Access to primary health care for Australian adolescents: how congruent are the perspectives of health service providers and young people, and does it matter?
OBJECTIVE
To explore the extent of congruence between the views of service providers and young people (on adolescents' health concerns, barriers to accessing health services and ideal service model) in order to improve and increase the appropriateness, quality and usage of primary health care services.


METHODS
A qualitative data collection technique was used. During 2001/02, focus groups were conducted in urban and rural locations with adolescents (in and out of mainstream education), general practitioners, community health staff and youth health workers.


RESULTS
Service providers and young people identified a similar range of health concerns for young people, with young people adding additional issues of great importance to them that service providers felt were not in their 'domain of treatment'. There was reasonable congruence in regard to 'ideal service model' with some differences relating to methods of information delivery. However, for 'barriers to accessing services' there were major discrepancies.


CONCLUSIONS
While there is some common understanding between young people and service providers on certain aspects of health services, there are clearly areas where perceptions differ. This discrepancy matters because it may adversely affect the quality of provider-adolescent interaction and the willingness of adolescents to access services.


CONCLUSIONS
To deliver optimal health services to young people, the differences in understanding regarding services need to be addressed. Strategies could include promotion to, and encouragement of, young people to seek help, continuing professional education of providers and changes in remuneration policies.
Bernard
Diana
D
NSW Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales. dianab@health.usyd.edu.au
Quine
Susan
S
Kang
Melissa
M
Alperstein
Garth
G
Usherwood
Tim
T
Bennett
David
D
Booth
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009517:New South Wales; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*