Health professionals caring for chronically ill adolescents: adolescents' perspectives.
OBJECTIVE
To describe chronically ill adolescents' perceptions of how health professionals can best care for chronically ill adolescents.


METHODS
A qualitative study with tenets from grounded theory, including theoretical sampling and the constant comparison of data.


METHODS
Participants' homes of private hospital offices.


METHODS
Twenty-three adolescents, 13 to 16 years of age, who were diagnosed with either diabetes, asthma, arthritis, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis.


METHODS
Open-ended, in-depth interview method.


RESULTS
Eight themes emerged: (1) treat me like a person; (2) try to understand; (3) don't treat me differently; (4) give me some encouragement; (5) don't force me; (6) give me options; (7) have a sense of humor; and (8) know what you are doing.


CONCLUSIONS
Health professionals need to adopt an overall approach described as careful maneuvering when caring for adolescents with chronic illness. This approach involves the health professional having sound knowledge and the ability to guide adolescents confidently and sensitively in the management of their illness.
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. bobby_woodgate@mbnet.mb.ca
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D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires