title: Teenagers' views on general practice consultations and other medical advice. The Adolescent Working Group, RCGP.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The provision of health services for teenagers is of current interest in relation to primary care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of the study was to look at satisfaction with the teenager's last consultation and any reasons for dissatisfaction. A further objective was to look at common teenage health concerns to identify how many teenagers had been concerned about them, where they sought advice, and to look at ratings of this advice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were completed as part of a continuing evaluation of a novel sex education programme in 38 schools in 1997 and provided the data. The particular items reported in this study were related to satisfaction with the last GP consultation and reasons for dissatisfaction, health concerns and who (if anybody) was approached to address these concerns, and comments on services used. 5152 teenagers (51.8% male and 47.8% female) completed the questionnaires in a school lesson under conditions of complete confidentiality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 86% of adolescents were apparently satisfied with their last consultation with a GP, although several possible reasons were identified for any dissatisfaction. Health concerns were identified and sources of help were considered and compared; no obvious levels of relative dissatisfaction with services were noted. A large number of teenagers identified apparent concerns but did not seek help for these concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents are largely satisfied with the services available in primary care. A number of teenagers do not seek help for their own individual concerns. Encouraging teenagers to attend when they perceive a health problem may help provide a more sensitive primary care service.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University of Wales College of Medicine, Llanedeyrn Health Centre, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff CF3 7PN, UK.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mellanby
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tripp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires