Adolescents' perceived barriers to healthcare services.
OBJECTIVE
To explore adolescents' perceptions of information needed to feel both mentally and physically healthy and their perceptions of barriers that exist to obtaining health-care services related to these needs.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 64 adolescents ages 11-18 years, living in a metropolitan southern community. Content analysis was used to analyze the written responses of the subjects to open-ended questions.


RESULTS
Adolescents wanted information about what activities were defined as healthy and unhealthy, including facts about exercise, nutrition, and expressing feelings. Perceived barriers included money, time, personal characteristics, parents, and unavailability of appropriate resources.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings have implications for designing services to meet the mental health care and educational needs of adolescents. Involving adolescents in the planning of these services is an important step in promoting health and self-care competence.
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D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires