Skills for growing up and ready steady go: Practical tools to promote life skills in youth with chronic conditions

Although youth with chronic conditions have the same developmental challenges as their typical developing peers, they encounter additional bumps in the road towards adulthood because of their chronic condition. Therefore, it is important to support them in acquiring life skills (e.g. related to autonomy and participation) to be better equipped to function in adult roles. The Skills for Growing Up (SGU) and the Ready Steady Go (RSG) communication tools aim to support the development of self-management and life skills. Both tools facilitate the communication between youth, their parents and healthcare professionals, are age-appropriate and cover various life areas. Overall, youth and parents appreciate working with the SGU and RSG. They feel that the tools are relevant and address important themes, and that the tools help them to communicate about ones wishes and expectations. Young people express that working with the tools made them aware of future prospects and increased their awareness of the importance of independence. Healthcare professionals are generally positive about both tools, although implementation in clinical practice can be a challenge. While some positive results have been reported, there is no evidence yet for effects on transition outcomes of using these tools. Still, using the SGU and RSG tools in everyday care could be a valuable contribution to help develop life skills and prepare young people with chronic conditions and their parents for the transition to adulthood.