Abstract

PURPOSE
Opportunistic health screening has long been promoted by advocates of adolescent health. However, there are few objective data documenting the outcomes in an inpatient setting.
METHODS
The authors performed opportunistic health screening on 114 surgical inpatients, median age 14 (range 10-18) years, admitted to a general adolescent ward in a tertiary children's hospital. A four-page paper document with a formatted list of questions, based on the Home, Education, Activities, Drugs, Sexual Health, Suicide framework, was developed to standardise screening and documentation.
RESULTS
Areas of concern requiring intervention were identified in 34 (30%) patients. Specific interventions included referrals to the Adolescent Medicine clinic (n=6), Hospital School Services (n=7) and Psychological Medicine (n=7).
CONCLUSIONS
Consideration should be given to offer adolescent health screening to all surgical inpatients. Further research should involve the participation of young people and should focus on the outcomes, feasibility, acceptability and resource implications of such screening.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Wilson H, Bostock N, Phillip N, Shannon P, Payne D, Kennedy A

Institution

Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Roberts Road, Subiaco WA 6008, Australia.

Source

Archives of disease in childhood 97:10 2012 Oct pg 919-21

MeSH

Adolescent
Adolescent Health Services
Child
Hospitalization
Humans
Inpatients
Mass Screening
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Surgical Procedures, Elective
Tertiary Care Centers
Western Australia

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22764091