Teens' Time Alone with Their Clinician: Receipt of Health Care Transition Preparation and Anticipatory Guidance

This study examines the receipt of health care transition (HCT) preparation and anticipatory guidance by whether the teen had time alone with a health care professional using self-reported data collected from a nationally representative sample of teens aged 12 to 17 years.

Data from the National Health Interview Survey-Teen (NHIS-Teen) a follow-back survey to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used (n = 1635). Prevalence estimates of teens' receipt of time alone with a health care professional, HCT preparation (eg, understanding the changes in health care that happen at age 18) and anticipatory guidance discussions (eg, use of tobacco products) were examined. Logistic regression models tested for associations between receipt of time alone and each measure; analyses were adjusted for selected teen and family level sociodemographic characteristics.

Only 47.1% of teens with a medical care visit in the past 12 months had time alone with a health care professional. Approximately 25% of teens discussed changes in health care and 43.2% discussed gaining skills to manage their own health. In addition, 46.0% of teens discussed puberty and sexual health, 55.5% discussed use of tobacco products and 66.5% discussed mental or emotional health. Teens that had time alone with a health care professional were significantly more likely to receive HCT preparation and anticipatory guidance.

Teen self-reported receipt of HCT preparation and anticipatory guidance was low. Having time alone with a health care professional was associated with increased receipt of HCT preparation and anticipatory guidance.