was designed according to the Medical Research Council framework, to strengthen the existing complex transition programme realised by the University Hospital of Padua. The OYOF-TES underwent a structured translation and back-translation process. Results: Internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach’s α=0.655; McDonald’s ω=0.856). Split-half reliability was good (Spearman-Brown ρ=0.806). Exploratory factor analysis suggested a predominantly unidimensional structure. Age was associated with improved readiness score, indicating increasing autonomy with maturity. The transition programme prototype incorporated participatory educational strategies, with a specific nursing component focused on prevention and early management of vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell disease. The translated OYOF-TES demonstrated semantic equivalence with the original version. Conclusions: The Italian adaptation of the STRAY 2.0 appears to be a feasible and informative instrument for assessing transition readiness among adolescents with chronic conditions. The development of a structured, multidisciplinary transition model and the translated OYOF-TES lay the groundwork for implementing and evaluating evidence-based transition pathways within the Italian healthcare context. Further validation in larger and more heterogeneous samples is recommended.