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How can adolescents' health needs and concerns best be met?
Background:
A previous survey of letters to 'agony aunts' revealed that adolescents have many concerns about their health.
Aim:
To discover the views of adolescents on a range of issues including the venues where they would like to be seen, the doctors they would like to consult, and the subjects they would like to discuss.
Method:
A questionnaire was distributed to adolescents in a variety of school settings and distributed through a popular teenage magazine.
Results:
A total of 525 replies were received. Most adolescents had visited their general practitioner (GP) in the previous year. Most would prefer to see a teenage health specialist at a venue other than their local surgery, and to have the option of a 'drop-in' service. Responders were worried about a wide range of health issues. They had strong opinions on the type of doctor they would like to consult and the style of surgery they would prefer. Concerns were expressed about confidentiality.
Conclusion:
In the short term, surgeries could be made more 'user-friendly' for adolescents. In the longer term, the authors propose liaison between GPs and paediatricians with a special interest in teenage health to provide a confidential, combined youth service, with ideas on service development based on the expressed wishes of the adolescent population.