[Adolescent health care in pediatric departments of Tuscany].
BACKGROUND
Admission to Pediatric Departments for 0/18- year-old patients is an important issue for the best organization of pediatric hospital assistance. Aim of the study. To locate adolescent health care and identify the percentage of adolescent admissions to Pediatric Departments in an Italian region (Tuscany).


METHODS
Adolescent health care in pediatric departments and pediatric admissions (0-18 years old) in 1999 into the reference hospital of Pisa and into 5 other regional hospitals in Tuscany are reported. The percentages of patients, subdivided by age, hospitalyzed in Pediatric Departments have been determined.


RESULTS
In 1999 the admissions for subjects aged 0 to 18 years were 12573 of which 4966 adolescents (39.6 %). The percentage of adolescent admissions is not smaller than children's admissions (aged 0 to 1 year: 16.2%; aged 2 to 5 years: 26.2%; aged 6 to 9 years: 17.8%; aged 10 to 14 years: 20.4%; aged 15 to 18 years: 19.2%). Analysis by age demonstrated a continuous decrease of patient percentages admitted to Pediatric Departments with the increased age. A minority of 15/18- year-old subjects has been admitted to Pediatric Departments.


CONCLUSIONS
The percentage of adolescent admissions is similar to there of children. Most adolescents are admitted to structures unsuitable for assistance to subjects aged 0 to 18 years. These data underline the necessity for a strong recovery of adolescent admissions to pediatric structures also equipping suitable nursing rooms.
Bertelloni
S
S
Azienda Ospedaliera Pisana, Pisa, Dipartimento di Medicina della Procreazione e dell'Età Evolutiva, Divisione Pediatria II, Azienda Ospedaliera Meyer, Florence, Italy.
Basiloni
V
V
Sodini
F
F
Galluzzi
F
F
Giani
I
I
Lombardi
D
D
Martini
R
R
Messina
G
G
Micheletti
E
E
Milani
G
G
Palazzoni
E
E
Perletti
L
L
Saggese
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review