Patient empowerment and its correlates in young persons with congenital heart disease

Objective:The objective of this study was to measure the level of empowerment and identify its correlates in young persons with congenital heart disease.Study design:Patients aged 14–18 years with congenital heart disease, and under active follow-up in one of four paediatric cardiology centres in Sweden were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study. A total of 202 young persons returned the questionnaires. Patient empowerment was measured with the Gothenburg Young Persons Empowerment Scale that allows the calculation of total and subscale scores. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were undertaken to analyse possible correlates, including: sex, age, health behaviours, knowledge of congenital heart disease, quality of life, patient-reported health, congenital heart disease complexity, transition readiness and illness perception.Results:The mean empowerment score was 54.6±10.6 (scale of 15–75). Univariate analyses showed that empowerment was associated with age, quality of life, ...