Current practice with regard to 'seeing adolescents on their own' during outpatient consultations

Adolescence is a time of many changes with growing independence, emotional and physical changes. It is essential that we as health care professionals are proactive in ensuring good communication and confidentiality in adolescent consultations.

To understand our practice in this area of communication and confidentiality with adolescents.

We conducted a questionnaire based survey among clinicians involved in the care of adolescents whether the clinicians asked the adolescents if they wanted to be seen on their own.

Only 23% of the clinicians routinely asked. Of those surveyed, 43% thought it was not essential and 30% stated they did not have enough time. Only 25% copied clinic letters to adolescents along with their parents.

The results show that there is a lack of awareness of the need to start giving adolescents more independence to ensure a smooth transition to adulthood. Numerous learning resources are available to clinicians to help them understand adolescent care better.