title: Attitudes, knowledge, and training of medical residents regarding adolescent health issues.
abstract: This study examined attitudes, knowledge, and training relating to adolescent health issues, of medical residents in six different specialties who provide care to adolescents, at a southern, rural medical school without an organized curriculum in adolescent medicine. An original 18-item questionnaire was developed which examined four broad health care categories: general medicine, sexuality, high-risk behaviors, and development. Of 118 residents 91 (77%) responded. For any health care area, residents reported managing fewer than 10 adolescent patients and often fewer than 3 patients. However, they reported comfort and confidence and little desire for additional training in most of these areas. There were few differences between specialties or year of training. Almost one-half (42%) believed that pediatric care should end by age 16 years; 32% thought it should end at age 18 years. However, there was little support for pediatricians providing prenatal care to pregnant teens. These findings are useful for planning curriculum in ambulatory adolescent health and developing strategies for encouraging residents to understand and embrace the challenge of adolescent health care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pitt County Adolescent Health Project, Greenville, NC.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kolasa
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dent
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ausherman
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Irons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D000295:Adolescent Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D013663:Teaching