BMJ  2005;330:465-467 (26 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7489.465

Clinical review

ABC of adolescence

Adolescents in primary care

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

The specific health needs of young people are often neglected by primary care as it is believed that adolescents are on the whole a healthy group who rarely present to their general practitioner (GP). "Out of sight" has been "out of mind," especially given the ever increasing pressures on primary care from other client groups.

The new GP contract in England and Wales has done nothing to mitigate this. Change is needed, however, as teenagers (a) have many health concerns, though they do not always tell their GP about them, and (b) do visit their GPs, on average two to three times a year (with about 70% of all teenagers visiting their GP in any one year). These visits provide opportunities to deal with their health concerns.

Surveys have shown that adolescents are usually happy to discuss health issues with their GP, but 40% say that they find it difficult . . . [Full text of this article]

Communication with young people

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Improving primary care services

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