[Self-assessment and physicians' assessment of sexual maturation in adolescents' in Taipei].
The characteristics of puberty included the change of physiology, psychology and behavior, the inter-relationship within three was emphasized. The study of the sexual development is difficult to be achieved, only adolescents' self-assessment can overcome this obstacle. Four-hundred and twelve male and ninety female junior high school students grade three were enrolled from Taipei middle schools by probability proportionate to size method. The criteria of Tanner sexual staging were explained to the target population orally and pictorially. The orchidometer was demonstrated as well. Judging self-development were then asked for. School children were later examined by physician of same sex. The study included pubic hair, testis, penis and breast. The agreement between adolescents' rating and physicians' rating was high in penis and breast, low in male's testis and female's pubic hair. The correlation coefficient between two ranged from 0.25 to 0.52. Although the foreign reports revealed that adolescents can assess their own sexual development reliably. It is not so in our study. Perhaps more efforts in discussion on development performed immediately would help.
Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Municipal Ho-Ping Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
W H
WH
Wu
C H
CH
Lee
C L
CL
Wu
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012741:Sexual Maturation