Current status and approaches to improving preventive services for adolescents

Article Abstract:

Physicians are in a unique position to give preventive care and health information to adolescents but are providing these services less frequently than currently recommended. For example, about 20% of high school seniors smoke daily, and about 54% of high school students are sexually active, but advice on smoking cessation programs and HIV transmission was provided in only about 1% of adolescent physician office visits. This is despite the fact that over 70% of teenagers see a physician at least once a year, and most view physicians as trustworthy. Physicians cite the following barriers to adolescent preventive health care: lack of time, an insurance system that discourages preventive care, lack of educational materials and lack of clear guidelines for providing preventive care. The use of physician reminder systems that include checklists for age-specific preventive care and materials on effective communication and counseling techniques may improve physician involvement in providing adolescent preventive care.

Practice, Preventive medicine, Medicine, Preventive, Adolescent medicine

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Promoting the healthy development of adolescents

Article Abstract:

Promoting the healthy development of teenagers will require broad-based cooperation and a re-prioritizing of adolescent needs. Efforts to promote healthy adolescent development should respect adolescents' needs for increasing independence, peer acceptance and friendships while recognizing their limitations. They should be sensitive to the social and cultural environments in which teenagers live and to factors such as poverty. Successful programs also need a more solid research base from which to draw information. The problem-oriented focus of most previously done research has left gaps in the knowledge of normal adolescent development and health. Teachers and health care professionals should be instructed on how to communicate and interact effectively with teenagers and how to effectively promote good health practices among them. Cooperation among individuals, institutions and even the media can reinforce the importance of health and safety measures.

Health aspects, Adolescence

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Influence of physician confidentiality assurances on adolescents' willingness to disclose information and seek future health care: a randomized controlled trial

Article Abstract:

Teenagers may be more likely to reveal sensitive information to their doctor if the doctor promises to keep all the information confidential. Researchers played an audiotape of a typical office visit to 562 high school students. Some of the tapes included a physician ensuring unconditional confidentiality, others a physician ensuring conditional confidentiality and others a physician who doesn't mention confidentiality. Teenagers who heard a message of confidentiality were more likely to say they would disclose sensitive information to such a doctor. Unconditional confidentiality would lead them to return to such a doctor.

Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, Confidential communications, Physician-patient privilege

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