Patient Knowledge and Clinic Attendance in Adolescent Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Background: With the rising age of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), strategies to improve adolescents' adherence to care are needed. This study investigates the association between knowledge of disease and objective markers of clinic attendance in an adolescent CF population. Methods: Patients with CF aged 13-20 years completed a CF knowledge survey (n=38). Associations of knowledge scores with attendance measures and health status data were assessed. Results: Higher overall knowledge scores were associated with regular evaluations by dietitians (OR 1.08, p=0.045) and timely completion of pulmonary function testing (PFTs; OR 1.13, p=0.009) and routine cultures (OR 1.12, p=0.012). Higher nutrition health and treatment knowledge scores were also associated with timely completion of routine PFTs (OR 1.14, p=0.005 and OR 1.09, p=0.012) and cultures (OR 1.10, p=0.022 and OR 1.08, p=0.019). Conclusions: This is the first study demonstrating an association between adolescent disease knowledge and objectively measured adherence to recommended clinic attendance and evaluation. More adherent patients have better knowledge of their disease. Targeting adolescent CF patients' knowledge may be a modifiable factor to improve attendance and long-term management.