Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 47, Issue 1 , Pages 110-112, July 2010

Primary Care Providers' Reports of Time Alone and the Provision of Sexual Health Services to Urban Adolescent Patients: Results of a Prospective Card Study

  • Lucia F. O'Sullivan, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Lucia F. O'Sullivan, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, 38 Dineen Drive, Keirstead Hall, Rm. 216, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B-5A3.
    • ,
  • M. Diane McKee, M.D., M.S.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Family and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York
    • ,
  • Susan E. Rubin, M.D., M.P.H.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Family and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York
    • ,
  • Giselle Campos, B.A.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Family and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York

Received 14 July 2009; accepted 23 December 2009. published online 15 March 2010.

Abstract 

Confidential care is an essential element of quality adolescent primary care. Twenty-one primary care providers tracked provision of confidential care (time alone with adolescent) and sexual health services in clinics serving low-income, primarily minority communities. Over 144 visits attended by a parent, 68% involved time alone with the adolescent. Time alone was 18 times higher for physicals than same day or walk-in visits, and 3 times higher if teen presented a sex complaint. Provision of sexual health services was 3 times higher for those who had time alone with the provider, especially among girls. The results indicate some missed opportunities to deliver needed services to at-risk populations, especially among boys.

Keywords: Adolescent health, Confidentiality, Sexual health, Preventative care

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 30.00 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S1054-139X(09)00713-7

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.12.029

Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 47, Issue 1 , Pages 110-112, July 2010

Article Tools